- Transcription
Circular Letter to the several Govrs. of His Majesty's Colony's in America, relating to the Embargo to be laid upon all Ships and Vessels bound to neutral Ports with Provisions.
Whitehall
Octor. 9th. 1756.
Sir,
It having been represented to His Majesty, that the several Islands and Colonies belonging to the French in America have, in times of War, been frequently supplyed with Provisions of various kinds, by means of the Trade carried on from His Majesty's Islands and Colonies to the Colonies and Settlements belonging to the Dutch and other neutral Powers; It is His Majesty's Pleasure, that you do forthwith upon the receipt of this order, give immediate directions, that an Embargo be laid during His Majesty's Pleasure upon all Ships and Vessels clearing out with Provisions from any Port or Place within your Government, except those which shall be employ'd in carrying Provisions to any other of His Majesty's Colonies or Plantations, which Ships or Vessels are to be allowed to sail from time to time, provided that the Masters or owners do, before they are permitted to take any Provisions on Board, enter into Bonds (with two sureties of known Residence there and ability to answer the Penalty) with the chief Officers of the Customs of the Ports or Places from whence such Ships or Vessels shall set sail, to the Value of £1000, if the Ship be of less Burthen than 100 Tons, and of the Sum of £2000, if above that Burthen, that the Cargos of such Ships or Vessels, the particulars of which are to be express'd in the Bonds, shall not be landed in any other Ports or places, than such as belong to His Majesty or are in possession of His Subjects; and that they will, within twelve Months after the date thereof, the danger of the Seas excepted, produce Certificates under the hands and Seals of the principal Officers of the Customs at such ports or places, for which such Ships or Vessels clear'd out, that the said Cargoes, expressing the particulars thereof, have actually been landed there, and when there shall be cause to suspect, that such certificates are false and counterfeit, you shall take especial care, that such security be not cancelled or vacated, untill you shall have been inform'd from the said principal Officers of the Customs, that the matter and contents thereof are just and true; and in case the Masters or owners of such Ships or Vessels shall not produce the said Certificates within the time limited, you are to attest the Copies of such Bonds under your hand and Seal, and to cause prosecution thereof; and you are also to give directions, that no person be admitted to be Security for another, who has Bonds standing out undischarged, unless he be esteemed responsible for more than the value of such Bonds.
And in order the more fully to answer His Majesty's Intention of distressing the Enemy, and to render His orders herein the more effectual, you are to take care, in case the Masters or owners of any Ships or Vessels, having cleared out from the Colony under your Government, laden with Provisions from any of His Majesty's other Colonies or Islands, shall be detected in causing Collusive Captures to be made of the Cargoes, that the severest Penalties be inflicted upon the Offenders, which the Laws will in such case allow of.
We are,
Sir,
your most obedt.
humble Servants,
Exd.
