1787: 27 George 3. c.7: An Act to continue the Laws now in force for regulating the Trade between the Subjects of his Majesty’s Dominions, and the Inhabitants of the Territories belonging to the United States of America, and to render the Provisions thereof more effectual.

[Preamble.]

WHEREAS an Act was made in the twenty-third Year of the Reign of his present Majesty,

[23 Geo. 3. c. 39.]

intituled, An Act for preventing certain Instruments from being required from Ships belonging to the United States of America; and to give to his Majesty, for a limited Time, certain Powers for the better carrying on Trade and Commerce between the Subjects of his Majesty’s Dominions, and the Inhabitants of the said United States; which said Act has been continued, by several subsequent Acts, until the fifth Day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven:

[24 Geo. 3. c. 45.]

And whereas by an Act made in the twenty-fourth Year of the Reign of his present Majesty, the Powers given by the said recited Act were extended to the Trade and Intercourse between this Kingdom and the British Colonies and Plantations in America, so far as the same might relate to Iron, Hemp, and Sail Cloth, and other Articles of the Produce of any Place bordering on the Baltick, which might be exported from this Kingdom; which said last mentioned Act has also, by several subsequent Acts, been continued until the said fifth Day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty-seven: And whereas it is expedient that the said several Acts before mentioned should be further continued:’ May it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it 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,

[Recited Acts continued until April 5, 1788.]

That the said several Acts, and all the Matters and Things therein contained, shall continue and be in force until the fifth Day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight.

[No Flour, Bread, &c. nor Lumber, to be imported from any foreign West India Island into any British one.]

II. ‘And whereas it is expedient that Provisions or Lumber (being the Growth or Production of the Territories belonging to the United States of America) should not be imported into the Islands under the Dominion of his Majesty in the West India, from any foreign Island in the West Indies;’ be it therefore further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That, during the Continuance of this Act, no Flour, Bread, Rice, Wheat, or Grain of any Sort, and no Staves, Heading, Shingles, or Lumber of any Sort, shall be imported or brought into any Island under the Dominion of his Majesty in the West Indies (in which Description the Bahama Islands, and the Bermuda or Somers Islands, are included), from any Island in the West Indies under the Dominion of any foreign European Sovereign or State; any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

[In Cases of Emergency, his Majesty’s Governors, &c. of the West India Islands, with their Councils, may authorise the Importation of Flour, &c. from other Islands.]

III. Provided always, That it shall be lawful, in Cases of publick Emergency or Distress, for any of the Governors or Commanders in Chief, for the Time being, of any of the said Islands under the Dominion of his Majesty, his Heirs or Successors, in the West Indies, with the Advice and Consent of their respective Councils, to authorise the Importation of Flour, Bread, Rice, Wheat, or Grain of any Sort, Staves, Heading, Shingles, or Lumber of any Sort, for a limited Time, from any Island in the West Indies, under the Dominion of any foreign European Sovereign or State; and the said Articles so authorised shall, in every such Case, be allowed to be so imported during such limited Time, and no longer.

[If Goods of the Growth of the United States of America be imported into the West India Islands contrary to Law, they are forfeited, with the Vessels, &c.]

IV. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Goods or Commodities whatever, of the Growth or Production of the Territories belonging to the said United States of America, shall be imported into any of the said Islands under the Dominion of his Majesty in the West Indies, other than such as by any Law now in force, or which shall hereafter be in force, or by virtue of this present Act, or by Order of his Majesty in Council, now are or shall hereafter be permitted to be imported into the said Islands; or if any such Goods or Commodities as aforesaid shall be imported into the said Islands, in any other Manner whatever than such as is or shall be allowed by any Law now in force, or which shall hereafter be in force, or by virtue of this present Act, or by Order of his Majesty in Council, the same shall be forfeited, together with the Ship or Vessel in which such Goods or Commodities shall be imported or brought, and all the Guns, Furniture, Ammunition, Tackle, and Apparel belonging thereto.

[How Forfeitures are to be recovered and applied.]

V. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Forfeiture incurred by this Act shall and may be sued for, prosecuted, and recovered, by such and the like Ways, Means, and Methods, and the Produce thereof disposed of, paid, and applied, in such and the like Manner, and to such and the like Uses and Purposes, as any Forfeiture incurred by any Law respecting the Revenue or Customs may now be sued for, prosecuted, and recovered, in the said Islands respectively where the Offence shall be committed; and that the Produce thereof shall be disposed of, paid, and applied, in like Manner in the said Islands respectively; any Law, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.

[Continuance of this Act.]

VI. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act shall continue and be in force until the fifth Day of April one thousand seven hundred and eighty-eight, and no longer.

Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, vol. 15.