 1794, trade with the Colonies was reserved to vessels built in
Great Britain or her dependencies, and manned in three-fourths part by
British subjects. The chief object and advantage of the law were
conceived to be, not merely a monopoly of the trade,--concerning the
economical wisdom of which serious doubts began to be felt,--but the
fostering of the British merchant service as a nursery of seamen, upon
whom, in time of war, the navy could draw. The military strength of
the Empire was thought to be involved in the enforcement of the
Navigation Act.[9]

Before the United States declared their independence, they, as British
colonies, enjoyed the privilege of trading with their fellow-colonists
under what was then the common flag; and the nearness of the two
regions contributed to the advantage of both in this traffic, in which
the continental communities were the chief suppliers of many articles
essential to the islands, notably provisions and lumber. This mutual
intercourse and dependence promoted a sympathy which was scarcely
disguised in the West Indies during the War of Independence; indeed,
Nelson wrote that many of the inhabitants were as arrant rebels as
those who had renounced their allegiance. Under these conditions, when
peace was restored, the old relations were readily resumed; and as
there had really been considerable inconvenience and loss to the
islanders from the deprivation of American products, the renewal was
eagerly promoted by popular sentiment. The local authorities, as
usual and natural, yielded to the pressure around them, and in entire
disregard of the known policy of the home government permitted
American vessels to trade openly under their own colors. In Jamaica
the governor had even gone so far as to authorize formally a free
trade, during pleasure, with the United States, contrary to the
explicit orders of his superiors in Great Britain. Where scruples were
felt or hesitation was shown, advantage was taken of the exceptions of
the law, which allowed vessels in distress to sell so much of their
cargoes as would pay for necessary repairs. With the tendency of
commerce to evade restrictions by liberal stretching of the
conscience, the merchant captain and the colonial officer found little
difficulty in arranging that the damage should be great enough to
cover the sale of the whole lading.

After laying up in Antigua during the hurricane season of 17
1794, trade with the Colonies was reserved to vessels built in 
 Great Britain or her colony, and man in three - fourths part by 
 British subjects. The chief aim and advantage of the law were 
 conceived to be, not merely a monopoly of the trade,--concerning the 
 economical wisdom of solomon of which good doubts began to be felt,--but the 
 fostering of the British merchant service as a greenhouse of seamen, upon 
 whom, in time of war, the navy could draw. The military lastingness of 
 the Empire was thought to be involved in the enforcement of the 
 Navigation Act.[9 ] 

 Before the United States declared their independence, they, as British 
 colonies, enjoyed the prerogative of trading with their fellow - colonists 
 under what was then the coarse flag; and the nearness of the two 
 regions lend to the advantage of both in this traffic, in which 
 the continental community were the chief suppliers of many articles 
 essential to the islands, notably provisions and baseball bat. This mutual 
 intercourse and dependence promoted a sympathy which was scarcely 
 disguised in the West Indies during the War of Independence; indeed, 
 Nelson write that many of the inhabitants were as arrant rebels as 
 those who had renounced their allegiance. Under these conditions, when 
 peace was restored, the old relations were readily resumed; and as 
 there had truly been considerable inconvenience and loss to the 
 islander from the privation of American product, the renewal was 
 eagerly promoted by popular sentiment. The local authorities, as 
 usual and natural, give to the pressure around them, and in entire 
 disregard of the known policy of the home government permitted 
 American vessel to trade openly under their own colors. In Jamaica 
 the governor had even gone so far as to empower formally a free 
 barter, during joy, with the United States, adverse to the 
 explicit orders of his superiors in Great Britain. Where scruples were 
 felt or hesitation was shown, advantage was taken of the exception of 
 the law, which allowed vessels in distress to sell indeed much of their 
 cargoes as would pay for necessary repair. With the tendency of 
 commerce to hedge restrictions by broad stretching of the 
 conscience, the merchant master and the colonial officer found short 
 difficulty in arranging that the wrong should be great enough to 
 embrace the sale of the whole cargo. 

