[Extract]
The Bill intended to restrict the trade of New England and prevent the latter from fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland or along the coast of Northern America was passed the day before yesterday with a majority of 188 voices against 58 at the House of Commons. This Bill sets 1 July of this year as the date when the interdiction will go into effect for the New Englanders to export any kind of goods to any parts of the world except the possessions of the British Empire, either in the West Indies or in Europe. As of the first of September, any ship loaded outside Great Britain and carrying any goods whatever to New England will be subject to seizure either in the ports of this province, or at a limit of six miles from her coast. Exception is made for horses, food supplies, and cloth made in Ireland and coming directly from that Kingdom.
On 20 July the order will go into effect to seize any New England ship found fishing on the Banks of Newfoundland, along the coast of Labrador, the coast of the gulf and river Saint Lawrence, Cape Breton, and Nova Scotia, or, finally, along any coast of Northern America. Exception is made only for the inhabitants of the small Island of Nantucket who, although dependant upon New England, retain their freedom to fish for reasons cited by the Committee of the Merchants of London which I had the honor to forward to you. One modification has also been added for whale fishing, and it is specified that any ship that will have sailed exclusively for this purpose before 1 June will be free to engage in whale fishing until the first of November of this year . . . .
The Lords will take this Bill into consideration next week. Although a strong opposition is expected on the part of Lord Chatham, the latter will have another opportunity to express his disapproval, since Lord North has requested and received permission yesterday to present a new Bill in order to restrict the trade of the following Colonies: New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and South Carolina. The trade of these five colonies will therefore be confined to Great Britain, Ireland and the West Indies. At present, it might be interesting for us to know that Carolina will no longer be able to export rice to several foreign ports. . . .
This Minister (Lord Rochford) spoke to me of the threats made to the Dutch. He even said to me that the Government had presently two warships cruising off Texel in order to intercept three merchantmen upon which he received some information and which he claims are loaded with ammunition for the Colonies. Although they are officially bound for Saint Eustatius, England does not believe this Island needs any ammunition. As for the assertion made by the first Lord of the Admiralty concerning some ships supposedly loaded at Port l'Orient for the English Colonies, Myd Rochford told me he would not fail to chaff Myd Sandwich about it.
