Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1769-1 770. 295

Plantations respectively as are provided and Prescribed by
the said Act for the like Offences Committed within Our
Kingdom of Ireland; He the said Robert Eden shall take
effectual care that the true Intent and meaning thereof, so far
forth as it relates to him be duly put in Execution.
22. In the Act made in the 24^th Year of his late Majesty's
Reign for the more effectual securing the Duties on Tobacco,
there is a Clause to prevent Frauds in the Importation of Bulk
Tobacco, enacting that no Tobacco shall be imported into this
Kingdom otherwise than in Cask Chest or Case containing
four hundred and fifty Pounds weight of Tobacco each, under
Penalty of Forfeiture thereof; He the said Robert Eden shall
take care that this part of the said Act be made Publick that
none may pretend Ignorance, and that the true Intent and
meaning thereof be duly put in Execution in that Government.
23. Whereas the Officers of Our Customs in the Prosecu-
tion of Seizures and personal Informations in Our Plantations
have been greatly discouraged therein, and denyed the Liberty
of Appealing to Us and Our Council here in this Kingdom he
the said Robert Eden shall allow the said Officers the Priv-
iledge of such Appeals, in Order to a final hearing and De-
termination according to the Merits of the Case.
24. Whereas by a Clause in the aforesaid Act for prevent-
ing Frauds and Regulating Abuses in the Plantation Trade,
made in the 7^th and 8^th years of the Reign of King William the
Third, it is Provided that in case any Officer or Officers in our
Plantations shall be sued or molested for any thing done in the
Execution of their Office, the said Officer shall and may plead
the general Issue, and give this or any other Custom Acts in
Evidence, and the Judge to allow thereof, and shall have and
enjoy the like Priviledges and Advantages as are allowed by
Law to the Officers of Our Customs in Great Britain, he the
said Robert Eden shall take care, that the Judge of the Court
within his Government do accordingly Admit Our Officers
of the Customs there to plead the General Issue for their
Indemnity, in all Cases where they shall be molested, sued, or
Prosecuted for any thing done in the Execution of their
Offices.

Lib. C. B.

No. 20

25^th And whereas it has been found, that the fees of the
Courts of Record and other Special Courts granted by Our
Governments in the Plantations for the Tryal of Causes relat-
ing to Our Customs and the Trade of Our Plantations are so
great that Our said Officers have been thereby discouraged
from many just Prosecutions for the Breach of Our Laws; he
the said Robert Eden shall in like manner take particular care
for the regulating and Moderating such Court Fees and

p. 59