Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 3).djvu/122

 on the import from Europe of other articles than those enumerated in the Act of Navigation.

On further examination of the Navigation Act, it will be seen that exceptions from its general rules occur in two instances (Levant and East India goods) in favour of certain imports in British-built ships; while, in two other instances (Spanish and Portuguese colonial goods, bullion and prize goods), they were in favour of importations in British-owned shipping.

Lastly, provision was made in the 10th and 11th sections of the "Act for the Prevention of Frauds" (13 & 14 Car. II., cap. 2) with reference to the purchase of foreign-built ships, and for securing that such ships should be wholly owned by English persons, before they could avail themselves of the privileges conferred by the Act on such ships.

Such were the leading conditions of the "Act of Navigation" so far as regards "British ships;" but the "Statute of Frauds" further enacted (sect. 6, par. 2) that no foreign-built ship (that is to say, no ship built anywhere except in England, &c., or in his Majesty's dominions in Asia, Africa, or America), except ships purchased before a given day and prize ships, should enjoy the privilege of a "British ship," though owned and manned by "British subjects"; and such ships were deemed as aliens' ships, and were liable therefore to all duties applicable to this class of vessels.

By a subsequent Act (15 Car. II., cap. 7, sect. 6) no goods from Europe were to be imported into the British possessions except in British-built shipping; and, by the Plantation Act (7 & 8 Will. III., cap. 22, sect. 2) all importations into, and exportations from,