Certificates

neighbours (who in case of disagreement shall call in a third) to determine, on oath, as well the value as what of the aforesaid articles such person can spare, without distressing such person, his, or her family; and the principal, or assistant, may take the articles so ascertained and valued, giving a certificate as aforesaid therefor. to VII. And be it enacted, That all certificates, as aforesaid, shall be paid by either of the treasurers, or discounted by the sheriff of the county, out of the public assessment due from the persons to whom certificates shall be given.

be paid by the treasurers.

Assistant to return a list, &c.

VIII. And be it enacted, That each assistant shall return a fair and exact list of all articles by him purchased or taken, and the persons from whom purchased or taken, to his principal, who shall, with all convenient speed, transmit the same to the governor and the council. Allowance to IX. And be it enacted, That the person appointed in each county be allowed seven and an half per centum on the value of the things obtained in his county, and a reasonable allowance for conveying them to such place as the governor and the council shall direct.

the person appointed.

Penalty on refusing to act.

Tavern-keepers, &c, not to furnish blankets.

X. And be it enacted, That if any person chosen principal to execute this law, shall refuse or neglect to act as such, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty pounds common money for such refusal or neglect.

XI. And be it enacted, That tavern-keepers, or those who keep house for the purpose of taking in lodgers, shall not be obliged to furnish any blankets to the principal or assistants beforementioned, any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

Preamble.

CHAP. XI.

An ACT to amend the law to punish forestalling and engrossing, and for other purposes.

WHEREAS several persons, inhabitants of this state, have, under colour of the eighteenth clause of the Act to punish forestalling and engrossing, and for other purposes, seized and converted to their own use, large quantities of salt and other articles, during the removal or transportion thereof, for private family use, or for the purpose of vending the same in the neighbouring states, whereby many of the good people of this state have been much injured, and the trade thereof interrupted: To prevent such evils in future,

cases

II. Be it enacted, by the General Assembly of Maryland, Salt, &c. not liThat no salt, or other article, imported into or manufac- except in specially men tured within this state, and not engrossed prior to the toned, &c. time of making the said act, shall be liable to the seizure of any person, under pretence that the owner or possessor thereof is attempting to remove the same out of this state, except in the cases specially mentioned in this act; and if any person shall hereafter offend in the premises, he shall forfeit and pay two hundred pounds current money for every hundred pounds value of goods so seized; and so in proportion, one half to the use of this state, and the other half to the use of the owner of such goods. III. Provided always, and be it enacted, That it shall Proviso. not be lawful for any person or persons whatsoever, to carry or transport, or attempt to carry or transport, out of this state, either by land or water, any clothes imported into or manufactured therein, proper for officers and soldiers cloathing, or any linen proper for shirts for such officers and soldiers, or any hats, blankets, shoes, stockings, wood, flax, leather, or any salt, exceeding three bushels in quantity for the use of any one family, without the order or licence of the governor and council first had and obtained, under penalty of seizure and confiscation, one half of the goods and merchandise so seized to be for the use of the person or persons seizing the same, the other half to the use of this state, any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

IV. And, Whereas by the said act every person who purchases goods, wares, or merchandise, in any of the United States, and brings them into this state for sale, unless through the capes of Chesapeak, or some one of the inlets of some neighboring state, is considered as a purchaser, and must sell the same by retail, for the advanced price allowed by the said act, whereby many persons have been prevented from bringing many necessary and useful articles into this state,

considered as im

V. Be it therefore enacted, by the General Assembly of Purchasers of Maryland, that every purchaser of goods, wares, or mer- other states to be chandise, in any other of the United States, shall be porters. considered as an importer, and allowed to sell the same by wholesale or retail, at his election.

sels may sell by

VI. And be it enacted, That it shall and may be lawful Owners of vesfor the owners of any ship or other vessel, or any other vendue. person removing out of this state, having real or other

Proviso.

Carriages, &c. may be pressed.

Proviso.

property, to expose the same to sale by public vendue, any law to the contrary notwithstanding.

VII. Provided always, and be it enacted, That nothing herein contained shall be deemed, construed, or taken to prohibit the exporting or carrying out of this state, any goods, wares, or merchandises, the property of the United States, or of any of them, or of any person, not being an inhabitant of this state.

CHAP. XXI.-A SUPPLEMENTARY ACT TO THE ACT, ENTITLED, AN ACT

XII. And be it enacted, That if carriages, teams and drivers, and vessels and hands for the conveyance or removal of any public stores of this state, or the United States, or any of them, cannot be procured for a reasonable hire, the governor and the council shall be empowered to press carriages, teams and drivers, and vessels and hands for such purposes.

XIII. Provided always, That no such carriages, teams or drivers, shall be detained more than three days, without consent of the owner.

Preamble.

