Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 2).djvu/14

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  • —The Orders discussed—Embargo on British ships in Russia—Milan

Decree, Dec. 17, 1807—Preamble and articles—Bayonne Decree, April
17, 1808—Effect of the Decrees and Orders in Council in England—Interests
of the shipowners maintained—Napoleon infringes his own
decrees—Moniteur, Nov. 18, 1810—Rise in the price of produce
and freights, partly accounted for by the Orders in Council—Ingenuity
of merchants in shipping goods—Smuggling—Licence
system in England—Cost of English licences—Their marketable
value—Working of the licensing system in England—Simulated
papers—Agencies for the purpose of fabricating them. Pages 290-319


CHAPTER IX.

Effect of the Orders in Council on American trade, A.D. 1810—Complaints
of the Americans against England—Policy of Napoleon
towards neutrals—Non-intercourse Act—Secret terms with America—Partiality
of the United States towards France—Contentions at home
respecting the Orders in Council—Declaration of war with America—Motives
of the Americans—England revokes her Orders in Council—Condemnation
of the conduct of the United States—Impressment of
American seamen—Fradulent certificates—Incidents of the system—War
with America—Necessity of relaxing the Navigation Laws during
war—High duties on cotton—Great European Alliance—Napoleon
returns to Paris—Germans advance to the Rhine—Treaty of Chaumont—The
Allies enter Paris—End of the war by the Treaty of
Paris, 1814—Napoleon's escape from Elba—His landing in France
and advance on Paris—British troops despatched to Belgium—Subsidies
to European Powers—Fouché—Last campaign of Napoleon,
and defeat at Waterloo—Reflections 320-344


CHAPTER X.

United States of America—Her independence recognised, 1783—Commercial
rights—Retaliatory measures—Threatening attitude of
Massachusetts—Constitution of the United States—Good effects of
an united Government—Maritime laws and laws respecting Neutrals—Feeling
on both sides the water—Treaty between Great Britain
and United States—The right to impose a countervailing tonnage
duty reserved—Difficulty of the negotiation—Remarkable omission
respecting cotton—Indignation in France at the Treaty—The French
protest against its principles—Interest of England to have private
property free from capture at sea—Condemnation of ships in the
West Indies and great depredations—Outrages on the Americans— —Torture
practised by French cruisers—The advantages of the war
to the Americans—Impulse given to shipping—Progress of American