102 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.

Original.

[Egremont to Sharpe.]

Whitehall 9^th July 1763
Sir,
It having appeared, that the Publick Revenue has been
greatly diminished, and the fair Trader much prejudiced, by
the fraudulent Methods used to introduce into His Majesty's
Dominions, (contrary to the Act of 12^th Charles 2^d for encourag-
ing and encreasing Shipping and Navigation ; and that of 15^th
Charles 2^d for the Encouragement of Trade ; and the Act of
7^th and 8^th of William 3^d for preventing Frauds, & regulating
Abuses in the Plantation Trade ;) Commodities of foreign
Growth, in national, as well as foreign, Bottoms, by means of
small Vessels hovering on the Coasts ; & that this iniquitous
Practice has been carried to a great Heighth in America ; an
Act was passed the last Session of Parliament, intituled, An
Act for the further Improvement of His Majesty's Revenue of
Customs ; And for the Encouragement of Officers making
Seizures; and for the Prevention of the clandestine Running
of Goods into any Part of His Majestys Dominions ; by which
the former Laws relative to this matter, are enforced, and
extended to the British Dominions in all parts of the World ;
And the King having it extremely at heart to put an End to
all iniquitous Practices of this Nature, by a due, punctual, &

vigorous Exertion of the Laws made for this salutary purpose ,

And His Majesty having been pleased to order, that the most
effectual Steps should be taken for obtaining that End ; the
Commanders of His Majesty's Ships stationed in America will,
in consequence thereof, be vested for the future, with the
necessary & legal Powers, from the Commissioners of the
customs, for carrying into Execution the several Acts of
Parliament relative to the seizing & condemning any ships
that shall be found transgressing against the said Acts ; I am
to signify to you the King's express Pleasure, that you do, as
far as shall depend upon you, not only cooperate with and
assist the said Commanders in the due and legal Execution of
the Powers & Instructions given them by Commissioners of
the Customs ; but that you do also use your utmost Endeav-
ours, by the most assiduous and impartial Exertion of the
Laws enacted for this Purpose, to put an effectual Stop to the
clandestine Running of Goods into any place within your
Jurisdiction ; And that you may be fully informed of every
particular in an Affair of this Importance, you will find inclosed
herewith a Copy of the Act passed last Session of Parliament,
referred to above ; together with His Majesty's Order in
Council, made agreable thereto, for the Division of the Seizures ;
to which I add a List of the Ships stationed in America, dis-