ing to risk being sold into
slavery at some other place, that they might experience a change. They
made excellent seamen, and were greatly desired by masters of vessels.
This went on for a long time. The loss to the colony was great; and
the General Assembly passed the subjoined bill as a check to the
stampede that had become quite general:--

"AN ACT TO PREVENT THE COMMANDERS OF PRIVATEERS, OR MASTERS
OF ANY OTHER VESSELS, FROM CARRYING SLAVES OUT OF THIS
COLONY.

"Whereas, it frequently happens that the commanders of
privateers, and masters of other vessels, do carry off
slaves that are the property of inhabitants of this colony,
and that without the privity or consent of their masters or
mistresses; and whereas, there is no law of this colony for
remedying so great an evil,--

"Be it therefore enacted by this General Assembly, and by
the authority of the same, it is enacted, that from and
after the publication of this act, if any commander of a
private man of war, or master of a merchant ship or other
vessel, shall knowingly carry away from, or out of this
colony, a slave or slaves, the property of any inhabitant
thereof, the commander of such privateer, or the master of
the said merchant ship or vessel, shall pay, as a fine, the
sum of L500, to be recovered by the general treasurer of
this colony for the time being, by bill, plaint, or
information in any court of record within this colony.

"And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that
the owner or owners of any slave or slaves that may be
carried away, as aforesaid, shall have a right of action
against the commander of the said privateer, or master of
the said merchant ship or vessel, or against the owner or
owners of the same, in which the said slave or slaves is, or
are carried away, and by the said action or suit, recover of
him or them, double damages.

"And whereas, disputes may arise respecting the knowledge
that the owner or owners, commanders or masters of the said
private men of war, merchant ships or vessels may have of
any slave or slaves being on board a privateer, or merchant
ship or vessel,--

"Be it therefore further enacted, and by the authority
aforesaid, it is enacted, that when any owner or owners of
any slave or slaves in this colony, shall susp