26 Assembly Proceedings, July 7-29, 1740.

U.H.J

. Lower House of Assembly, and if a Bill be brought in, a Clause be
added conformable to the Prayer of Mauduits Petition
Read the Petition of Nicholas Hammond a Prisoner for Debt in
Ann Arundel County Goal praying Leave to bring in a Bill to free
his Body from future Arrests for such time and in such manner as
shall be thought reasonable, Referred to the Consideration of the
Lower House, and all sent by Philip Lee Esq^r
Adjourned till to Morrow Morning ten of the Clock

July 24

Thursday Morning 24 July 1740
This House met again according to Adjournment

Present as Yesterday
Read the second time the Bills following Viz. An Act reviving an
Act of Assembly of this Province Entituled an Act to prevent cutting
up Tobacco Plants destroying Tobacco and Tobacco Houses and for
ascertaining the Punishment of Criminals guilty of the said Offences ;
An Act continuing an Act of Assembly of this Province Entituled an
Act for the more effectual Punishment of certain Offences and for
taking from them the Benefit of Clergy; An Act continuing an Act
of Assembly of this Province Entituled a supplementary Act to the
Act Entituled an Act for the more effectual Punishment of Negroes
and Other Slaves and directing the Manner of trying of Slaves, and
passed and sent to the Lower House by Samuel Chamberlain Esq^r
Read the second time the Bills following Viz. An Act reviving an
Act Entituled an Act to prevent the injuring Harbours within this
Province and for repealing the Act therein mentioned; An Act re-
viving an Act Entituled a supplementary Act to the Act Entituled an
Act laying an Imposition on Negroes and on several Sorts of Liquors
imported and also on Irish Servants to prevent the importing too
great a Number of Irish Papists into this Province; An Act for re-
viving an Act of Assembly of this Province Entituled An Act ascer-
taining the Gauge and Tare of Tobacco hh^ds and to prevent cutting
cropping & defacing Tobacco taken on board Ships or Vessels upon
Freight, & passed, and sent to the Lower House by Cot Harris.
Read the second time the Bill Entituled An Act ascertaining the
Gauge of Barrels for Pork and Beef and the Nett Quantity of Pork
and Beef to be contained in Each Barrel, and will pass with the fol-

p. 29

lowing Amendments, the Gauge of the Barrels to be Thirty One
Gallons and an half, in the 2^d Line of 2^d Page from the Word, pro-
fessing, to the Words, set up, in 5^th Line of the same Page to be
left out, and the following Words to be inserted, that shall willingly
and knowingly make or set up, or cause to be made or set up after
the said Nine and twentieth Day of Septem^r in 10^th Line of 5^th Page
instead of the Words, Use of the County School where the Offence