VII.  And whereas, the Trade and Commerce of this Province is, in great
Measure confined to England, and the Inhabitants of this Province of necessity
are obliged to lodge their Effects, and wholly correspond with the Merchants
in England, by which Means we have great Dependance upon their
Advice in Trade; and often Protested Bills of Exchange are remitted hither
to the several persons interested therein, which are sometimes ofd considerable
Value; and for want of due Care of such Letters, in which the same are inclosed,
no settled Port-houses being appointed for the Reception of them,
many Times sundry evil-minded persons find occasion clandestinely to take
such Letters out of the Public Houses, where they are generally left, and
break open and conceal the same, to the great Detriment of sundry if the
Inhabitants, Merchants, and Traders:  And may ill-designing Persons, who
have drawn Bills of Exchange, not having any Bottom in England to answer
the same, well knowing and observing to what Merchant or Merchants such 
Bills are remitted, do diligently watch the Returns of such Bills from the Merchants,
and guessing at some Letters to be the Coverts of their Protested Bills,
get them into their Hands, and destroy the same, to the great Detriment of
many honest Traders and Dealers, and others concerned:  And many Times others,
out of a dishonest and inquisitive Temper, secretly take and break open
public and private County Letters, to the great Dissatisfaction and Prejudice
of several the Inhabitants, her Majesty's good Subjects, and great Delay of
Public Business:  For the Prevention thereof for the future;

    VIII.  Be it Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and Consent aforesaid, That
if any person or Persons whatsoever, shall hereafter presume ti take and break
open the Seal or Seals of any Letter of Letters whatsoever, not being unto
him or them directed, or not having especial Licence from the persons to
whom the same are directed, their Executors or Administrators, so to do,
shall, upon due Conviction thereof, wither in the Provincial or County Courts
of this Province, suffer Imprisonment or his, her, or their Bodies, for and
during the Space of Six Days, without Bail or Mainprize, and forfeit the
Sum of Five Pounds Sterling; the one Moiety to her Majesty, her Heirs and
Successors, for the Support of Government, the other Moiety to him or them
that shall inform, or sue for the same; to be recovered in any Court of Record
within this Province, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint or Information,
wherein no Essoin, Protection or Wager of Law to be allowed.

    IX.  And in case any Person or Persons shall break open any letter of letters
directed to his Excellency, her Majesty's Governor, or any of her Majesty's
Council of this Province, for the Time being, or other Public Letter
superscribed, or directed, For her Majesty's Service, and signed by any Person
having the Authority so to do, and shall be thereof legally convict, hem she, or
they, so offending, shall suffer Two Months imprisonment, without Bail or
Mainprize, and forfeit to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her Heirs and Successors,
the Sum of Twenty Pounds Sterling; to be recovered and divided as
aforesaid.

    X.  And be it further Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and Consent aforesaid,
That one act of Assembly of this Province, made at a Session of Assembly,
begun and held at the Port of Annapolis, the Twenty-sixth Day of
March, Anno Domini Seventeen Hundred and Seven, entitled, An Act to prevent
the Abuse of breaking open, and concealing Public and private Letters; and
every Article, Clause and Thing therein contained, be and is hereby repealed,
and made null and void.
                                        Examined and Compared with the Original Act, REVERDY GHISELIN
                                                                                                                                THOMAS BACON.