An Act to Enable the City and County of Albany to defray their necessary Charge.

FOrasmuch as the Inhabitants of the City and County of Albany have been, during the time of the late Disorders, very much agrieved, wasted, destroyed and impoverished by the Incursions of the French, their Majesties declared Enemies, and that it is absolutely necessary that some suitable and convenient way should be found out for their Relief and more easie defraying of the necessary Charge of that City and County, Be it therefore Enacted by the Governor and Council, and Representatives convened in General Assembly, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority of the same, That the Imposition or Rate of Two per Cent. shall be raised and levied upon all Indian Goods that are brought up to that City and County of Albany, and there sold or con∣sumed. And also, That the Impost of Three Pence be raised and levied upon each Gallon of Rum that is sold and consumed within that City and County. And for the due and orderly collecting of the said respective Imposts and Rates, the Treasurer of the said City for the time being, or any appointed by him, and the Mayor of the said City, under the publick Seal of the said City, are hereby impowered and authorized to appoint, constitute and establish a Collector or Receiver of the Rates and Imposts aforesaid, who shall have Power to receive the same, and to enter in a fair Book, kept for that purpose, all such Sum and Sums of Money as shall be so entered and received for the respective Duties aforesaid; the said Collector or Receiver appointing certain convenient Times and Places for the keeping of the Office, as shall be directed by the Court of Mayor and Aldermen, and Assistance of the said City. And all Persons that Trade and bring up to the said City and County the afore-mentioned Indian Goods and Rum, are hereby required to make a Report of the Quantity and Value of such Goods and Rum they so bring up and sell in the City and County aforesaid, and pay the Duties and Imposts hereby established, without being at any further Charge than the said Duty. And in Default hereof it shall be lawful for the Mayor, Treasurer, or any other Officer hereby Authorized, to issue out his or their Warrant, under his or their Hand and Seal, for the seizing of all such Goods and Rum as shall be im∣bezeled, and not pay the Duties aforesaid, One Third to the Imformer, One Third to the said City and County of Albany, and One Third to his Excellency the Governour or Commander in Chief for the time being. Provided, That all the Sum and Sums of Money that are hereby received, shall be only appropriated and applyed to the defraying of the necessary Charges of the City and County aforesaid. And that the Treasurer, Collector or Receiver for the time being, shall not pay any of the Money received as aforesaid, but by Warrant from the Page  21Mayor of the said City, and approved by the Court of Aldermen and Assistants. Provided, That this Act shall only remain in force for the space of three Yearr, and no longer, any thing contained herein to the contrary in any ways notwithstanding.