WHEREAS the Masters and Commanders of the several Merchant
Ships trading into this Province, and the several Merchants and
Traders therein, have represented to this General Assembly, that
several Persons keeping Victualling Houses, or Public Houses of Entertainment,
for Lucre and Gain, do make it their Practice to draw in and entertain
the seamen belonging to the several Ships, and give them too great
Credit;
not only to the Ruin of them their Wives and Children, but also to
the
Hinderance of the Ship's Lading, whereby the Charge of the Ships are
greatly
augmented, and Trade in general delayed and discouraged: For
the Prevention
whereof;
II. Be it Enacted,
by the Queen's most excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice
and Consent of her Majesty's President, Council, and Assembly of
this Province,
and the Authority of the same. that if any Victualler,
or Keeper of any Public
House, within this Province, shall, after the First Day of january
next,
trust any Seafaring Man, Sailor, or Seaman (not being an Inhabitant
of this
Province, and generally residing in the same) for any Sum or Sums of
Money
above the Value of Five Shillings in any Voyage, without Leave or Licence
from the Commander of the Ship or Vessel to which he belongs, upon
Pain
of losing their Debt: And if such Victualler, or other Person
keeping a Public
House, shall take any Bond, Bill, Note, or Bill of Exchange, or any
other
Specialty or Obligation for any Debt contracted by any Sailor or Seaman
belonging to any Ship or Vessel, and not being and Inhabitant as aforesaid,
such
Bond, Bill, Note, or Bill of Exchange, or other Specialty, or Obligation,
shall be void, and of no Effect.
III. And be it
further Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and Consent aforesaid,
That if any Victualler, or Keeper of any Public House as aforesaid,
shall entertain or harbour any Sailor or Seaman, without Licence from
the
Master or Commander of the Ship or Vessel to which he belongs, to the
Delay
or Hinderance of the Business of such Ship or Vessel, the Commanders
thereof, such Victualler, or Keeper of a Public house, or House of
Entertainment,
shall be liable to and incur the Pains and Penalties in the Act of
Assembly
of this Province inflicted on such as entertain or deal with Servants;
any Law, Statute, Usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
IV. Provided,
That this Act, or any Thing therein contained, shall not
extend to the Master, or Chief Mate of any Ship or Vessel.
Examined and Compared with the Original Act, REVERDY GHISELIN,
THOMAS BACON. |
Preamble.
Public House
Keepers trusting
Seamen
(not Residents)
above
5 Shillings in
any Voyage,
without
Leave of the
Commander,
lose their
Debt.
Any Note,
Bill, Bond,
&c. taken for
such Debt,
shall be void.
Victuallers,
&c. entertaining
Sailors,
without
Leave of their
Master, &c.
how to be
punished.
Not to extend
to Masters or
Chief Mates. |
