298 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1769-1770.

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

such Ship or Ships, and to visit the same and to Examine the
Masters or other Commanders the Officers, and Sailors on
board such Ship or Ships, and their Charter Parties, Invoices
Cocquets and other Credentials, Testimonials or Documents ;
and if they find, that such Ship or Ships came from the East
Indies, Madagascar, or any other parts or places beyond the
Cape of Bona Esperanza, within the Limits of Trade granted
to the said United East India Company and that there are
now on board, any such Goods, Commodities, or Negroes
as is abovementioned, that they do give Notice to the Master
or other Person having then the Command of such Ship or
Ships forthwith to depart out of the Limits of his Govern-
ment, without giving them any Relief, Support, Aid or As-
sistance, although it should be pretended, that such Ship or
Ships were or the same really should be in distress, want,
disability, danger of sinking or for or upon any other reason
or pretence whatsoever; and that he do by no means suffer
any Goods Merchandize, or Negroes from on board such
Ship to be landed or brought on Shore upon any Account or
Excuse whatsoever; and it is Our further Will and Pleasure
that if any such Ship or Ships being foreign, having on board

p. 61

any such Goods Merchandize, or Negroes, do not, upon Notice
given to the Master or other Person having the Command
thereof, as soon as Conveniently may be depart out of the
Limits of his Government and from the Coasts thereof with-
out Landing, selling, or bartering any of the said Goods or
Negroes, he or the Commander in Chief for the time being
shall cause the said Ship or Ships Goods and Negroes to be
seized and proceeded against according to Law, but if such
Ship or Ships having such Goods and Negroes on Board and
entering into any Port or Place, or coming upon any of the
Coasts or Shores of Our said Province under his Government,
do belong to Our Subjects, and do break bulk, or sell, barter
or Exchange, or otherwise dispose of the said Goods, or
Negroes or any part therof contrary to Law, he is to take
care that such Ship or Ships, with the Guns, Tackle, Apparel
and Furniture thereof, and all Goods and Merchandizes
loaden thereupon, and the Proceeds and Effects of the same
be immediately Seized, and that the Laws in such Case made
and Provided be put in Execution with the greatest care dili-
gence and application. But if any Ship belonging to the Sub-
jects of any foreign State or Potentate, having on board any
Negroes or East India Commodities shall be actually bound to
some place or port in the West Indies belonging to any foreign