caught within the time allowed by law for catching the same, or make proof who was the person or persons that caught said fish, or who sold the same. Providing always, That every Justice of the Peace to Proviso. whom complaint shall be made against any person or persons for having in his or their possession any fresh salmon, shad or alewives, as aforesaid, shall, before he issue his warrant against the person or persons complained of, cause the complainant to make oath to his complaint, and that he really believes that the fish in the said complaint mentioned were caught in the time prohibited by law for catching the same. June 30, 1785. AN ACT TO PREVENT DAMAGE FROM FIRE BEING COMMUNI- Chap. CATED FROM CHOCOLATE MILLS AND MACHINES FOR ROAST- Whereas chocolate mills and machines for roasting cocoa have been erected in the town of Boston, near to other buildings, to the great hazard of the lives and property of the inhabitants of the said town: Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That if any person, from and after the fifth day of July next, shall, within the said town, roast or cause to be roasted any cocoa, for the purpose of manufacturing the same into chocolate, in any building whatever, excepting such as may or shall be licenced for that purpose by the major part of the Selectmen of the town aforesaid, and two Justices of the Peace for the county of Suffolk, quorum unus, he shall forfeit and pay, for every such offence, a sum not exceeding One hundred nor less than Fifty pounds. June 30, 1785. 1785.- Chapter 16. [May Session, ch. 15.] AN ACT AUTHORIZING AND EMPOWERING THE DELEGATES 15 Chap. 16 Whereas it is convenient that a rule, other than that Preamble. contained in the said eighth Article of the Confederation Delegates em. powered to ratify an agreement for the altera Article of the and perpetual Union, should be established for ascertaining the proportions to be supplied by the said States respectively to the common treasury; and such alteration having been recommended by the United States in Congress assembled: Clause revoked. viz. Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the Delegates representing this Commonwealth in the United States in Congress assemtion of the Sth bled, shall be, and hereby are, authorized and empowered to subscribe and ratify an agreement for the alteration of the said eighth Article of Confederation and perpetual Union, which shall be contained in the following words, that is to say-So much of the eighth of the Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union, between the thirteen States of America as is contained in the words following, -"All charges of war, and all other expences that shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States in proportion to the value of all land within each State, granted to or surveyed for any person, as such land and the buildings and improvements thereon shall be estimated, according to such mode as the United States in Congress assembled shall from time to time direct and appoint," is hereby revoked and made void; and in place thereof, it is declared and concluded, the same having been agreed to in a Congress of the United States, that all charges of war and all other expences that have been or shall be incurred for the common defence or general welfare, and allowed by the United States in Congress assembled, except so far as shall be otherwise provided for, shall be defrayed out of a common treasury, which shall be supplied by the several States, in proportion to the whole number of white and other free citizens and inhabitants of every age, sex and condition, including those bound to servitude for a term of years, and three-fifths of all other persons not comprehended in the foregoing description, except Indians not paying taxes in each State, which number shall be triennally taken and transmitted to the United States in Congress assembled, in such mode as they shall direct and appoint. July 2, 1785. 1785.- Chapter 17. [May Session, ch. 16.] AN ACT IN ADDITION TO AN ACT PASSED THE TENTH DAY OF Chap. 17 JULY, ANNO DOMINI, ONE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED AND Whereas it is highly necessary for the welfare and hap- Preamble. piness of all States, and more especially such as are republican, to encourage agriculture, the improvements of raw materials and manufactures, a spirit of industry, frugality and economy, and at the same time to discourage luxury and extravagance of every kind: Be it therefore enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of August next, there shall be paid in addition to the impost already laid, the following impost on the articles hereinafter enumerated, which shall be brought into this Commonwealth by land or water, viz. An impost of five per Articles dutied. centum ad valorem, at the time and place of importation, on all wrought pewter not made or manufactured in any of the United States; and an impost of seven and a half per centum ad valorem, at the time and place of importation, on all beef, pork, butter and cheese, not raised and made in any of the United States; and an impost of ten per centum ad valorem on all sole leather, tanned calfskins, bound psalters, psalm books, spelling