vince by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Commander-in-chief, for the time being, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council of the same, to be appointed in manner hereinafter mentioned.

(Provided always, That nothing in this act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to any lands that have been granted by his Majesty, or shall hereafter be granted by his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, to be holden in free and common soccage.)

Provided [always] (also,) That it shall and may be lawful to and for every person that is owner of any lands, goods, or credits, in the said Province, and that has a right to alienate the said lands, goods, or credits, in his or her life time, by deed of sale, gift, or otherwise, to devise or bequeath the same, at his or her death, by his or her last will and testament; any law, usage, or custom heretofore or now prevailing in the Province, to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.

[Provided also, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend or be construed to extend, to any lands that have been granted by his Majesty, or shall hereafter be granted by his Majesty, his heirs, and, successors, to be holden in free and common soccage;] (such will being executed either according to the laws of Canada, or according to the forms prescribed by the laws of England.)

And whereas the certainty and lenity of the criminal law of England, and the benefits and advantages resulting from the use of it, have been sensibly felt by the inhabitants from an experience of more than nine years, during which it has been uniformly administered; be it therefore further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that the same shall continue to be administered, and shall be observed as law, in the Province of Quebec, as well in the description and quality of the offence, as in the method of prosecution and trial, and the punishments and forfeitures thereby inflicted, to the exclusion of every other rule of criminal law, or mode of proceeding therein, which did or might prevail in the said Province before the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and sixty-four; any thing in this Act to the contrary thereof in any respect notwithstanding; subject nevertheless to such alterations and amendments, as the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or Commander-in-chief, for the time being, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council of the said Province, hereafter to be appointed, shall from time to time, cause to be made therein, in manner hereinafter directed.

And whereas it may be necessary to ordain many regulations, for the future welfare and good Government of the Province of Quebec, the occasions of which cannot now be foreseen, nor without much delay and inconvenience be provided for, without entrusting that authority for a certain time, and under proper restrictions, to persons resident there: And whereas it is at present inexpedient to call an Assembly; be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, that it shall and may be lawful for his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, by warrant under his or their signet, or sign manual, and with the advice of the Privy Council, to constitute and appoint a Council for the affairs of the Province of Quebec, to consist of such persons resident there, not exceeding twenty-three, nor less than seventeen, as his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, shall be pleased to appoint; and upon the death, removal, or absence, of any of the members of the said Council, in like manner to constitute and appoint such and so many other person or persons as shall be necessary to supply the vacancy or vacancies; which Council, so appointed and nominated, or the major part thereof, shall have [full] power and authority to make ordinances for the peace, welfare, and good government of the said Province, with the consent of his Majesty's Governor, or, in his absence, of the Lieutenant Governor, or Commander-in-chief, for the time being.

Provided always, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend to authorize or empower the said Legislative Council to lay any taxes or duties within the said Province, (such rates and taxes only excepted, as the inhabitants of any town or district within the said Province, may be authorized by the said Council to assess, levy, and apply, within the said town or district, for the purpose of making roads, erecting and repairing public buildings, or for any other purpose respecting the local convenience and economy of such town or district.)

Provided also, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That every ordinance so to be made shall, within six months, be transmitted by the Governor, or in his absence, by the Lieutenant Governor, or Commander-in-chief, for the time being, and laid before his Majesty, for his royal approbation; and if his Majesty shall think fit to disallow thereof, the same shall cease and be void from the time that his Majesty's order in Council thereupon shall be promulgated at Quebec.

Provided also, That no ordinance touching religion, or by which any punishment may be inflicted greater than fine or imprisonment for three months, shall be of any force or effect, until the same shall have received his Majesty's approbation.

Provided also, That no ordinance shall be passed, at any meeting of the Council, (where less than a majority of the whole Council is present, or at any time,) except between the first day of January, and the first day of May, unless upon some urgent occasion; in which case, every member thereof resident at Quebec, or within fifty miles thereof, shall be personally summoned by the Governor, or, in his absence, by the Lieutenant Governor, or Commander-in-chief, for the time being, to attend the same.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That nothing herein contained, shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prevent or hinder his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, by his, or their, letters patent, under the great seal of Great Britain, from erecting, constituting, and appointing, such courts of criminal, civil, and ecclesiastical jurisdiction, within and for the said Province of Quebec, and appointing, from time to time, the Judges and officers thereof, as his Majesty, his heirs, and successors, shall think necessary and proper, for the circumstances of the said Province.

(Provided always, and it is hereby enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to repeal or make void, within the said Province of Quebec, any Act or Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain, heretofore made, for prohibiting, restraining, or regulating the trade or commerce of his Majesty's Colonies and Plantations in America; but that all and every the said Acts, and also all Acts of Parliament, heretofore made, concerning or respecting the said Colonies and Plantations, shall be, and are hereby declared to be, in force, within the said Province of Quebec, and every part thereof.)

An Act to prevent the Exportation to Foreign parts of Utensils made use of in the Cotton, Linen, Woollen, and Silk Manufactures of this Kingdom.

Whereas the exportation of the several tools or utensils made use of in preparing, working up, and finishing, the cotton and linen manufactures of this Kingdom, or any or either of them, or any other goods wherein cotton and linen, or either of them, are used, will enable foreigners to work up such manufactures, and thereby greatly diminish the exportation of the same from this Kingdom: therefore, for preserving as much as possible to his Majesty's British subjects the benefits arising from those great and valuable branches of trade and commerce, be it enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords, Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, That if at any time after the first day of July, one thousand seven hundred and seventy-four, any person or persons, in Great Britain or Ireland, shall upon any pretence whatsoever, load or put on board, or cause to be laden or put on board, of any ship, vessel, or boat, which shall not be bound directly to some port or place in Great Britain or Ireland, any such tools or utensils as are commonly used in, or are proper for the preparing, working up, or finishing, of the cotton or linen manufactures, or any or either of them, or any other goods wherein cotton and linen, or either of them, are used, or any parts or parcels of such tools or utensils, by what name or names the same shall or may be called or known; the person or persons so offending shall, for every such offence, not only forfeit and lose all such tools and utensils, or parts or parcels thereof, which shall be so laden or put on board as aforesaid, but also the sum of two hundred pounds of lawful money of Great Britain; to be recovered by ac-