dollars or half dollars at thirteen Penny weight and eighteen grains, each dollar, or in Bills of Credit Current in this Colony to be paid to her Majesties Receiver General for the time being out of the Duties and Impositions herein after mentioned, to be collected in manner following (that is to say). "For every Pipe of Wine, and so in proportion for a greater or lesser Quantity, Imported into this Colony in Bottoms wholly owned by the Inhabitants of this Colony, five ounces of Plate aforsaid.

"For every Pipe of Wine, and so in proportion for a greater or lesser Quantity Imported in Bottoms not entirely ouned by the said Inhabitants Seven Ounces and a half of Plate aforsaid.

"For every Gallon of Rum Imported into this Colony in Vessels wholly owned by the Inhabitants thereof, fifteen Grains of plate aforesaid. And "For every Gallon of Rum, Imported into this Colony in Bottoms not solely owned by the said Inhabitants, twenty five Grains of Plate aforesaid. "And Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That for the due and orderly Collecting of the aforesaid Duty on Rum, Wine, and European Goods, the Merchant or Owner of the said Goods shall forth-with, after he or they have made an Entry thereof in the Custom-House, deliver or cause to be Delivered a Copy of such Entry to the Receiver General, who, after having compared the Copy of the aforesaid Entry, delivered to him as aforesaid, which he is hereby required forth-with to do, after the Receipt thereof, the Merchant or Owner of the said Goods, shall pay or secure to be paid to the said Receiver General, within three moneths after the said Entry made, the aforesaid Duty on Rum, Wine and European Goods. And in Case the Merchant or Owner of such Wine, Rum, and European Goods shall neglect or refuse to pay the said Duty, then and in such case it shall and may be lawful for the Receiver General to take and Detain the said Rum, Wine or European Goods, until the Duty by this Act required is and shall be paid and satisfied."

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And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if the Duties and Customs herein Granted shall not amount to the said Summ of Seven Thousand Ounces of Plate, such Deficiency shall be made good by the Treasurer of this Colony, out of the Excise, or Duties on Tonnage, Slaves, Vendues, or any other publick Money that shall come into his Hand, and paid to Her Majesty's Receiver General of this Colony. And that the said Receiver General, for the time being, shall lay before the Governour, Council or General Assembly for the time being, when required, a true Account upon Oath of the Receipts and Payments of the Duties and Customs hereby laid and imposed.

"This act to be in force until the first Day of July, which shall be in the Year Seventeen hundred and fourteen, and no longer."

1713, October 15th.

"An Act for laying an Excise on all Strong Liquors retailed in this Colony."

"BE it Enacted by the Gouvernour, Council and General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That there shall be given and granted unto Her Majesty, her Heirs and Successors, from the first day of November, which shall be in the Year of our Lord 1714. until the first day of November, which shall be in the Year of our Lord 1734. for the uses herein after mentioned, an Excise upon all strong Liquors Retailed throughout this Colony, under the Quantity of five Gallons (Beer and Syder only excepted) to wit, the eighth part of an Ounce of Sevil, Pillar or Mexico Plate, for each Gallon so Retailed; and likewise three quarters of an Ounce of the said Plate for every Barrel of Beer and Syder.

"And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of New-York, the Mayor, Aldermen and Justices of the Peace of the City and County of Albany, and the Justices of the

Peace of the other Counties, within this Colony, to which they belong, or the Major part of them, for the time being, are hereby required, Authorized and Impowered to let to Farm the aforesaid Excise in their respective Cities and Counties, by publick Out-Cry, Auction or Vendue, yearly and every year on the first Tuesday in October, or some other day in that week in which the said first Tuesday shall happen, to the highest bidder, or to the several Retailers of such Liquors, in each respective City, Town, Burrough, Mannor or Precinct, as the said Mayors, Aldermen and Justices of the Peace respectively, in their discretions shall think fit for the better advancement of the Duty and Excise hereby to be granted and levyed, publick Notice being first given of the time such farming is appointed to be made by affixing Advertisements thereof, in the most publick places in each respective City, Town, Mannor and Precinct, Ten days at least before such Auction or Vendue is made.

