Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Navigation Act of 1696


“...Great abuses are daily committed to the prejudice of the English navigation, and the loss of a great part of the plantation trade to this kingdom, by the artifice and cunning of ill-disposed persons...For the more effectual preventing of frauds, and regulating abuses in the plantation trade in America, be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that all ships coming into, or going out of, any of the said plantations, and lading or unlading any goods of commodities...shall be subject and liable to the same rules, visitations, searches, penalties, and forfeitures, as to the entering, lading or discharging their respective ships...the officers for collecting and managing his Majesty's revenue, and inspecting the plantation trade, in any of the said plantations, shall have the samepowers and authorities, for visiting and searching of ships, and taking these entries, and for seizing or securing or bringing on shore any of the goods, prohibited to be imported or exported...to enter houses or warehouses, to search for and seize any such goods...” 

William III, April 10, 1696


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