BY the said Statute it is Enacted, that no Goods, Wares, or Merchandises therein Enumerated, shall be Im­ported into His Majesties Dominions, in any Ships whatsoever; but in such as belong to the People of England, or are English Built, and mann'd with the Master and three Fourths of the Marriners at least English; Except only such Ships as are of the Built of the Country, of which the goods are the Growth, &c. And mann'd with the People of the same.

But Notwithstanding the said Law for several Years last past Goods, &c. Have been Notoriously Imported, and admitted to an Entry at the Custome-House, Directly contrary to the said Act, in Ships neither Built nor mann'd by English, nor of the Built of the Country, of which the Goods, &c. Were the Growth, &c. And mann'd with People of the same.

That the Act is and has been dispenced with for some Years past, to the Discouragement and Prejudice of other Merchants, who do honestly and truly Observe the same, and to the Ruin of the Navigation of this Kingdom in General, which said Mischifs proceed from Encouragement Given by the Commissioners of the Customes and their Officers, to such unfare Traders as well by admitting the goods, &c. To an Entry as by removing from their places such Of­ficers, as have Endeavoured to put the said Act in Execu­tion, All which the Petitioners are ready to make appear.