"And the said Mayors, Aldermen and Justices of the Peace as aforesaid, are hereby required to take good Security's by Recognizances, with Sufficient Sureties, of all and every person or persons that shall Farm the Excise, as aforesaid, with Condition, that they pay the same quarterly, by equal and even payments, into the hands of the Treasurer of this Colony for the time being, who is hereby appointed to receive the same; And also after two months after the same Excise or any part thereof, shall be let to farm, or agreed for, to transmit to the Treasurer a true Account of the same respectively, with the Recognizances for the due payment thereof, according to the intent of this Act.

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And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any or either of the said Mayors, Aldermen or Justices of the Peace, as aforesaid, shall neglect, deny or refuse to let to Farm the aforesaid Excise, in manner aforesaid or to put this Act in Execution, so far as they are required and impowered, according to the true intent and meaning hereof, that then, he or they so offending shall each of them respectively forfeit unto her Majesty, her Heirs and Successors, the Sum of Fifty Pounds current Money of New-York, to be recovered in any of her Majesties Courts within this Colony, by any person or persons, who will and shall inform and sue for the same, by Action of Debt or Information, the one half of which Forfeitures to be to her Majesty, her Heirs and Successors, to be paid in to the Treasurer, and applyed towards the Support of the Government, and the other half to the Informer.

"And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That where there shall be no Farmer of the Excise in manner before expressed, the Mayors, Aldermen and Justices of the Peace of the several Cities and Counties respectively, shall and may either agree with the Retailers, whom they respectively shall License, at least for the highest of such Sum or Sums by the Year, as such Retailer or Retailers at any time formerly had or have paid, to be paid into the Treasurer Quarterly, as aforesaid, or otherwise to make such Retailer or Retailers enter into Recognizance, with sufficient Sureties, for the true and due payment of the Excise herein before appointed, to be paid and granted according to the true meaning hereof.

"And for the due and orderly Collecting the Excise hereby Given and Granted, Be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all Retailers of strong Liquors within this Colony, shall upon all their Receipts of all such Liquors before expressed, and Exciseable, come to the Farmer of the Excise (if any be) or to the Mayor, Aldermen or Justices of the Peace respectively, and on default thereof, all such Liquors as shall be found in any Retailers House or Ware-house, Celler or other place belonging unto him, her or them, within this Colony, and have not been duly entered and paid the Duties of Excise, as aforesaid, then and in such Case upon Conviction by Oath of one or more Credible Witnesses, before any Justice of the Peace within this Colony, the said Retailer or Retailers so Offending in the Premises, shall forfeit all such Liquors, and three times the value thereof, the one Moiety to her Majesty, her Heirs and Successors, to be paid to the Treasurer of this Colony, for the time being, for and to be applyed towards the Support of this Government, and the other half to the person that will sue for the same, before any Justice of the Peace in this Colony, who is and every of them are hereby required and Impowered summarily,

and at his discretion solely to hear and determine the same, and to Issue his Warrant for sezing all such Liquors to be forfeited, as aforesaid, and for committing to the Common Goal all such Retailers of Liquors, who have not entered and paid the Duties aforesaid, and shall be so convicted thereof, there to remain without Bail or Mainprize, until they shall satisfy and make Payment of three times the value of such Liquors seized and forfeited, as aforesaid, as also for arresting and causing to be brought before him any Person or Persons informed against for Retailing without Lisence, provided he, her or they have Liberty to appeal to the next Sessions of the Peace, giving sufficient Security to answer the same.

"And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons within this Colony, not duly Lisenced, shall either by Land or by Water, at any time presume to sell by retail any Strong Liquors, that is to say, any Quantity under five Gallons, as aforesaid, the person or persons so offending shall pay the Sum of Five Pounds current Money aforesaid, for every such offence, being thereof convicted in manner aforesaid, to be applyed and paid as aforesaid.

"And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Retailer of strong Liquors within this Colony, shall sell any strong Liquors to any Negro or Indian Slave, under the Penalty of Forty Shillings for every such Offence, to be recovered before any one of her Majestys Justices of the Peace, by him or her that shall sue for the same, and to be applyed as aforesaid.

