The Lower House. 327

viding arms and Ammunition, but that he be oblidged to all the afore-
said matters and things as fully and strongly as if the said recited
Law were in full force, as by the said act, relation being thereunto had
may appear and which said Act, your Committee humbly Conceive
Continued in force until the year 1715, at which time also an Act
passed at a Session of Assembly held on the 26^th Day of April in the
said year, Entituled, an Act Ascertaining the gauge and Tear of To-
bacco hogsheads, and to prevent Cropping and defaceing Tobacco
Taken on Board Ships or Vessels upon freight, and for laying
Impositions on Tobacco per the hogshead for the Support of Govern-
ment, and for the Encourageing Settlements in this province by ascer-
taining the manner of paying the alienation fines and quit rents to
the lord proprietary of this province on the Conditions therein men-
tioned, by which Act it is among other things recited that forasmuch
as by the Enlargement of Tobacco hogsheads from the late gauge of
Thirty Inches in the Diameter of the head to the gauge therein
before ascertained and Enacted a Larger quantity of Tobacco
would be Exported in each hogshead, whereby the several Duties
and Imposts on Tobacco by the hogshead, would be Evidently

L. H. J.
Lib. No. 45

retrenched and lessen'd unless a Just regard should be had to the
preservation of them in their usual wealth and Value, which the
then present General Assembly was highly oblidged, to those
duties having been Generally applied to the Support of Govern-
ment, and for other the most Important affairs of this province
and that therefore it was not only Just but Necessary that the duties
upon the hogsheads which should be of the gauge in the said Act,
Directed, should be in some sort Enlarged proportionably to the
Enlargement of the said Gauge, it was therefore by the said Act
also Enacted that from and after the 29^th day of September then
next there should be raised, levied, Collected and paid to the King's
most Excellent Majestys his Heirs and Successors for the support
of his Government for the time being in and over this province of
Maryland, and the Territories to the same belonging, for Every
hogshead of Tobacco which should be shipped in any ship or Vessel
to be Exported out of this province, or any the Territories, Islands,
ports, Rivers, Creeks or places thereunto belonging, on or after the
29^th Day of September aforesaid, the sum of fifteen pence Sterling
in lieu and stead of the twelve pence Sterling formerly Imposed on
Every hogshead of the aforementioned former gauge, and for every
hundred weight of Tobacco Exported in box, chest, Barrel or case,
two pence half penny Sterling, and so pro rato for a greater or
Lessor quantity: and it is also by the said act recited, that whereas
the then present general Assembly on notice of the Decease of the
Right Honourable Charles Lord Baltimore, then late proprietary of
this province, had made their Humble application to the Right
Honourable Benedict Leonard Lord Baltimore then Lord proprietary
thereof, that he would be favourably pleased to acept of his rents and

p. 820