A collection of three rare and important 1816 British War of 1812 legal documents (a bill and two acts) dealing with post War of 1812 to carry into effect a Convention of Commerce, concluded between His Majesty and the United States of America

A collection of three rare and important 1816 British legal documents (a bill and two acts) dealing with post War of 1812 to carry into effect a Convention of Commerce, concluded between His Majesty and the United States of America

1) A Bill dated March 18, 1816 to carry into effect a Convention of Commerce, concluded between His Majesty and The United States of America. Bill 145. Ordered, by The House of Commons, to be Printed, 18 March 1816. 2 pages +. 1 page (docket). [London: 1816.] Folio (13"). Official watermarked paper: Britannia in crowned oval, with date 1814. Contemporary manuscript numbers at the corner of each leaf. Removed from bound volume and expertly mended. Very good. A bill document in it self is much more uncommon than Acts and important legal documents in the legal process.

With;

2) An Act dated April 11, 1816 to carry into effect a Convention of Commerce, concluded between His Majesty and the United States of America. Dated [11th April 1816.] 56 George III, Cap. 15. London: George Eyre and Andrew Strahan, 1816. Folio (11"). Caption title, pages 169-170 (single leaf). Woodcut Royal coat of arms. Removed from bound volume. Very good.

With;

3) An Act dated June 20, 1816 to amend an Act passed in the present Session of Parliament, intituled An Act to carry into Effect a Convention of Commerce concluded between His Majesty and the United States of America. [20th June 1816.] 56 George III, Cap. 51. London: George Eyre and Andrew Strahan, 1816. Folio (11"). Caption title, pages 353-354 (single leaf). Woodcut Royal coat of arms. Removed from bound volume. Very good.

Less than four months after the Treaty of Ghent was ratified, a Convention between the United States and Great Britain "to regulate the commerce and navigation ... in such a manner as to render the same reciprocally beneficial and satisfactory" was signed at London on July 3, 1815.

The Convention restored trade and access to each other's ports and equalized import and export duties.

The Bill dated March 18, 1816 formalized the acceptance of the terms of the Convention by the British, and the ensuing the formal legal Act dated April 11, 1816, received royal assent shortly thereafter. Some two months later, the Act dated June 20, 1816 was amended to clarify the terms for American vessels clearing out of British ports in the East Indies.

The Convention was made valid for four years from the date of signing. It was extended for a further 10 years by the Convention of October 20, 1818, and then extended indefinitely by the Convention of August 6, 1827.