reserving to the crown the right to acquire such lands and dispose of them for settlement.  A second provision in the same proclamation vested the power of licensing trade with the Indians, including the lucrative fur business, in the hands of royal officers in the colonies.  These two limitations on American freedom and enterprise were declared to be in the interest of the crown and for the preservation of the rights of the Indians against fraud and abuses.

=The Sugar Act of 1764.=—­King George’s ministers next turned their attention to measures of taxation and trade.  Since the heavy debt under which England was laboring had been largely incurred in the defense of America, nothing seemed more reasonable to them than the proposition that the colonies should help to bear the burden which fell so heavily upon the English taxpayer.  The Sugar Act of 1764 was the result of this reasoning.  There was no doubt about the purpose of this law, for it was set forth clearly in the title:  “An act for granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations in America ... for applying the produce of such duties ... towards defraying the expenses of defending, protecting and securing the said colonies and plantations ... and for more effectually preventing the clandestine conveyance of goods to and from the said colonies and plantations and improving and securing the trade between the same and Great Britain.”  The old Molasses Act had been prohibitive; the Sugar Act of 1764 was clearly intended as a revenue measure.  Specified duties were laid upon sugar, indigo, calico, silks, and many other commodities imported into the colonies.  The enforcement of the Molasses Act had been utterly neglected; but this Sugar Act had “teeth in it.”  Special precautions as to bonds, security, and registration of ship masters, accompanied by heavy penalties, promised a vigorous execution of the new revenue law.

The strict terms of the Sugar Act were strengthened by administrative measures.  Under a law of the previous year the commanders of armed vessels stationed along the American coast were authorized to stop, search, and, on suspicion, seize merchant ships approaching colonial ports.  By supplementary orders, the entire British official force in America was instructed to be diligent in the execution of all trade and navigation laws.  Revenue collectors, officers of the army and navy, and royal governors were curtly ordered to the front to do their full duty in the matter of law enforcement.  The ordinary motives for the discharge of official obligations were sharpened by an appeal to avarice, for naval officers who seized offenders against the law were rewarded by large prizes out of the forfeitures and penalties.