Governor

and

SESSION BEGINNING MARCH 17, 1778.

CHAP. I.

An ACT for the service of the United States.

WHEREAS it is represented by congress to this state, that they expect there will be a numerous army of continental troops in the field, during the ensuing campaign, and that it will be necessary to procure large supplies of provisions for their support;

II. Be it therefore enacted, by the General Assembly of council to appoint agents in each county, &c. Maryland, That the governor and the council be authorised and empowered to appoint a discreet and proper person to be agent in each county of this state, to purchase and buy up, for the use of the said army, fat cattle, salted beef, pork, and bacon, upon the best terms they can get the same, not exceeding the rates following, viz. for live steers, or any other cattle, fatted, not exceeding twelve pence by the pound, hides and tallow included as a fifth quarter; for salted beef in barrels, containing two hundred and twenty pounds weight of good well

cured beef, not exceeding fifteen pounds per barrel, and so pro rato for such beef in any other package; for salted pork in barrels, containing two hundred and twenty pounds weight of good well cured pork, not exceeding twenty pounds per barrel, and so pro rato for such pork in any other package; for good bacon, well cured, not exceeding two shillings and six-pence by the pound; that the persons so nominated and appointed have power to appoint assistants.

In case of dispute, a third person may be called in, &c.

council to apply

money, &c.

III. And be it enacted, That in case the owner of the cattle, and the agent or his assistant, shall differ in opinion as to the estimated weight of such live cattle, the agent or his assistant may call in some indifferent third person to judge of the weight of such cattle, and the determination of such third person on oath, to be administered by such agent or assistant, shall be final. IV. And be it enacted, That the governor and council Governor and be and are hereby authorized and requested to apply to congress for to congress, from time to time, for such supplies of money as may be necessary for making payment for the above articles, and also have full power and authority to draw upon the treasurers of the eastern and western shores, or sheriffs of the counties, if need be, for such sums as may be wanted, to be paid by such sheriffs out of the monies coming to their hands by assessment; and all persons receiving any sums of money on this account, shall give a receipt for the same, specifying for what purpose it was received.

V. And be it enacted, That the agent or his assistant may require any person, being an inhabitant of the county wherein he is appointed, to give an account on oath, or affirmation if a quaker, menonist or dunker, (which oath or affirmation the said agent or his assistant is hereby authorized and empowered to administer, but shall not require or administer unless he shall have good cause to suspect that such person will not otherwise give a true account, or shall be informed that any person has purchased and hath for sale any quantity of the said articles of provision) how much he or she hath of any of the aforesaid articles, as he or she shall be requested to sell, over and above what is necessary for the common use and consumption of his or her family for this present year; and if such person shall refuse to sell such overplus to such agent or his assistant, at the rates herein before mentioned, then it shall and may be lawful for such agent

Agents may re

quire persons to

give an account

on oath, &c.

Agent may call

in the sheriff to

or his assistant to take the same upon paying the owner the price herein respectively limitted, or upon giving a certificate therefor if he shall not have money in hand to pay for the same; and in case such person shall refuse to declare upon oath or affirmation (if thereto required) what quantity he or she hath of any of the said articles as he or she shall be requested to sell, over and above what is necessary for the common use and consumption of his or her family for this present year, then such person shall be obliged, under the penalty of five hundred pounds current money, to give an account on oath, or affirmation if a quaker, menonist or dunker, (which oath or affirmation such agent or his assistant may administer) of all such of the aforesaid articles as he or she hath in his or her possession, and shall be requested to sell; and upon such discovery the agent or his assistant shall and may summon and call in two indifferent and reputable neighbours, (who have taken the oath of allegiance to this state, and who in case of disagreement shall call in a third) to determine on oath how much of the aforesaid articles such person can spare, over and above what is necessary for the common use and consumption of his or her family for this present year; and if such person shall refuse to sell to the agent or his assistant at the rates herein respectively limitted, such part of the said articles as shall be so determined he can spare as aforesaid, then it shall and may be lawful for such agent or his assistant to take the same overplus, upon paying the owner thereof the price herein respectively limitted, or upon giving a certificate therefor in case he shall not have money in hand to pay for the same, duplicates whereof shall every month be returned to the governor and council, with the other returns hereafter mentioned, which certificates shall be paid by the treasurer of the eastern and western shores respectively, or discounted out of the public assessment, at the option of the holder of such certificate.

VI. And be it enacted, That if the agent or his assistant his assistance, &c. shall be obstructed in the execution of his office, he is hereby authorized and required to call on the sheriff of the county, or his deputy, who shall exert his authority to aid and assist him in carrying this law into effect.

And give information to the

VII. And be it enacted, That the said agent or assistant county court, &c. shall, and they are hereby directed to give information to the next county court of all such persons who shall