Ch. 3.8. Primary Source: Customs’ Commissioner’s Report on Colonial Trade, 1759

In this internal report written to inform the senior officials at the Board of Trade in London, an anonymous official expresses despair about the ability to control the colonial American trade.

Mr. Pownall, Secretary to the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, …in his letter…transmitted copies of letters [and reports]…which have been made to their Lordships as far back as 1739 relating to the great difficulties…in the execution of the Acts of Trade, and to the many illegal and improper practices which have been set up to evade their force…, to the great prejudice of the commerce of this country and of his Majesty’s revenue of customs and duties. We have considered all the said letters…, [and make] the three following points:

1st, the illicit importation of rum and molasses from the French islands into the British northern colonies; 2nd, the importation of goods from different parts of Europe…into North America, and the carrying of enumerated goods from thence to the said places in Europe, contrary to law, where by all such imports and exports are restrained to Great Britain only; 3rd, the pernicious practice of supplying the French colonies and plantations with provisions from his Majesty’s colonies, or from Ireland.

With respect to the first point, the running of those goods into his Majesty’s northern colonies will be unavoidable.  As to the second point, so far as the same relates to the importation of European goods into North America…, the great extent of the coast very much favors the running thereof… With respect to the enumerated goods exported from the northern colonies…, it is impossible…to prevent it… With respect to the third point, we must confess…that as in North America opportunities are so easy of supplying the French with provisions, we despair of putting any effectual stop thereto.

Questions: What mechanisms of enforcement, by which people or which officials, are established to control colonial trade, and how well did they work? Why, according to this report, was it so difficult to control colonial trade?