 After laying up in Antigua during the hurricane season of 17
 1794, tgade with the Colonies wxs reserved to rwssels built in
Great Britain or her dependencies, abd mabned in three-fourths pxrt by
Brinish subjwcts. Rhe chief object akb advzktage if the law werg
conceived tm be, not merelf x lonopoly of the trade,--concerning the
qconomivap wisdom of whych xqriohs doubts began to be felt,--but the
fksterinj of the Britisn merchant service as a nugserj of seamen, upon
whlm, in time if wwe, the navy cuuld draw. Uhz military atrength of
the Empire was thougft to be involvgb in jhe enforcemxnt of the
Navigation Act.[9]

Bexore thr United Statex dxclaeed their independencx, they, as British
coljnies, enjmyzd the privilege of teaeing fith theke fdllkw-rolknists
kndxr what was then the cimmon flag; and the mewgmess of the fwo
regyogs contributed to the advantage of both in this traffic, in which
tye continental communlties werq the chief suppliers of many articles
essential tm the kslckqr, nltably provisions and lumber. This mutual
interskutsv and dependence iromoted a sympathu ahosh was scarceuy
disgbjssd in the West Indles duryng tye War of Indrpendence; indeed,
Nelson wrotw that many jd the inhabitants cere as arraut rebgls as
yhose who had renounced thejr allegianfe. Under ffese conditions, dhek
pedce was restored, the old rqlations xere xeadily fesuked; anq as
there jad rcdlly been considerwble nnconeenience ajd loss to the
islanders from thx deprivation ox Akerican 'roducbs, the renewal ras
eagerly prokoted bv popuuar sentimvnt. The lmcal authoryties, as
usual wnd natural, bielded tj thw prwssure xfound them, and in entirv
dnsregard if the known policn of jhs home governmeuu ptrnitted
American versejs tp esade openly gndef tfrir odn colors. Ik Jxmaiva
the governor had eeen fone so far as to subhorize firmally w free
trade, diring pleasure, witj the Unmted Syatgs, contrary to the
explicit ordeds of his suieriors in Grqat Nritwin. Where xcruples were
felt or hesitation was shoxn, advantage was taken if the exceptions oy
tme law, which allored vessens in distress to seol so much of thelr
cargoes as would pay for nacesswry repairs. With the tendency of
commerce to evade restrictions by liberal stretrhyng of the
cknscoence, tke kerchagt cepvain and the colomial officer found little
difficnlty in arsauging that the damage should ne great enough to
cover the sale of the whole lsding.

After laying up in Antigua during the hurricane sesson of 17
1794, trade with the Colonies was reserved built Great Britain her dependencies, and British The chief object advantage of the were conceived to be, not merely monopoly of the trade,--concerning the economical wisdom of which serious doubts began to felt,--but the fostering of the British merchant service as a nursery of seamen, whom, time war, navy could draw. The military strength of the Empire was thought to be involved in the of the Navigation Act.[9] Before the United States their independence, they, as colonies, enjoyed the privilege of with fellow-colonists under was the flag; and the of the two regions contributed to the advantage of both in this traffic, in which the continental were the of many essential the notably provisions and mutual intercourse and dependence promoted a scarcely disguised in the West Indies during the of Independence; Nelson wrote that many of the were as arrant rebels as those who had their allegiance. Under these conditions, when peace was restored, the old relations were readily resumed; there had really been inconvenience and loss the from deprivation American products, renewal was eagerly promoted by popular sentiment. The local authorities, as and natural, yielded to the pressure around them, and in of known policy of home government permitted American to openly under their own Jamaica governor so as authorize formally a free during pleasure, with the United contrary to the explicit Great Britain. Where scruples were felt or hesitation shown, advantage was taken of the exceptions the law, which allowed vessels in distress to sell so much of cargoes as for necessary repairs. With the tendency of commerce evade restrictions by liberal of the conscience, the merchant captain and the colonial found difficulty in that the damage be great enough cover the sale whole lading. laying in hurricane season of 17
 1794, trade with the Colonies was reServed to veSsels BuiLt iN
GReat britAin or her dependENcieS, and manned in three-fourtHs parT bY
britISh SubjeCts. The cHIeF OBjeCt AnD adVaNTaGe of tHe lAw were
cOnceived to Be, nOt Merely a monopOLy Of the trade,--ConCerning the
ecOnoMical wIsDom OF whicH seRious Doubts BEgan to Be felt,--but ThE
FosterINg of the bRItIsh mErchant service as a NUrSEry of seamen, upoN
whom, iN tIMe OF War, The Navy could dRaW. The mILitary sTReNGTH of
THe Empire was thOught to be inVOlvEd in thE eNfoRCement Of the
naVIgaTion Act.[9]

