day the second day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-one, as respects the exportation of flour, be and remain in full force until the first day of August next, and that from and after that day, that part of the said act be and the same is hereby repealed.

XXVII. This act to continue and be in force for and Continuance. during the term of six years, and until the end of the next session of assembly which shall happen thereafter.

CHAP. XVIII.

An ACT to repeal all the acts of assembly heretofore made relative to the seizure of provisions or merchandise.

WHEREAS the seizure of provisions within this Preamble. state hath heretofore been adopted upon the principle of necessity only, to procure an immediate supply for the use of the army, and the several acts passed for supply payable in specific articles making it unnecessary to continue such acts any longer:

&c.

II. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, Acts repealed, That all the acts of assembly heretofore made, empowering the governor and council, or any other person or persons, to seize provisions or merchandise of any kind, shall be and are hereby repcaled, abrogated, and made null and void.

SESSION BEGINNING APRIL 25, 1782.

CHAP. V.

An ACT to prevent the exportation of bread and flour not merchantable from George-town in Montgomery county, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, Act to apply to George-town, &c. That the act to prevent the exportation of bread and flour not merchantable, and for other purposes, made and passed at a session of assembly, begun and held at the city of Annapolis, on Monday the fifth of November, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, have full force and operation, and apply in the same degree and manner, to George-town in Montgomery county, as if made for said town, after the first day of August ensuing.

II. And, Whereas there is a difference between the size of the Pennsylvania and Virginia flour casks, and the flour casks established by the aforesaid act, by which 37639°-18

-27

Pennsylvania

ported, &c.

means the exportation of Pennsylvania and Virginia made flour from this state is prevented: Therefore, Be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to export and Virginia Pennsylvania and Virginia flour, packed in Pennsylvania Dour may be ex and Virginia casks, of a size and make conformable to the regulations of the laws of the said states, from the ports of Baltimore and George-town aforesaid, provided that the flour is merchantable agreeable to the regulations of this state, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.

Continuance.

Preamble.

ber probibited.

III. THIS act to continue and be in force for and during the term of the act to prevent the exportation of bread and flour not merchantable, and for other purposes.

ACTS AND LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS.

[Printed from "Acts and Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," printed by Benjamin Edes and Sons, Printers to His Excellency the Governor, the Council and Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.]

[1776, p. 73.]

CHAP. X.

An Act to prohibit the Exportation of Lumber for a limitted Time

WHEREAS many and great Inconveniences may, at this critical Time arise to this and the other United States of America, if a speedy and effectual Prohibition of the Exportation of Lumber and other Materials for building from each and every Port, Harbour or Place within the Limits of this State is not immediately effected:

Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the Species of Lum- Authority of the same, That no Person or Persons whatsoever, shall take or load on board any Ship or Vessel within this State, any Oak or Pine Timber, Plank, Boards, Joists, Clapboards or Shingles, or other Wooden Materials suitable for Building, with Intent to convey the same out of this State, or to transport the same by Water from any Port or Harbour in this State, to any other Port or Harbour therein, excepting all such Lumber as shall be transporting from Place to Place for the sole Use and by the Order of this or any other of the United States of America, or any Person employed by them for that Purpose: And that no Ship or Vessel already loaded with any such Lumber as aforesaid, in any Port or Harbour within this State, shall be permitted to depart with any such Lumber on

board, from any such Port or Harbour, to any other Port or Harbour within this State, or to any Port, Harbour or Place without this State: And every such Ship or Vessel forfeiture. which shall load as aforesaid, or being loaded as aforesaid, shall Sail or Depart, or attempt to Sail or Depart from any Port, Harbour or Place within this State, shall, together, with her Cargo, Tackle, Apparel, and Furniture be Forfeited, and disposed of as in this Act is herein after provided.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be Lawful for any armed Ship or Vessel, commissioned by tle American Congress, or by any of the United States of America, to surprise, take, seize and Vessels may be seized by armed bring into any Port or Place within this State, any Ship Vessels. or Vessel which shall have sailed from any Place within this State, in Violation of this Act, Wholly or in Part laden with Lumber as aforesaid, and be found on the high Seas. And the several Maritime Courts already erected within this State, are hereby Authorized to try the Justice of such Captures in like Manner and Form as other Ships or Vessels are triable in the same Courts; and in Case of Confiscation, to Order Distribution thereof; How distribone Moiety thereof to the Captors, and the other Moiety to and for the Use of this State.

uted.

