Page:History of merchant shipping and ancient commerce (Volume 2).djvu/414

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continuous and an interrupted voyage; but, besides requiring that the goods should be landed and the duties paid in the neutral country, this article expressly stipulated that, on re-exportation, there should remain, after the drawback, a duty to be paid of one per cent. ad valorem on all articles of the growth, produce, and manufacture of Europe; and on all articles of colonial produce a duty of not less than two per cent. The maritime jurisdiction of the United States was guaranteed by the 12th article, against the alleged encroachments and violations of his Majesty's cruisers; and on account of the peculiar circumstances of the American coast, an extension of maritime jurisdiction, to the distance of five miles from shore in American waters, was mutually conceded by both parties, with certain limitations, having reference to other powers, expressed in the treaty.[1]

Commercial stipulations. The commercial stipulations contained in this treaty seem to have been framed on the fairest and most liberal principles of reciprocal advantages to both countries; but before the treaty reached the United States for the requisite ratification, and indeed before it was signed in London, the celebrated Berlin Decree[2] had been issued, and the position of England was thereby very greatly altered in respect to neutrals.

But treaties, in those days of national convulsions, were of little avail; they were too frequently made

  1. This document will be found in 'Parl. Papers,' 1808, vol. xiv. It will be found also in American 'State Papers,' together with a most voluminous correspondence.
  2. November 21, 1806.