An Act for the more effectual Punishment of those Persons who shall attempt to commit the Crime of Arson.

WHEREAS attempts have lately been made, by evil disposed person or persons, to set fire to different houses in the town of Nassau, (in which town the houses are generally built of wood) and whereas it is necessary for the Safety of the lives and property of the inhabitants of these islands, that so unlawful and atrocious an attempt should be made a capital offence: May it please your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it therefore enacted by his Excellency Lewis Grant, Esquire, Major-general of your Majesty’s forces, Captain-general and Governor in chief, the Council and Assembly of the Bahama Islands, that from and after the passing of this Act, if any person or persons shall wilfully and maliciously attempt to set fire to, with intent to burn and destroy any house, store, shop, kitchen, warehouse, or other out-building, being in the possession of any other per­son or persons, although no part of such house, store, shop, kitchen, ware­house or other out-building shall take fire, or be actually burnt, every per­son so offending shall be deemed and taken to be guilty of felony without the benefit of clergy, and shall suffer death accordingly.