negro fhall be free; and if the faid negro dies, the perfon who was the cause thereof fhall be accountable to the laws, as for the lofs of any other of his majesty's fubjects: and if it appears to any. of his majefty's governors or magiftrates abroad, that any planter withholds from his negroes proper cloathing and fufficient maintenance, for the firft offence he fhall fuffer a fine at the difcretion of fuch magiftrate, but not exceeding 201. and for the second conviction, double, and fo on toties quoties, until he gives them their proper allowance, fuch as may be settled by the laws of the colony'; and that on the other hand, negroes convicted of idlenefs, neglecting their master's business, or abfenting themselves from their fervice, fhall be liable to fuch pains and punishments as the laws of the colony fhall inflict; provided always that the magistrates, not planters, shall order and inflict all punishments for offences deemed deserving severity beyond what the planters fhall have the power of ordering, which shall never exceed forty ftripes, under penalty of 50l. to be forfeited to the magistrate of the place.

And whereas many negroes have been brought into Eng land to the detriment of the Colonies and encreafe of idle fervants here, 25¢ it enacted; and it is enacted by the autho-rity aforesaid, that from and after the first day of July next enfuing whatsoever fubject of Great Britain fhall import a negroe here, fhall attend immediately at the Cuftom-house, pay a duty of rol. a head for every negroe fo imported, and give in such negroe's free consent and agreement, figned by him or her voluntarily, to return from whence he or she came,

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within the space of two years; and shall give a bond of 50l. to government for fuch negroe's return within fuch time, and to produce a certificate thereof under pain of forfeiting the faid bond, in which two reputable housekeepers shall also be joined with the importer, and all three jointly and feverally shall be liable to the fame: and whatsoever subject of Great Britain shall import a negroe without conforming to the above directions, fhall forfeit 100l. for every negroe fo imported, half to the perfon who fues for the fame, and half to the use of his majesty; and the negroe fhall be free: Excepting always fuch negroes as may be hired to assist in bringing a fhip home, who shall be reftored to their owners' estates abroad and fent back by the firft opportunity,

And to prevent frauds and collufions by fuch negroes being called free, Be it enacted, and it is enacted by the authority aforefaid, that whatsoever negroe comes, or is brought here under that denomination after the said first day of July next enfuing, fhall pay 50l. at the custom house, to be reftored for his or her use on, first, a certificate of his or her failing from England, and next, another certificate of his or her being landed, and refident in the colonies abroad; and that if any negroe on landing does not comply with the above directions, fuch negroe so neglecting shall forfeit 100l. or be sent back to the place from whence he or fhe came; which faid 100l. fhall be recovered and disposed of as above directed.

And to ensure justice and good usage to the natives of Africa upon their own Coasts, and to deter the mafters of

veffels employed in the trade thereto more effectually from ufing any violence to, or forcibly carrying away any native thereof, whether a freeman or a flave, Be it enacted, and it is enacted by the authority aforefaid, that any commander or master of a vessel, that fhall by violence or fraud carry away any native of Africa, not purchased in the fair course of that trade, shall, for every native fo carried away, forfeit the fum of 100l. if fuch native be a flave, and 2001. if he or she be free, to be recovered and applied, as before is mentioned; and fhall moreover repurchase and restore him or her to his or her own country or owner therein, and produce a certificate therof, under penalty of never being allowed to fail as captain of any veffel in any trade whatso

ever.

And be it enacted, and it is enacted by the authority aforefaid, that whatever merchant or master of a veffel, from Great Britain to the colonies, fhall, by contract made in Europe or America, agree to furnish any French ship on the coaft of Africa with negroes, fhall forfeit treble the value of fuch negroes so disposed of, one third to the person who fues for the fame, one third for the maintenance of the forts, and one third for the use of his majesty.

And whereas an inhibition lies against fome articles of trade, neceffary for the coaft of Africa, going out in small veffels, which fort of veffels are abfolutely requifite for many rivers, which will not admit large ones, Be it enacted, and it is enacted by the authority aforefaid, that veffels of any fize fhall be allowed to fhip rum, tobacco, teas, and fpirits

with the usual drawbacks, upon the owner and master giving bond that the faid veffel is intended for the coast of Africa, naming the port she is bound to, and engaging under proper penalties, that no part or parcel fhall be relanded in Europe: And be it enacted, also that all vessels trading to the river Gambia, fhall be allowed to carry out fuch a quantity of crewels, as fhall be neceffary to make up their affortment, on giving bond, that the faid crewels are for fuch fervice only, and fhall be landed in fome town or factory, or otherwise difpofed of within the river Gambia; and that so much of a former act of parliament as fubjects the owners and mafters of fhips fo deftined for Gambia to any lofs for having fuch crewels on board, fhall be and is hereby repealed.

And for the better detection of any deceit or impofition in the annual accounts, directed by the act of the twentythird of his late majesty to be laid before the Curfitor Baron of the Exchequer, the fame is hereby ordered to be formed agreeable to the fame act, by the committee, within one month from the expiration of their office annually, and then to lie for the remainder of that month, and the space of one month more, open for the inspection and obfervation of the freemen of the faid company at their office in London, immediately after which it is to be laid before a general meeting of the freemen of the faid company to be had in London, of which fourteen days notice fhall be given in the London Gazette, and fuch meeting fhall not be at any time within one month for the general election of com

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mittee-men of the faid company; and until fuch meeting the faid accounts fhall not be deemed to be valid, or be capable of being laid before the Curfitor Baron of the Exchequer.

And to prevent any exaction or collufion by or in any committee-man or officer employed by or under the company aforefaid, from any perfon appointed by or trafficked with by the faid company or committee thereof, Be it enacted, and it is enacted by the authority aforefaid, that any committee-man, officer or other fervant belonging to the faid company, accepting of any money by way of fee, gratuity or reward, otherwise than is by law permitted, shall be for ever incapable of service to, by or under the faid company.

And for the better fupplying the foldiers and inferior officers employed in the faid forts, Be it enacted, and it is enacted by the authority aforefaid, that the said committee, under penalty of fine or difmiffion, fhall take care that they have at least as ample food, and as proper and wholesome drink and cloathing, suitable for the climate, as any of his majesty's forces ftationed abroad; and fhall fend fuch food, drink and cloathing themselves for fuch purposes, and not leave the fame or any part thereof to be furnished by the governors or other officers of the forts in any degree, that can in the nature of things be prevented: and for so much as may remain due or owing to any officer or foldier in the service of the faid company after defraying the charge of neceffary food and raiment, and deducting fuch remittances

as they may make to their relations or friends in England,