Colonies

1778 · 1076 — London: Printed by Charles Eyre and William Strahan. 1778. First edition. Folio 32 x 20cm. Unbound. 2 1007-1012. Woodcut coat of arms to the title page decorative woodcut initial to the first text page text in black letter. A very good copy with just a little toning slight separation and minor wear to the left-hand margin where once bound within a larger volume. An act restoring Ireland's ability to export goods directly to the colonies in the Americas and Africa issued in the context of the American Revolutionary War and amending what became known as the Navigation Acts. Restricting the freedoms of Britain's colonies with regard to the import and export of goods the Navigation Acts had been a significant factor in fermenting rebellious discontent in America - requiring all of a colony's imports to be either bought from Britain or resold by British merchants in Britain regardless of the price obtainable elsewhere. The acts were also resented in Ireland and damaged its economy as they permitted the importation of English goods into Ireland tariff-free and simultaneously imposed tariffs on Irish exports travelling in the opposite direction. The present act removing some of these barriers demonstrates the changing nature of British mercantilism as the American Revolution progressed. London: Printed by Charles Eyre and William Strahan. unknown