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An Act for preventing the Importation of German and French
Papists, and Popish Priests and Jesuits, into this Province; and
of Irish Papists by Way of Pennsylvania, or the Government of
New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex, on Delaware.
Whereas it appears to this General Assembly, that many German
and French Papists, and several Popish Priests, and Jesuits, have
been lately imported into this Province, who have immediately re-
sorted to the Western Frontiers thereof, and there settled for the
Convenience of taking up vacant Lands, which are at this Time
scarcely elsewhere to be had; that from their Vicinity to the Forti-
fications which the French have lately presumed to erect on the River
Ohio, it is too probable they will not only give his Majesty's Enemies
constant secret Intelligence of the Situation of Affairs within this
Province, and privately assist them all in their Power, but in Case
of an Attack upon this Part of his Majesty's Dominions, would
doubtless turn their Force, in Conjunction with the French and
their savage Allies, against his loyal Protestant Subjects.
And whereas the insatiable Desire of universal Conversion to their
own religious Opinions, calculated for the Establishment and Sup-
port of Tyranny and Slavery, both Ecclesiastical and Civil, must
excite the constant unwearied Endeavours of the said Popish Priests,
and Jesuits, to accomplish their most impious Designs; all which
might endanger the Subversion of the happy Constitution of the
Government of this Province, and the Loss of the Liberties and
Properties of the good Protestant People thereof :
Be it therefore Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Pro-
prietary, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's
Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the
Authority of the same, That all Masters of Ships and Vessels, and
Others, importing German or French Passengers, or Servants, into
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L.H.J.
Liber No. 48
March 21
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this Province, shall bring their Vessels off, and make their Entry,
at the Port and City of Annapolis, and not elsewhere, and shall, at
the Time of such Entry, pay unto the Naval-Officer of the said Port,
for the Time being, the Sum of Five Pounds Current Money, per
Poll, for every German or French Papist (Priests excepted), and
Two hundred Pounds for every Popish Priest, or Jesuit, on Penalty
and Forfeiture of Twenty Pounds Current Money, for every German
or French Papist (Priests excepted), and Four hundred Pounds for
every such Priest, or Jesuit, as aforesaid, that shall be by him or them
concealed, at the Time of his or their Entry, as aforesaid, One half
of the said Fines to be applied to the replacing the Sum of Six thou-
sand Pounds, granted for his Majesty's Service, on the present in-
tended Expedition against the French, and their Allies on this Con-
tinent, by an Act entituled, An Act for his Majesty's Service, and
the other half thereof to the Informer, or him or them that shall
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P-74
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