MHS Collections Online

Anno Regni Regis Georgii Tertii Septimo

An Act for laying an Impost Duty on Negro, Mulatto
and Indan Slaves imported into this Province

Whereas the importation of Slaves from Africa and
other Parts into this Province has proved detrimental to the
Public --

Be it enacted by the Governor Council & house of
Representatives that from and after the tenth day of April
1767 there shall be paid for every Negro Mulatto or Indian
Slave imported or brought into this Province the sum of Forty
pounds

Be it further enacted that Every person that shall after
the tenth day of April aforesaid import or by any way or means
whatever bring or cause to be imported or brought into this Province either by
Sea or land any Negro Mulatto or Indian Slave or Slaves, shall
within forty eight hours after such importation or bringing in,
report in writing the number of such Slaves to the Impost Officer
or his Deputy; or, where no such officer or deputy dwells, to some one
of his Majesty's justices of the Peace; and within forty eight hours
after such report pay said duty to said officer, deputy or Justice
to whom the report shall have been made: and in case said
duty be not paid as aforesaid, such Slaves shall be forfeited
to this Government; and shall be sold by order of the Impost
Officer at public vendue; and the nett produce of such sale shall
be paid to the Province Treasurer said Impost officer for the use of this Province.

Provided nevertheless that if Such importer shall give to
said officer, Deputy or Justice a bond with two Sufficient Sureties payable to the Treasurer in behalf of this Province Satis-
facotry Security to pay and conditioned to pay the amount of Said duty within three months after
making report

Provided nevertheless that if such importer shall give to said Impost
Officer, Deputy or Justice a bond for double the sum of the duty with sufficient
surety or sureties payable to said Impost officer in behalf of this Province, &
conditioned to pay the amount of such duty within three months after ma-
king report as aforesaid, the Slaves for which the duty shall have been thus
secured to be paid shall not be forfeited. *

[The following paragraph is meant to be inserted at the asterix above, and is written on a separate sheet that was glued onto page 2.]
* Provided also that if any Slaves shall within six months be
imported into this Province in any Vessel that for the last time
sailed therefrom before the 20th. of march 1767 and it shall
bona fide so appear to the Governor & Council on a repre-
sentation made to them, the duty aforesaid on such slaves
shall not be payable.

Be it further enacted that if any person before sd. duty be paid or be secured to be paid as aforsaid shall purchase, or
receive by gift, or in any way be possessed of any slave or slaves on which the
duty aforesaid is by this Act required to be paid, he or she shall forfeit such slave and slaves:
and they are hereby declared forfeited accordingly.

Provided always and Be it further enacted that this Act shall not be
construed to extend to lay the duty aforesaid onany slave or slaves that may be Seamen or mariners
on board any ship or vessell coming into this Province nor to or that may be
travelling on the roads with their masters or owners; or that may belong to any person that
shall come occasionally into transiently or to reside within this Province: provided that in all the foregoing cases
such slave or slaves shall not be sold or any way disposed of within this Pro- or the property of them any way alienated during
vince their continuance within this Province on the penalty of forfeiture:
and in case of their being sold, or the property of them any way alienated
as aforesaid they shall be and are hereby declared forfeited.

And be it further enacted that the Impost Officer, his Deputy
or the Justice aforesaid to whom the Duty aforesaid shall be paid, shall
at the end of every six months during the Continuance of this Act respec-
tively account with and pay the same to the Treasurer of this Province
and shall be allowed five PerCent respectively for their trouble and for
receiving and paying the same.

And be it further enacted that all forfeitures arising by this
Act (the first mentioned forfeiture only excepted) shall be and belong
one moiety to his Majesty to and and [sic] for the use of this Government;
and the other moiety to him or them that shall inform and sue for
the same: to be recovered by action of debt; or by bill plaint or infor-
mation in any of his Majesty's Courts of record proper to try the

And for the further Security of the payment of the duty a-
foresaid on all such slaves as shall be imported in any Ship or
Vessell into this Province, the master or owner of such Ship or Vessell
and also the Ship or Vessell Be it further enacted that the Master
of such Ship or Vessell and also the Ship or Vessell itself shall be
security for the payment of the duty aforesaid: and both or either of
them shall stand charged in the law therefor to the Comissioner or
receiver of Impost: who or his deputy may deny a clearance for such Ship or
Vessell until payment be made; or (at said Commissioner's his election) may recover the
same of the Master by action of debt, Bill, plaint or Information
in any of his Majesty's Courts of Record within this Province.

And be it further enacted that this Act shall be
in force untill the tenth day of April 1768 and no
longer.