British Economic Policy and the Empire

IN 1815, the white settled colonies were still very much a part of an economic and political system ruled firmly from Britain and it was a commonplace as late as the 183os to associate them with commercial and navigational success [171: 82–95]. The relationship between economic subservience and political control could be seen most obviously when, in 1835 and again in 1842, the white colonies were reminded that legislation passed by their own parliaments would not be approved in Britain if they ceased to give preferential treatment to British goods [195: 453].