"No Commoditie of the
Growth Production or Manufacture of Europe shall be imported into any Land
Island Plantation Colony Territory or Place to His Majestie belonging . . .
but what shall be bona fide and without fraude laden and shipped in England
Wales [and] the Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede and in English built
Shipping." The preamble to this famous act breathed no hostile intent. The
design was to maintain "a greater correspondence and kindnesse" between the
plantations and the mother country; to encourage shipping; to render
navigation cheaper and safer; to make "this Kingdome a Staple not only of
the Commodities of those Plantations but also of the Commodities of other
Countries and places for the supplying of them -- " it "being the usage of
other nations to keepe their [Plantations] Trade to themselves."
The Act of 1673 was passed to meet certain difficulties which arose in the
administration of the Act of 1660. The earlier act permitted colonial
vessels to carry enumerated commodities from the place of production to
another plantation without paying duties. Under cover of this provision, it
was assumed that enumerated commodities, after being taken to a plantation,
could then be sent directly to continental ports free of duty. The new act
provided that, before vessels left a colonial port, bonds should be given
that the enumerated commodities would be carried only to England. If bonds
were not given and the commodities were taken to another colonial port,
plantation duties were collected according to a prescribed schedule.
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