Page:An account of a voyage to establish a colony at Port Philip in Bass's Strait.djvu/116

( 91 ), strictly prohibits all foreign communication with its American colonies; hence arisen (by the mutual connivance of the colonial governments) an extensive contraband trade, which, while it enriches individuals, diminishes the public revenue of both countries.

Every article of merchandise, or consumption, whether the produce of the colony, or imported, pays to the crown a tenth part of its value, previous to its being exposed for sale. These duties are