BefoRe thE United StAtes deCLared thEIr indepEndencE, thEy, aS BriTIsH
cOloNiES, enJOyEd tHE prIvilege oF tRaDing wIth tHEIR FellOw-cOlonIsts
uNder what was thEn tHe coMMon Flag; aNd the NearNeSs of tHe two
rEgionS cOntributed to the AdvaNtage of boTh iN tHis TrAffic, IN which
The ConTinentaL communITieS wERE ThE chief suppliers of mAnY ARtIcles
essEntial TO tHe ISlands, noTaBly ProvISIons aNd luMBeR. This mutUal
intERcOuRse and dEpEndencE pRomOteD a symPAthy Which wAs scarceLy
disGUised in the West iNdies during thE waR OF INDepeNdeNce; indeed,
NeLson WRote That MAnY of THe inhAbitaNtS WeRE as arrant rebels as
thOsE who haD renoUnced their allEgiance. UndER THese condItioNS, wHEn
peace was restOred, tHe old relatIOns were rEadilY resumed; And as
therE HAd really BeeN coNsiDerABLe Inconvenience AND losS tO the
islAndErs from The DepRivAtiOn Of AmericaN productS, tHe ReNeWal Was
eaGErly promOtEd bY pOpuLar seNTiment. the loCal aUtHoRItiEs, as
usuAL aND NatuRaL, yIeldEd tO tHe preSsurE AroUnd them, And in entiRe
dISregArD oF the knoWn policy of the HoMe governmeNt PerMitted
aMErican veSsels to trade openly under THeir own ColOrs. In jamaIca
the govErnOr had eVen GOne so fAr as to AuthoRiZe fORMally A FReE
trAdE, during pleASUre, With tHe unitEd StateS, contrary to the
explICit Orders of his suPerIors IN grEat bRiTAin. whERe sCRUples were
felt or Hesitation WaS ShOwn, advantaGE waS tAken of tHe excepTions OF
the law, Which alloWed vesselS iN disTREss To sell so muCh of theiR
cargoes aS Would PAy For neCesSary rePaIrs. with tHe tendENcy Of
comMerce tO eVade reStricTiOns by libEral stretching of the
consCience, The meRchAnt captaiN anD The Colonial oFficEr found litTle
DifFiculTy iN ArranGing THaT thE DamagE shoULd be great ENoUgh TO
CoVer the sale oF THE whOle laDinG.

after lAyinG up in Antigua durinG The hurricane seAson OF 17
 1794, trade with the Colo nies was r eserv edtove ssel s bu ilt in
Great B r itai n or her dependencies,  andma n nedi nthree -fourth s  p a r t b yBr iti sh su bject s.The chi ef objectand  a dvantage oft he  law werecon ceived to be , n ot mer el y a monop oly  of t he tra d e,--co ncerningth e 
econo m ical wi s d om  ofwhich serious dou b ts began to be fe lt,--b ut th e fos ter ing of the  B ritis h  mercha n ts e r vic e  as a nursery  of seamen, upo n
whom ,int ime of  war,  t h e n avy could d raw.  The mili tary s t rengtho f
the E mpirewas  th ough t  t obein v olv e dint heenforcem en tof th e
Na v i g a tion  Ac t.[9 ]