And be it farther enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That any Owner or Freighter of any Ship or Vessel that shall, in Violation of this Act, Sail and Depart from any Port or Harbour within this State, in Part or Wholly laden with Lumber as aforesaid, and the same Ship or Vessel shall not be taken or seized in Consequence of this Act, every such Owner or Freighter shall forfeit and pay the Sum of Three Hundred Pounds, to be recovered in the Penalty Inferior Court in the County from whence the said Vessel Freighters offendsailed, and applied as hereafter by this Act is directed. Provided always, that no Action shall be sustained in any Court of Record within this State, unless the same were commenced within twelve Months after the Offence committed.

Owners

ing.

on or

powered to see Act exe

cuted.

Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Committees imCommittees of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety of this the several Towns and Plantations within this State, are hereby authorized, directed and impowered to see that this Act is duly observed and kept within their respective Precincts, and prosecute to effect all Violations of the same, and to recover the Penalties thereto annexed, in

Time of its taking Place, and Limitation.

which Case one Moiety of the Penalty shall accrue to this State, and be lodged in the public Treasury of the same, and the other Moiety to and for the Benefit of the Town or Plantation where the Offence is committed, after deducting the reasonable Charges of Prosecution.

This Act to be in Force and take Place in all Parts of this State, excepting the Counties of York, Cumberland and Lincoln, from and after the fourth Day of September Instant: In the Counties of York and Cumberland, from and after the ninth Day of September Instant; and in the County of Lincoln, from and after the tenth Day of September Instant, and to be in force until the twentieth Day of November next, and no longer.

Preamble.

Time OI

Act's

ing.

this

commenc

[1777, p. 78.]

CHAP. XIV.

An Act to prevent Monopoly and Oppression.

WHEREAS the avaricious Conduct of many Persons, by daily adding to the now exorbitant Price of every necessary and convenient Article of Life; and encreasing the Price of Labour in general, unless a speedy and effectual Stop be put thereto, will be attended with the most fatal and pernicious Consequences, as it not only disheartens and disaffects the Soldiers, who have nobly entered into the Service of their Country, for the Support of the best of Causes, and distresses the poorer Part of the Community by obliging them to give unreasonable Prices for those Things that are absolutely necessary to their very Existence, but will be also very injurious to the State in general:

And whereas the Committee lately empowered by this State to proceed to Providence in Rhode-Island, and in Behalf of this State, there to meet with Committees from the other New-England States; and among other Things to confer upon Measures necessary to prevent Monopoly and the high Price of Goods, and the Necessaries of Life, and for Regulation of Vendues; have in Conjunction with the said Committees, recommended that Rates and Prices be settled and affixed by an Act of this State, to the Articles herein after enumerated.

Be it therefore enacted by the Council and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the Twentyeighth Day of January One Thousand seven Hundred and seventy-seven, the Price of Farming-Labour in the

Summer-Season shall not exceed three Shillings by the Day, and found as usual; and so in usual Proportion at other Seasons of the Year. And the Labour of Mechanics and Tradesmen, and other Labour, beside what is herein hereafter especially enumerated, in Proportion thereunto, according to the Usages and Customs which have heretofore been adopted and practiced in this State, when compared with Farming Labour.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the following Articles shall not be sold for a higher Price than is herein hereafter settled and affixed to them respectively, viz.

Good merchantable Wheat at seven Shillings and siz Pence per Bushel.

Good merchantable Rye or Rye Meal at five Shillings a Bushel.

Good Indian Meal or Corn-at four Shillings a Bushel. Good merchantable Sheeps Wool at two Shillings Pound.

Fresh Pork well fatted and of a good Quality, at four Pence half Penny a Pound; and Salt Pork in usual Proportion according to the Price of Salt.

Good well fatted Grass fed Beef at three Pence a Pound; and Stall-fed Beef well fatted at four Pence a Pound; and Beef of an inferior Quality in equal Proportion.

Raw Hides at three Pence a Pound.

Raw Calf Skins at six Pence a Pound.

Good merchantable imported Salt at ten Shillings a Bushel; Salt manufactured from Sea Water within this State at twelve Shillings a Bushel.

Rum.

Good Merchantable West India Rum at six Shillings Wee: indis and eight Pence a Gallon by the Hogshead, including the Cask, and six Shillings and ten Pence by the Barrel, exclusive of the Barrel, and seven Shillings and eight Pence by the single Gallon, and two Shillings by the Quart, and so in Proportion for a less Quantity, according to the former Custom and Usages for retailing smaller Quantities, saving an Allowance of one Penny a Gallon for every ten Miles the same shall be carried by Land Carriage from the first Port of Delivery.

New England Rum at three Shillings and ten Pence a Gallon by the Hogshead or Barrel, exclusive of thirteen Shilling, and four Pence for the Hogshead, or four Shillings for the Barrel, and four Shillings and six Pence by the single Gallon, at the Town where the same is dis

New-England

Rum.