"And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That no Retailer Persons enabled to sue for any Penalty, by virtue of this Act, shall compound, remit, or make any abatement of or for any of the Penalties herein mentioned, but that the same may be prosecuted to effect, and paid and applyed as herein before expressed.

"And be it also Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That Lyon Dollars and half Dollars shall be received and be of equal Value to Thirteen Penny weight and eighteen Grains of Sevil, Pillar and Mexico Plate, as aforesaid, for each Dollar, for the Duty hereby intended to be raised.

"And be it further Enacted by the same Authority, That the Mayor and Aldermen of the Burrough-Town of Westchester, are hereby impowered and required to let to Farm the Excise of the Burrough-Town in the same manner, and under the same Regulations as the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of New York, or the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Albany are by this Act impowered, directed and required to do.

"And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and singular the Moneys arising by virtue of this Act, during the whole time aforesaid, shall be applyed to and for the Paying and Discharging the Publick Debts of this Colony, such, and in such manner as shall be directed and ascertained in an Act of General Assembly for that purpose hereafter to be made. And if it shall so happen that the said Excise shall amount to more than will pay and discharge the publick Debts of this Colony aforesaid, that then and in such case, the Sum that remains over and above, in the hands of the Treasurer aforesaid, after such Publick Debts shall be fully paid and Discharged, shall be applyed to the Use of this Colony, in such manner and to such Purposes as the Governour, Council and General Assembly, for the time being, shall direct, and not otherwise."

1713, October 23d.

"An Act for continuing an Act, entitled An Act for laying an Excise on all Strong Liquors retailed in this Colony."

[Chapter 264, of Livingston & Smith and Van Schaack, where the title only is printed. Title only is printed in Bradford, 1715 ed., p. 182; Baskett, p. 149. The original of this act is not in the office of the Secretary of State. From the Minutes of the Council, it appears that an act of this title was signed by the Governor, October 23, 1713. (See Journal of Legislative Council, p. 366.)]

1713, October 31st.

"An Act to take away Doubts and Scruples relating to the Letting of the Excise."

Note. [Chapter 272 of Livingston & Smith and Van Schaack where the title only is printed. Title only is printed in Bradford 1715 ed. p. 182: Baskett p. 149. The original of this Act is not in the office of the Secretary of State. From the minutes of the Council, it appears, that an act of this Title was signed by the Governor October 31st, 1713. (See Journal of Legislature p. 367)]

1714, June 21st.

"An Act to Relieve Sam'll Steel Commander of the Ship Benjamin and all others concern'd in the said Ship and Cargo from the Duty of seven and a half P. Cent Imposed by an Act of Assembly made in the Twelfth Year of Her Majestys Rein."

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Whereas Samuel Steel Commander of the Ship Benjamin hath set forth in his Petition to the General Assembly of this Colony now met and Assembled, that in July One thousand seven hundred & thirteen He sailed from Bristoll for the Port of New York, being there duly Registered and cleared for a Lawful Trade and Traffick. And that by Adverse Winds He and his Company were Reduced to great Extremitys and forced to bear away for Antegua, where He was obliged to Dispose of some servants to help refit his Ship in order to proceed to this Port. And with some part of the Produce of his servants so Disposed of He Procured some Rum and Mallossos which He took on board there. That on entring the said Rum and Mallossos the Deputy Collector of Antegua did Detain from him the Cockets which He had from Bristoll, giving to said Master a Certificate of the Contents of them under his hand and seal of his Office, Countersigned by the Comptroaler there. That upon his Arrival at this Port the aforesaid Master not having his Cockets from Bristol, Her Majestys Receiver General here Demands the Duty of seven and a half P. Cent for the European Goods pursuant to an Act of Assembly of this Colony entituled an Act for a supply to be granted to Her Majesty for Supporting the Government made in the twelfth Year of Her Majestys Reign Humbly praying for some suitable Relief from the Hardship of his Case. Wherefore for the ease and Relief of the said Samuel Steel and all others concerned in the Cargo imported in that Ship, The Assembly Humbly pray his Excellency that it may be enacted, and Be it enacted by his Excellency the Governour Council and General Assembly of the Colony of New York, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That the said Samuel Steel and all others Concerned in the Cargo of the said ship Benjamin be Released and Discharged and are hereby Released and Discharged from the said Duty of seven and a half P. Cent. Laid and Impowered by Virtue of the said Act of General Assembly past in the twelfth Year of Her Majestys Reign. Entituled An Act for a supply to be Granted to Her Majesty for Support of the Government to be paid for all the Goods Wares and Merchandizes taken on Board at the Port of Bristoll in the Kingdom of Great Britain in Order to be Imported into the Port of New York in this Collony and not Otherwise although the said Goods might be Comprehended within the Letter of the said Act, But not being within the intent and meaning of the same any thing in the said Act to the contrary Notwithstanding."

