Curiously enough, the cries of calamity in the United States were echoed across the water, where the "London Times" lugubriously exclaimed: "The shipping interest, the cradle of our navy, is half ruined.

Our commercial monopoly exists no longer; and thousands of our manufacturers are starving or seeking redemption in distant lands.
We have closed the Western Indies against America from feelings of commercial rivalry.

Its active seamen have already engrossed an important branch of our carrying trade to the Eastern Indies.

Her starred flag is now conspicuous on every sea and will soon defy our thunder." It was not until 1849 that Great Britain threw overboard her long catalogue of protective navigation laws which had been piling up since the time of Cromwell, and declared for free trade afloat.

Meanwhile the United States had drifted in the same direction, barring foreign flags from its coastwise shipping but offering full exemption from all discriminating duties and tonnage duties to every maritime nation which should respond in like manner.