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1817.] noble the Marquis of Hastings, the governor-general, for the countenance and protection offered by his Excellency to this branch of the Church of Scotland. And the General Assembly farther resolve to appoint a committee to draw up a respectful memorial to the honourable the Court of Directors of the East India Company, and to correspond with that honourable Court on this important subject"—The Assembly was dissolved the 2d of June. There was less business before them this year than we ever remember. Every question has been carried with the greatest cordiality and unanimity.

X. To regulate the Vessels carrying Passengers from the United Kingdom to certain of his Majesty's Colonies in North America.—March 17.

From and after the passing of this act, no ship or vessel shall sail with passengers from any port or place in the United Kingdom to any port or place in Upper or Lower Canada, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Cape Breton, or Prince Edward's Island, unless the master, or other person having or taking the charge or command of every such ship or vessel, and the owner or owners thereof, shall, before the sailing of such ship or vessel from any port or place as aforesaid, enter into security by bond to his Majesty, his heirs and successors, in the penalty of five hundred pounds, with condition that there shall not be taken on board any such ship or vessel any more such passengers than are hereinafter permitted and allowed, and that every passenger, if alive, shall be landed at the port or place to which such passenger shall have contracted to be conveyed; and the master or other person having or taken the charge or command of such ship or vessel, previous to his leaving the said port, shall and is hereby required to deliver to the said collector and comptroller or other principal officer of his Majesty's customs at the said port, a list containing the number of the said passengers, with their names, ages, and descriptions, and the places to which they are to be respectively conveyed: and, upon the arrival of such ship or vessel at either of the aforesaid colonies, the said master or other person having or taking the charge or command of such ship or vessel shall deliver the aforesaid copy of the list to the governor of such place or other person acting for him, or to the naval officer or chief officer of the customs at the port of arrival, or to the nearest justice of the peace, who shall be required to examine the passengers within twenty-four hours after their arrival.

Penalty on taking more passengers than the number allowed, £50.

Passengers to be apportioned according to the tonnage of the vessel in the proportion of one adult person, or of three children under fourteen years of age, for every one ton and a-half of the burden of such ship or vessel.

Every such ship or vessel shall be furnished, at the time of her departure to commence the voyage, with at least twelve weeks' supply of good and wholesome water, so as to furnish a supply of five pints of water per day for every such passenger, exclusive of the crew; and the said supply of water shall be stowed below the deck; and every such ship or vessel shall also be furnished with such a supply of provisions as will afford an allowance for every such passenger, exclusive of the crew, during the said period of twelve weeks, of one pound of bread or biscuit, and one pound of beef, or three quarters of a pound of pork per day, and also two pounds of flour, three pounds of oatmeal, or three pounds of peas or pearl barley, and half a pound of butter weekly; the weekly allowance to commence on the day the vessel puts to sea.

The master or other person having or taking the charge or command of any ship or vessel failing to give out the allowance of provisions and water herein-before specified, shall forfeit the sum of ten pounds of lawful money for each and every such neglect and omission.

Abstract of Act to be exposed in the vessel, on penalty of £10.

All penalties and forfeitures to be incurred under this act, shall and may be recovered in a summary way, on the oath of one or more witness or witnesses, before any one or more of his Majesty's justice or justices of the peace.

To facilitate the Progress of Business in the Court of King's Bench in Westminster Hall.—March 17.

It shall and may be lawful for any one of the judges of the Court of King's Bench at Westminster, when occasion shall so require, to sit apart from the other judges of the same Court, in some place in or near to Westminster Hall, for the business of adding and justifying special bail in causes depending in the same Court, whilst others of the judges of the same court are at the same time proceeding in the despatch of the other business of the same Court in bank, in its usual place of sitting.

For punishing Mutiny and