1714, July 6th.

“An Act for a Supply to be Granted to her Majesty for Supporting the Government for the ensuing Year."

"Be it Enacted by his Excellency the Governour, Council and General Assembly, and by the Authority of the same, That there be given and

granted to her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, for the Support of Her Government in the Colony of New York, for one year, Commencing from ye thirteenth Day of June, Anno one Thousand seven hundred and ffourteen, Seven thousand Ounces of Plate, of the Spanish Coyns of Sevill, Pillar & Mexico, or the value thereof in Lyon Dollars or half Dollars, at Thirteen penny Weight and Eighteen Grains each Dollar, or in Bills of Credit current in this Colony, to be paid to her Majesties Receiver General, for the time being, out of the Duties and Impositions herein after mentioned, to be Collected in manner following, That is to say;

"For every Pipe of Wine, and so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Quantity Imported in Bottoms wholly owned by the Inhabitants of this Colony, five Ounces of Plate aforesaid.

"For every Pipe of Wine, and so in Proportion for a greater or lesser Quantity Imported into this Colony, in Bottoms not entirely owned by the Inhabitants of this Colony, Seven Ounces and a half of Plate aforesaid.

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"This Act to be in force from the last Day of June this present Year, until the first Day of July, which shall be in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and fifteen and no Longer."

1714, September 4th.

"An Act for paying and discharging the several Debts and sums of money claimed as Debts of this Colony

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vent this Colony from being in debt for the Future."

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and to pre

"Whereas there are several Persons who claim Sums of Money as due them from this Colony * Therefore, in order to discharge the said claims restore the publick Credit and fix it on such a Foundation as will be most conducive to the Sence of her Majesty and her royal Successors.

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1. BE IT ENACTED by the Governor Council and General Assembly and it is hereby enacted by the Authority of the same. "XVIII. *

That the Persons before named appointed to audit and examine the Accounts of the Treasurer as aforesaid, shall for such Examination and Auditing, receive the Sum of Forty Shillings, each Time of their Examining and Auditing such Accounts, to be paid by the said Treasurer out of the Fund arising and accruing by virtue of the Act aforesaid, entitled An Act for laying an Excise on all Strong Liquors retailed in this Colony "

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1714, September 4th.

"An Act for appointing Commissioners to let to farm the Excise throughout this Colony."

"Whereas by an Act of the General Assembly of this Colony made in the Twelfth Year of Her Majesties Reign Entituled an Act for laying an Excise on all Strong Liquors retailed in this Colony it is amongst other things Enacted. That there shall be given and Granted unto Her Majesty Her Heirs and Successors from the first Day of November in the Year of Our Lord Seventeen hundred and Fourteen until the first Day of November which shall be in the Year of Our Lord Seventeen hundred and Thirtyfour for the Uses in the said Act mentioned and Expres'd an Excise upon all strong Liquors retailed throughout this Colony under the Quantity of five Gallons (Beer and Cyder only Excepted) to wit, the eighth Part of an Ounce of Sevil Pillar or Mexico Plate for every Gallon so Retailed and likewise three Quarters of an Ounce of ye said Plate for every Barrel of Beer and