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L. H. J.
Lib. No. 45
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fines for Alienations in Tobacco at two pence Sterling per pound,
in such manner and on such Condition and terms as his noble An-
cestors had theretofore done, for the greater Ease to their Tenants
in the payment of their rents and the better to Encourage the Cul-
tivation and Settlement of the remoter parts of this their proprie-
torship, and that forasmuch as the Gratuity formerly settled on his
said Lordship's ancestors for such their favours, was raised by Im-
post of twelve pence on the Exportation of Every hogshead or four
Hundred pounds of Tobacco which Impost was determined bv the
death of the said then late lord Proprietary, so that at the time of
making this Act his Lordship's rents were payable in money; but
that forasmuch as to Continue the payment thereof in money would
be wholly Impracticable from the great Scarcity of it, and that it
would not only tend much to the Disappointment of his Lordship in
the recept of his rents, but also to the oppression of such Tennants
as should hold their Lands under Conditions of such punctual pay-
ment as the Tenour of their Grants requires and to the Disinheriting
many who would be oblidged to Surrender their Estates for want of
ability to Comply therewith, which in all probability would put a
great Check to the future Cultivating the remote and forest Lands
of this province, and be a Cause to several of those remoter Inhab-
itants to desert their (yet but poor) Improvements, to the Lessening
the Revenue of the Crown and Discouraging the Enlargement of
his Dominion in these parts; all which Inconveniences the then
present General Assembly most Earnestly desired might be provided
Against; and reciting also, that the quantity of Tobacco then usually
Exported, or which might be Exported in a hogshead of the gauge
by this Act Settled, Exceeded the quantity which was Commonly
Reputed to be the Contents of an hogshead at the time when the
aforesaid twelve pence per hogshead was Settled on his Lordship's
Ancestors, for the making Easy the payment of his rents and fines
for alienations aforesaid, and also, for that altho' the number of
hogsheads annually Exported were Increased Since that time, yet
for that the Value of his Lordship's rents were much more En-
creased; it is by the said act Enacted, that from and after the 29th
day of September then next, there should be raised, levied and Col-
lected 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 belong-
ing, the Sum of Eighteen pence Sterling and for every Hundred
weight of Tobacco Exported in box, Chest, barrel, or Case Three
pence Sterling, and for every Hundred weight of Tobacco Exported
in box, Chest, barrel or Case Three pence Sterling, and so pro rato
for a greater or lesser quantity to the Kings most Excellent Majesty,
his Heirs and Successors, for the uses hereafter Mentioned (over and
above the aforesaid fifteen pence per Hogshead herein before Im-
posed) in lieu and stead of the twelve pence Sterling formerly Im-
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