books and primers, and on all account and other blank books, and on nails of all sorts, not made in any of the United States; and an impost of twelve and half per centum ad valorem, at the time and place of importation, on all boots, boot legs, shoes, shoe vamps, goloshoes and slippers, and on all kinds of plated ware, hard soap and candles, and glue, and on all coaches, chariots, phaetons, chaises, riding chairs, sulkeys, and on all parts of riding carriages, horse harness, saddles, saddle cloths, bridles, whips and canes; and on all girth web, livery lace, coach and chaise lace, carpets of all kinds, copper plate furniture, umbrellas, muffs, tippets, and all kinds of combs not made or manufactured in any of the United States; and an impost of twenty-two and half per centum ad valorem, at the time and place of importation, on all beer, ale and porter, every kind of ready made cloaths or apparel, except such as are made of leather; and on all kinds of cabinet maker's work, and ready made wooden household furniture not made in any of the United States, unless the property of some person removing into this or some other of the United States to settle therein; and an impost of two and half per centum ad valorem on all woollen and linnen cloths and woollen stockings; and an impost as follows, at the time and place of importation, on the several articles hereafter enumerated, not made or manufactured in any of the United States, viz. - For all anchors, two pence per pound; for every ax, hatchet, scythe, carpenter's or cooper's adze, two shillings; for every drawing knife, one shilling; for every bit for boring of pumps, six pence per pound; for all carriage hoops and tire, two pence per pound; for every mill saw, twelve shillings; for every scale beam, four pence per pound; for every pair of steel yards, for each pound they are capable of weighing, one penny per pound; for every spade or shovel, one shilling; for every hoe, one shilling; for every pair wrought iron hand irons, four pence per pound; for all kinds of cast iron ware, one penny per pound; for every pair of iron shovel and tongs, one shilling; for all sorts of iron crows, spikes, tackle and other hooks, thimbles, scrapers and marling spikes, two pence per pound; for all kinds of pump and whaling gear, six pence per pound; for all wrought copper, (sheet copper excepted) including worms for stills, nine pence per pound; for every hat other than beaver, beaveret and castor hats, six pence; for every pound of loaf sugar, four pence; for every hundred pound weight of British cordage, cables and yarns, seven shillings; for every hundred pound weight of every other foreign cordage, cables and yarns, three shillings; for every ounce of wrought gold, ten shillings; for every ounce of wrought silver, two shillings; for every pair of wool or cotton cards, one shilling; for every pair of buckskin breeches, nine shillings; for every pair of other leather breeches, four shillings; for every pair of leather gloves and mitts, one shilling; for every pound of wash leather, three shillings; for every pound of painter's colours, ground in oil, two pence; for every pack of playing cards, two shillings; for every pound of manufactured tobacco, four pence; for every yard of paper hangings, one penny; for every clock, twenty-four shillings; for every house jack, twelve shillings. excise. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the first day of August next, there Duties of shall be paid on the following articles, the duty or excise to them respectively hereafter affixed, viz. For every gallon of New England rum, one penny; for every gallon of foreign rum, six pence; for every gallon of every other foreign distilled spirits, six pence; for every gallon of Madeira wine, eight pence; for every gallon of every other kind of wine, six pence; and the duty and excise of ten per centum ad valorem, at the time and place of importation, on all gold and silver watches, all kinds of jewellery and paste work; gauzes, lawns, cambrick, muslins, silks of all kinds, flowers and feathers, usually worn for ornament, silk hose, mitts and gloves, silk and gauze handkerchiefs, silk velvet, shawls, ribbons, sarsnet; all kinds of wigs, cushions, and other hair manufactures; tin ware, seamen's compasses, starch, hair powder, children's toys, marble and China tile; raisins, citron, almonds, nuts and cordials, mustard and linseed oil. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the first day of August next, no duty shall be demanded on any molasses imported into this Commonwealth in vessels belonging to the citizens of any of the United States, any law to the contrary notwithstanding; and that for all molasses, other than that which is above described, there shall be paid an impost of five per centum, instead of the duty heretofore required; and the Collectors of Impost and Excise, and all others concerned, are directed to govern themselves accordingly. No duty shall be molasses im demanded on ported in Amer. can vessels. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the first day August next, all loaf Loaf Sugar ex. sugar shall be exempted from the duties required to be duties hereto empted from fore required. |