State of Massachusetts-Bay.

Council-Chamber, December 10, 1776.

Whereas an Embargo was laid the Seventh Day of December, Instant, 2 on all Vessels, excepting such as may be fitted out by Order of the United States, or any of them, or by the Board of War, in Behalf of this State, or such as may go Coastwise, from one Harbour in this State to another, or such as may be permitted by the General-Assembly, or in the Recess thereof, by the Council. And whereas it is thought necessary, that Provisions and some other Articles be imported from any of the -United States of America: Therefore,

Resolved, That Vessels may depart, under the Conditions hereafter mentioned, from any Harbour, Port or Place in this State, to any Harbour, Port or Place in any of the United States of America, for the sole Purpose of importing from thence into this State, any Sort of Provisions, Goods, Wares or Merchandize.

It is further Resolved, That before the Departure of any Vessel for the Purpose aforesaid, the Master o[r J 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; and where there is no Naval-Officer, with the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, of the Towns or Places wherein such Vessel lies, payable to the Treasurer of this State, conditioned, that said Vessel shall really and truly proceed on said Voyage, and not deviate therefrom, unless constrained by Stress of Weather, or other 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, or where there are no Naval-Officers, by the Chairman of the Committee of Correspondence, Inspection and Safety, of such Town or Place 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 ,,\/"heat, Rye, Indian Corn, Peas, Beans, Bread, Flour, or any kind of Meal, Pork, Beef, Mutton, Sheep, live Cattle, Swine, Butter, Cheese, Rice, Sugars, Salt, Oats, Cotton Wool, Sheeps Wool, Flax, Bar Iron, Hemp, Cordage, or any Kind of Linen or Woollen Cloth, except so much thereof as the proper Naval-Officer, or where there is no such Officer, the Committee aforesaid shall judge a sufficient Supply for the Vessel's 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 the aforementioned Resolve of the Seventh Day of December, Current.

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 forfeited and recovered in Manner as aforesaid; 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; and one Moiety thereof to the Use of this State, and the other Moiety to the Use of the Prosecutor.

Sent down for Concurrence

John Avery, Deputy-Secretary.

In the House of Representatives, December 10, 1776.
Read and concurred.

Samuel Freeman, Speaker, P. T.