[Boston] Thursday January 9th 1777.
In Council. Whereas it is absolutely necessary for the Well being and safety of this and the United States of America that the following Articles be imported into this State — viz — Salt, Gunpowder and all military Stores, Lead, Bar Iron, Steel, Tin, Cordage Hemp, Duck of all Kinds, Coarse Linens, Checks, Oznabrigs, Ticklinburge, Woolen Cloths, Blankets, Needles, Pins, Cord Wire, Stationary, Medicines, Nails of all kinds, Glass — Brimstone — Clothiers Sheers — Sickles Brass and Copper — Molasses — Rum — Cotton — Files and Gimblets — Shoes — Leather and Hides. —
Therefore resolved that Vessels may depart under the Conditions hereafter mentioned from any Harbour Port or Place not subject to the Kings of Great Britain & Portugal for the Purposes aforesaid.
It is further resolved that before the departure of any Vessel for the purpose aforesaid, The Master or Owner, with Sufficient Sureties, shall enter into Bonds, in the Value of the Vessel and Cargo on board, with the naval Officer of the District or Port wherein such Vessel lies, payable to the Treasurer of this State, Conditioned that sd Vessel shall really and truly proceed on said Voyage, and within Eight Months from the time of her Sailing Import into this State the Neet proceeds of the Cargo exported in his said Vessel in some One or other of the Articles aforesaid, unless Prevented by unavoidable Accidents — and a Certificate that such Bonds are entered into, together with a Clearance shall be given the Master of said Vessel, by the Naval Officer of the district or Port, where such Vessel lies, before She is Suffered to depart out of this State — Provided always that no Vessel shall be suffered to take on Board for the Purpose of Exportation any Wheat Rye Indian Corn Pease — Beans Bread Flour or any kind of Meal Pork Beef Mutton — Sheep — live Cattle — Swine — Butter — Cheese — Rice — Salt — Oats Cotton Wool — Sheeps Wool — Flax — Bar-Iron Hemp Cordage or any kind of Linen or Woolen Cloth, Sugars and Rum (except to the United States of America) Pepper, Shoes Leather — Staves or any Articles prohibited by Congress except so much thereof as the proper Naval Officer shall judge a Sufficient supply for the Vessels Company and Expressly Permitted, to be taken on Board.
It is further Resolved, that if any Vessel shall depart or attempt to depart out of this State in Violation of any of the aforementioned Resolves, said Vessel shall together with her Tackle Apparel and Appurtenances and the Cargo on board her be forfeited and recovered and disposed of in like manner as is provided in the resolve of the seventh day of December last.
And provided always — that if any of the foregoing enumerated Articles shall be taken on board any Vessel really and truly bound on the afore described Voyage, without such Permission as aforesaid, such enumerated Articles and not the Vessel or other Cargo shall be for£eited and recovered in manner as afore.said, and the Master of such Vessel shall likewise forfeit the Sum of Fifty Pounds for every such Violation of these resolves to be recovered by Action of Debt in the Court of Common Pleas, of the County where such Offence is done, by any Person who shall Sue for the same, one moiety thereof to the Use of this State and the other Moiety to the use of the Prosecutor. —
Sent down for Concurrence