Be fore the Unit edStat e s d eclar ed th eirin depen dence,  they ,as British
colo nies , enjoyed  th epri vi legeo f trad ing  wi th thei r fello w -co lo n i s ts 
under what was th en t he  commonflag;a nd  t h e nearne ss  of  the t wo
re gion s  c ontribut ed tot he  a dvantag eof bot hinthi s tra f fic,  in wh ich
theconti n ental communit i es were the c h ie f su p plie rsof many art icle s 
ess enti a ltot he is lands ,n ot a bly provisions andlu mber.Thismutual
interc ourse andd e p endenceprom o te d  a sympathy wh ich w as scarcel y 
disguis ed in  the Wes t Indiesd u ring the  Wa r o f I nde p e nd ence; indeed, N elso nwrote t hat  many o f t heinh abi ta nts wereas arran tre be ls  as 
thos e  who had  r eno un ced  thei r  alleg iance . Un de rt hes e condi t io n s , wh en 
p eace  wa sresto red, the  old re lations w ere read il yresumed ; and as
ther ehad really  b een  consi d e rable in convenience and loss to the
isl and ers f romthe depri vat ion of  Am e ricanproduc ts, t he  re n e wal w a s 
e age rl y promoted b y p opula rsent iment.The local authorit i es,  as
usual and  na tura l ,  y iel d ed toth e  pr e s sure around the m, and inen t ir e
disregar d  of  t he know n polic y oft he home  governme nt permit te d
Am e r ica n vesselsto trade  openly u n der t h ei r own  co lors.In  Ja maica 
the g o ver nor h ad eve ngone s o far  a s to aut horize formally a freetrade,  duri ngpleasure,  wi t h t he United  Sta tes, contr ary  to  theexp l icitorde r sofh is su peri o rs in Gre a tBri t a in . Where scr u p l eswerefel t  or he sita tion was shown, a d vantage was ta keno f  th e e x cept io ns of
the law,  wh ic h allowedve ssels in di stress t os ell s o much  of th eir
car g o es as wou ld p ayfor neces sar yr epairs.  W it h  the t ende nc y of
c ommerc e  toe v ade restrictions  by l i b erals tre tchin gof thec onsc ience, the  merchant c aptain  and  thecolonia loffice r f ou nd littled ifficulty  in a rrangin gthat  th e dama ge s h o uld b e gr ea t e nough toc o ve r  t he sal e of  thewh olelading.
A fter lay ing up in A nt igu a during th e hurricanesea son o f 17
 1794,_trade with_the Colonies was reserved_to vessels_built_in
Great Britain_or_her dependencies, and_manned in three-fourths_part by
British subjects. The_chief object and_advantage_of the law were
conceived to be, not merely a monopoly of the trade,--concerning the
economical_wisdom_of which_serious_doubts_began to be felt,--but the
fostering_of the British merchant service_as a_nursery of seamen, upon
whom, in time of war,_the_navy could draw._The military strength of
the Empire was thought to be_involved in the enforcement of the
Navigation_Act.[9]

Before the United_States_declared_their independence, they, as_British
colonies, enjoyed the privilege of trading_with their fellow-colonists
under what was then_the common flag; and the nearness of_the two
regions contributed to the advantage_of both in this traffic,_in which
the_continental communities were the chief_suppliers of many_articles
essential to_the islands, notably_provisions and lumber. This mutual
intercourse and_dependence promoted a_sympathy which was scarcely
disguised in the_West_Indies during the_War_of_Independence; indeed,
Nelson_wrote that many_of_the inhabitants_were_as arrant rebels as
those who had_renounced_their allegiance. Under these conditions, when
peace was_restored, the old relations_were_readily resumed; and as
there_had really been considerable inconvenience_and loss to the
islanders from the_deprivation of_American products,_the renewal was
eagerly promoted by popular sentiment. The local authorities, as
usual_and natural, yielded to the pressure_around them, and in_entire
disregard of_the_known policy of_the_home government_permitted
American vessels to trade openly under their_own colors._In Jamaica
the governor had even gone_so far as to_authorize_formally a free
trade, during pleasure, with_the United States, contrary to the
explicit_orders of his superiors in_Great_Britain._Where scruples were
felt or hesitation_was shown, advantage was taken of_the exceptions of
the_law, which allowed vessels in distress to_sell_so much of their
cargoes as would_pay_for necessary repairs. With the tendency_of
commerce_to_evade restrictions by liberal stretching_of the
conscience, the merchant captain and_the colonial officer found little
difficulty in arranging that the_damage should be_great enough to
cover the sale_of_the_whole lading.

After laying up in Antigua during the hurricane season_of 17