An ACT for laying an additional Duty on all Negroes imported into this Island.

WHEREAS by an Act of the Lieutenant Governor, Council, and Assembly of this Island, intituled, “An Act for raising several Sums of Money, and applying the same to several Uses for subsisting for One Year the Officers and Soldiers of His Majesty’s Fiftieth and Sixtieth Regiments of Foot, quartered in this Island,” passed the Twenty-second Day of December, in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy-three, it is therein Enacted, That from and after the Thirty-first Day of December, in the said Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy-three, until the Thirty-first Day of December which should be in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy-four, there should be raised, levied, and paid, unto Your Majesty, Your Heirs and Successors, a Duty of Ten Shillings Current Money of this Island for every Negro and Mulatto Slave that should be imported or brought into any Harbours, Bays, Ports, Creeks, Roads, havens, or Cays, in or belonging to this Island, at or near Port Royal Cays, whether for Sale or not, to be paid by the Masters, Owners, or Importers of every such Negro or Mulatto, and a Duty of Twenty Shillings per Head by the Purchaser or Exporter of every such Negro or Mulatto, so exported as aforesaid;

And whereas, from the many Exigencies of Government, it is necessary that a further Supply be granted to Your Majesty:

We therefore, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Assembly of this Your Majesty;s Island of Jamaica, most humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be Enacted; Be it therefoe Enacted by the Governor, Council, and Assembly of this Your Majesty’s said Island, and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained by the Authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act until the Thirty first Day of December, in the present Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy-four, there shall be raised levied, and paid, unto Your Majesty, Your Heirs and Successors, over and above the Duties already laid and imposed in and by the said hereinbefore in Part recited Act, a further Duty of Forty Shillings Current Money of this Island, for every Negro and Mulatto Slave that shall be imported or brought into any Harbours, Bays, Ports, Creeks, Roads, Havens, or Cays, in or belonging to this Island, or at or near Port Royal Cays, whether for Sale or not; to be paid by the Master, Owner, or Importer of every such Slave.

Provided always nevertheless, and it is the true Intent and Meaning of this Act, That if any Slaves imported, and shall be actually exported off this Island within Three Months after such Importation, the Duty imposed by this Act shall be withdrawn and returned to the person or Persons who paid the same; Oath being first made that such Negroes were actually exported off this Island within the Time aforesaid.

[Clause 2] And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in case such Slaves so exported shall be returned to this Island unsold, the Master of the Ship or other Vessel in which such Slaves shall have been exported, or the Owner or Owners of such Slaves so returned, shall make Report thereof, and of the Number of such Slaves carried out in such Ship or other Vessel, and the Number thereof returned upon Oath before George Scott, Esquire, the Receiver General, or the Receiver General for the Time being, or his lawful Deputy, within Forty-eight Hours after the Arrival of such Ship or Vessel; which Oath the said Receiver General, or the Receiver General for the Time being, or his lawful Deputy, is hereby impowered and required to administer; which said Negroes so returned unsold shall be subject and liable to the Duty imposed by this Act.

[Clause 3] And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the said George Scott, the Receiver General, or the Receiver General for the Time being, be and he is hereby appointed to receive and collect all and every Sum and Sums of Money to arise by virtue of this Act; for which he shall retain and keep, for doing his Duty therein, Five Pounds per Cent, and no more, any law, Custom, or Usage, to the contrary notwithstanding.

[Clause 4] And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all and every Sum and Sums of Money to arise by virtue of this Act shall be and are hereby appropriated for such Uses as shall be directed by any Act of the present or any future Assembly, and to and for no other Use, Intent, or Purpose whatsoever; any Thing in this or any other Law to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.

[Clause 5] And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Clause, Power, Matter, and Thing, relating to the raising, levying, and paying the Duty to be collected under and by virtue of this Act, together with all and every other the Clauses, Limitations, Penalties, and Restrictions, in the said hereinbefore in Part Recited Act mentioned, for the Purposes of carrying the same into Execution, shall, and they are hereby declared to be in full Force and Effect, for the Purposes of carrying this Law into Execution, as fully and effectually, to all Intents and Purposes, as if the same were herein particularly inserted; any Thing in this or any other Law to the Contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding.

[Clause 6] And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Secretary of this Island do forthwith cause this Act to be printed, and that Twelve Copies thereof be transmitted to the Receiver General, or the Receiver General for the Time being; the Charges whereof shall be paid him by the said Receiver General out of any Money in his Hands unappropriated.

[Clause 7] And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That his Act, and every Clause, matter, and Thing herein contained, shall continue and be in Force from the passing hereof until the Thirty-first Day of December, which will be in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred and Seventy-four, and no longer

Passed the Council this Twelfth Day of February 1774

Rd Lewing, Cl. Conc.

I consent, this Thirteenth Day of February 1774.

Basil Keith.

Passed the Assembly this Twelfth Day of February 1774.

Charles Price, Speaker.

Vera Copia extur

Rd Lewing, Secty