350 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1745.

Lib. C. B

That a reasonable Quantity of Land shall be granted to all
New Comers being Protestants, Either British or Foreigners,
in fee Simple in proportion to the Number of People by them
imported, that is to say, for Every Man Woman or Child as
well free as Slaves, twenty Acres
That the Land shall be surveyed laid out and granted to such
New Comers free from All fees or Rewards by a Person to be
appointed by his Majesty.
That the said Lands shall likewise be exempt from all Quitt
Rents Duties and Services for twenty years from the Date of
the respective Grants except only Services in the Militia for
the Defence of the Island in time of Need, and after the Ex-
piration of the twenty years A Quitt Rent to be paid not
exceeding two Shillings p hundred Acres.
That Every Inhabitant his family and Slaves shall be sub-
sisted with Provisions out of the Publick Store for the first
year after their Arrival & be furnished with working Tools
for clearing and cultivating their Lands
That all Protestant Natives or foreigners shall enjoy full
Liberty of Conscience in Matters of Religion & be Entituled
to all the Privileges of English Subjects
That no Inhabitant of the s^d Island shall be arrested dis-
trained or prosecuted for any Debt contracted before his
Arrival on the said Island
That an Additional Encouragement be given in Grants for
Land to All Carpenters, Sawyers, Smiths, Coopers, Masons
Brickmakers and all other handy-craft Tradesmen who shall
settle on the said Island That his Majesty is graciously pleased
to issue his Royal Orders to the Governor of Jamaica and the
Commander of his Majestys Squadron, stationed on that
Island, upon all Occasions to protect defend and assist the
Inhabitants of Rattan
And His Majesty judging it proper, in Order to make a
speedy Settlement on the said Island that the before mentioned
Encouragements should be published and made known in
Others of his Majestys Colonies abroad did therefore order
that the Lord's Commissioners of Trade and Plantations
should transmit Copies of that his Majestys Order to the

p. 248

Governor & Commanders in Chief of such of his Majestys
Colonies in America is They should think proper on that
Occasion, with Directions to them to cause the said Encour-
agements to be published and distributed within their respective
Governments; And Whereas their Lordps. have transmitted a
Copy of his Majestys Order to me to be so published I have
therefore in Obedience to his Majestys Commands signifyed
to me by the said Lords Commiss^rs issued this my Proclamation
hereby strictly charging and requiring the several Sheriffs of