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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Act of the Parliament of Great Britain concerning trade with certain American colonies
Great Britain. Parliament
April 12, 1775
Volume 10, Pages 109-112

[Reprinted from American Archives. Vol. I. Page 1716.]
An Act to Restrain the Trade and Commerce of the Colonies of New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina to Great Britain, Ireland and the British Islands in the West Indies, under certain conditions and limitations. [To take effect 20th July 1775.]

Whereas by an Act made in the twelfth year of the reign of King Charles the Second entituled “An Act for encouraging and increasing of Shipping and Navigation,” and by several subsequent Acts of Parliament which are now in force, it is amongst other things, enacted that for every Ship or Vessel which shall load any commodities in those Acts particularly enumerated at any British Plantation being the growth, product or manufacture thereof, Bonds shall be given with one surety to the value of one thousand pounds if the ship be of less than one hundred tons and of the sum of two thousand Pounds if the Ship be of greater burthen, that the same

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commodities shall be brought by such Ship or Vessel to some other British Plantation or to some Port in Great Britain.

And whereas by several other Acts of Parliament which are now in force no commodities of the Growth, Product or Manufacture of Europe (except Salt for the Fisheries, Wines of the Madeiras and Azores and Western Islands, and Victual and Linen cloth from Ireland under the restrictions in such Acts particularly mentioned) can be imported into any Plantation, Colony, Territory or place belonging to his Majesty in Asia, Africa or America, but what shall be bona fide and without fraud laden and shipped in Great Britain and carried directly from thence.

And whereas during the continuance of the Combinations and Disorders which at this time prevail within the Colonies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina to the obstruction of commerce of these Kingdoms and other his Majestys Dominions, and in breach and violation of the laws of this Realm it is highly unfit that the inhabitants of the said Colonies should enjoy the same privileges of Trade and the same benefits and advantages to which his Majesty's faithful and obedient subjects are entitled.

Be it therefore enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same, That from and after the twentieth day of July one thousand seven hundred and seventy five and during the continuance of this Act no Goods, Wares or Merchandises which are particularly enumerated in and by the said Act made in the twelfth year of King Charles the Second or any Act being the Growth, Product or Manufactures of the Colonies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina in North America or any or either of them are to be brought to some other British Colony or to Great Britain or any such enumerated Goods, Wares or Merchandises, which shall at any time or times have been imported or brought into the said Colonies or any or either of them shall be shipped, carried or conveyed or transported from any of the said Colonies respectively to any Land, Island, Territory, Dominion, Port or place whatsoever other than to Great Britain or some of the British Islands in the West Indies to be laid on shore there and that no other Goods, Wares or Merchandises whatsoever of the Growth, Product or Manufactures of the Colonies hereinbefore mentioned or which shall at

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any time or times have been imported or brought into the same shall from and after the said twentieth day of July and during the continuance of this Act be shipped, carried, conveyed or transported from any of the said Colonies respectively to any other Land, Island, Territory, Dominion, Port or place whatsoever except to the Kingdom of Great Britain or Ireland or to some of the British Islands in the West Indies to be laid on shores there, any law, custom or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

VIII. And whereas it is the intent and meaning of this Act that the several prohibitions and restraints hereinbefore enacted should be discontinued and cease so soon as the Trade and Commerce of his Majestys subjects may be carried on without interruption within the said Colonies; be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid That whenever it shall be made to appear to the satisfaction of his Majesty's Governor or Commander in Chief and the majority of the Council of Colonies of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and South Carolina that peace and obedience to the laws shall be so far restored within the said Colonies or either of them that the Trade and commerce of his Majestys subjects may be carried on without interruption within the same and that Goods Wares and Merchandises have been freely imported in the said Colonies or either of them from Great Britain and to expose to sale without any let hindrance or molestation from or by reason of any unlawful combinations to prevent or obstruct the same and that Goods Wares and Merchandises have in like manner been exported from the said colonies or either of them respectively to Great Britain for and during the term of one calendar month preceeding that then and in such case it shall and may be lawful for the Governor or Commander in Chief with the advice of the Council of such Colonies respectively by Proclamation under the seal of such respectively to notify the same to the several officers of the Customs and all others and after such Proclamation or Proclamations have been issued as aforesaid shall be discontinued and cease (except such as hereinafter provided) and all Officers of his Majestys Customs and all other persons having charge of the execution of this Act having received due notice of such Proclamation are hereby directed and required to yield and pay obedience to such Proclamation and to proceed in the discharge of their respective duties in admitting to entry clearing and discharging all Ships and Vessels and Goods Wares and Merchandises into and out of

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such respective Colony in like manner as if this Act had never been made, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.