re exposed to sale, who have been
stolen or surprised as aforesaid, or are not within the qualifications
of sale in this act described, they are hereby authorized and required,
if it can be done, to send the persons so exposed to sale to their
original habitation or settlement, in the manner they shall deem best
for their security, (the reasonable charges whereof shall be allowed to
the said governor by the African Company,) unless the said persons
choose to sell themselves; and then, and in that case, their value in
money and goods, at their pleasure, shall be secured to them, and be
applicable to their use,-without any dominion over the same of any
purchaser, or of any master to whom they may in any colony or plantation
be sold, and which shall always be in some of his master's [Majesty's?]
colonies and plantations only. And the master of the ship in which such
person shall embark shall give bond for the faithful execution of his
part of the trust at the island where he shall break bulk.
18. Be it further enacted, that, besides the hospitals on shore, one or
more hospital-ships shall be employed at each of the said chief marts,
wherein slaves taken ill in the trading ships shall be accommodated,
until they shall be cured; and then the owner may reclaim and shall
receive them, paying the charges which shall be settled by regulation to
be made by the authority in this act enabled to provide such
regulations.
* * * * *
III. And whereas it is necessary that regulations be made to prevent
abuses in the passage from Africa to the West Indies:
[Sidenote: Slave ships to be examined on the coast.]
1. Be it further enacted, that the commander or lieutenant of the king's
ship on each station shall have authority, as often as he shall see
occasion, attended with one other of his officers, and his surgeon or
mate, to enter into and inspect every trading ship, in order to provide
for the due execution of this act, and of any ordinances made in virtue
thereof and conformable thereto by the authorities herein constituted
and appointed; and the said officer and officers are hereby required to
examine every trading ship before she sails, and to stop the sailing of
the said ship for the breach of the said rules and ordinances, until the
governor in council shall order and direct otherwise: and the master of]
the said ship shall not presume, under the penalty of ----, to be
recovered in the courts
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