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Bacon
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in Trade; and often Protested Bills of Exchange are remitted
hither to the several Persons interested therein, which are
sometimes of considerable Value; and for want of due Care
of such Letters, in which the same are inclosed, no settled
Post-Houses being appointed for the Reception of them,
many Times sundry evil-minded Persons find Occasion clan-
destinely to take such Letters out of the Public Houses, where
they are generally left, and break open and conceal the same,
to the great Detriment of sundry of the Inhabitants, Merchants,
and Traders: And many ill-designing Persons, who have,
drawn Bills of Exchange, not having any Bottom in England
to answer the same, well knowing and observing to what
Merchant or Merchants such Bills are remitted, do diligently
watch the Returns of such Bills from the Merchants, and
guessing at some Letters to be the Coverts of their Protested
Bills, get them into their Hands, and destroy the same, to the
great Detriment of many honest Traders and Dealers, and
others concerned; And many Times others, out of a dishonest
and inquisitive Temper, secretly take and break open public
and private Country Letters, to the great Dissatisfaction and
Prejudice of several the Inhabitants, her Majesty's good Sub-
jects, and great Delay of Public Business: For the Prevention
thereof for the future ;
VIII. Be it Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and Consent
aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons whatsoever, shall
hereafter presume to take and break open the Seal or Seals
of any Letter or Letters whatsoever, not being unto him or
them directed, or not having especial Licence from the Per-
sons to whom the same are directed, their Executors or
Administrators, so to do, shall, upon due Conviction thereof,
either in the Provincial or County Courts of this Province,
suffer Imprisonment of his, her, or their Bodies, for and during
the Space of Six Days, without Bail or Mainprize, and forfeit
the Sum of Five Pounds Sterling; the one Moiety to her
Majesty, her Heirs and Successors, for the Support of Govern-
ment, the other Moiety to him or them that shall inform, or
sue for the same; to be recovered in any Court of Record
within this Province, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint or Infor-
mation, wherein no Essoin, Protection or Wager of Law to be
allowed.
IX. And in case any Person or Persons shall break open
any Letter or Letters directed to his Excellency, her Majesty's
Governor, or any of her Majesty's Council of this Province,
for the Time being, or other Public Letter Superscribed, or
directed, For her Majesty's Service, and signed by any Person
having Authority so to do, and shall be thereof legally convict,
he, she, or they, so offending, shall suffer Two Months Impris-
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