II.  And whereas by  the Statute of the Sixth Year of the Reign of his late
Majesty, entitled, An Act for the further preventing Robbery, Burglary, and
other Felonies, and for the more effectual Transportation of Felons, it is Enacted,
" That all the Powers and Authorities, which are given by the said recited
" Act of the Fourth Year of the Reign of his late Majesty, to any Court before
" whom any Felons and Offenders, tried for an convicted of any Offence,
" for which they might be sent or transported to any of his Majesty's
" Colonies or Plantations in America, should and might be observed and executed
" by any other subsequent Court, with like Authority, held for the
" same County, Riding, Division, or Liberty, were or should be tried or
" convicted:  And that such Court might appoint, if they should think fit,
" two or more Justices of the Peace of the said County, Riding, Liberty, or
" Place, where such Offenders were, or should be convicted; who should
" have Power and Authority to contract with any person or Persons, for the
" Performance of the Transportation of such Felons and Offenders, who by
" Order of such Court or Courts were to be sent to any of the Colonies or
" Plantations aforesaid, and to order such like sufficient Security to be given,
" (As the aforesaid recited Act directs, to be taken by Order of Court) and
" also to cause such Felons, pursuant to such Contract, to be delivered by
" the respective Goalers, in whose Custody they were, or should be, or
" might be, to the Person or Persons contracting for the same, or to his or
" their Assigns."

    III.  And whereas several Masters of Ships, and other Vessels, importing the
said Felons and Offenders into this Province, have neglected to being any Testimonial
of the Offences whereof the said Felons, and Offenders, have been
convict; or whereby it might appear whether they were obliged to serve Seven
Years, or Fourteen Years, which hath already occasioned Disputes and Controversies
between the Persons entitled to the Service of such Felons, and
Offenders, and the Felons and Offenders themselves, concerning their Terms
of Servitude, and may occasion may more, as well as give some of the said
Felons, and Offenders, opportunities of returning from their Transportation
before the Expiration of the Terms they have been or may be transported 
for,  contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of the said Statutes.

    IV.  And whereas several other Masters of Ships, and Vessels, have imported
several  Felons, and other Offenders, into this Province, and made
private Contracts with such Felons, and Offenders, for a less Time of Servitude
than is prescribed by the said Acts, and disposed of the said Felons,
and other Offenders, to several of the Inhabitants of this Province, as Servants
of good Reputations, and not convict of any Crime or Offences; by
which Practices several of the said Felons and Offenders, whose Testimony
ought not to be received in any Court of Record, or before any Magistrate,
because not know to be such, may be received as Witnesses, to the manifest
Danger of the Lives, Liberties, and Properties, of his Majesty's Subjects
of this Province, and the true Intent and Meaning of the said Statutes, is
eluded; For the Prevention of which Evils,