ing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters,' and for extending the provisions of the said Act to his Majesty's Marine Forces in America."

After some time the House was resumed,

And the Earl of Galloway reported from the Committee, That they had gone through the Bill, and directed him to report the same to the House without any amendment.

TUESDAY, April 11, 1775.

The Bill entituled "An Act to amend and render more effectual, in his Majesty's Dominions in America, an Act passed in the present session of Parliament, entituled An Act for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters, and for extending the provisions of the said Act to his Majesty's Marine Forces in America;" was read the third time.

The question was put, "Whether this Bill shall Pass?" it was resolved in the Affirmative.

An Act to amend and render more effectual in his Majesty's Dominions in AMERICA, an Act, passed in the present session of Parliament, entituled, "An Act for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters," and for extending the provisions of the said Act to his Majesty's Marine Forces in AMERICA.

Whereas, in and by an Act, made in this present session of Parliament, entituled, "An Act for punishing Mutiny and Desertion, and for the better Payment of the Army and their Quarters," several regulations are made and enacted for the better government of the Army, and their observing strict discipline, and for providing Quarters for the Army, and Carriages on marches, and other necessary occasions, and inflicting Penalties on Offenders against the same Act, and for many other good purposes therein mentioned; but the same may not be sufficient for the Forces that may be employed in his Majesty's Dominions in America: And whereas, during the continuance of the said Act, there may be occasion for; marching and quartering of Regiments and Companies of his Majesty's Forces in several parts of his Majesty's Dominions in America: And whereas, the Publick Houses and Barracks in his Majesty's Dominions In America may not be sufficient to supply Quarters for such Forces: And whereas, it is expedient and necessity that Carriages and other conveniences upon the march of Troops in his Majesty's Dominions in America should be supplied for that purpose. Be it enacted by the King 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 for and during the continuance of this Act, and no longer, it shall and may be lawful to and for the Constales, Tithingmen, Magistrates, and other Civil Officers, of Villages, Towns, Townships, Cities, Districts, and other places within his Majesty's Dominions in America, and in default or absence, for any one Justice of the Peace, inhabiting in or near any such Village, Township, City, District, or place, and for no others, and such Constables, Tithingmen, Magistrates and other Civil Officers aforesaid, are hereby required to quarter and billet the Officers and Soldiers in his Majesty's service in the Barracks provided by the Colonies; and if there shall not be sufficient room in the said Barracks for the Officers and Soldiers, then, and in such case only, lo quarter and billet the residue of such Officers and Soldiers (for whom there shall not be room in such Barracks) in Inns, Livery Stables, Ale-Houses, Victualling-Houses, and the Houses of Sellers of Wine by retail, to be drank in their own houses, or places thereunto belonging; and all Houses of persons selling of Rum, Brandy, Strong Waters, Cider, or Metheglin, by retail, to be drank in Houses; and in case there shall not be sufficient room for the Officers and Soldiers such Barracks, Inns, Victualling, and other Publick Ale Houses, that in such, and no other case, and upon no Other account, it shall and may be lawful for the Governour and Council of each respective Province in his Majesty's Dominions in America, to authorize, and appoint, and they are hereby directed and empowered to authorize and appoint such proper person or persons, as they shall think fit, to take, hire, and make fit, and in default of the said Governour and Council appointing and authorizing such person or persons, or in default of such person or persons, so appointed, neglecting or refusing to do their duty, in that case it shall and may be lawful for any two or more of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, in or near the said Villages, Towns, Townships, Cities, Districts, and other places, and they are hereby required to take, hire, and make fit for the reception of his Majesty's Forces, such and so many uninhabited Houses, Out-Houses, Barns, or Other Buildings, as shall be necessary to quarter therein the residue of such Officers and Soldiers for whom there should not be room in such Barracks and Publick Houses as aforesaid, and to put and quarter the residue of such Officers and Soldiers therein.

II. And it is hereby declared and enacted. That there shall be no more billets at any time ordered than there are effective Soldiers present to be quartered therein: and in order that this service may be effectually provided for, the Commander-in-Chief in America, or other Officer, under whose orders any Regiment or Company shall march, shall, from time to time, give, or cause to be given, as early notice as conveniently may be, in writing, signed by such Commander or Officer, of their march, specifying their numbers and time of marching, as near as may be, to the respective Governours of each Province through which they are to march, in order that proper persons may be appointed and authorized, in pursuance of this Act, to take up and hire, if it shall be necessary, uninhabited Houses, Out-Houses, Barns, or other Buildings, for the reception of such Soldiers as the Barracks and Publick Houses shall not be sufficient to contain or receive.

III. And, whereas, doubts have been entertained whether Troops can be quartered otherwise than in Barracks, in case Barracks have been provided sufficient for the quartering of all the Officers and Soldiers within any Town, Township, City, District or place, within his Majesty's Dominions in North America: And, whereas, it may frequently happen, from the situation of such Barracks, that if Troops should be quartered therein, they would not be stationed where their presence may be necessary and required: Be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That, in such cases, it shall and may be lawful for the persons hereby authorized, to quarter Troops as aforesaid, in any of the Provinces within his Majesty's Dominions in North America, and they are hereby respectively authorized, empowered and directed, on the requisition of the Officer, who, for the time being, has the command of his Majesty's Forces in North America, lo cause any Officers or Soldiers in his Majesty's service to be quartered and billeted in such manner as is by this Act directed, where no Barracks are provided by the Colonies.

IV. And be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if it shall happen at any time, that any Officers or Soldiers in his Majesty's service shall remain within any of the said Colonies without Quarters for the space of twenty-four hours, after such Quarters shall have been demanded, it shall and may be lawful for the Governour of the Province to order and direct such and so many uninhabited House?, Out-Houses, Barns, or other Buildings; as he shall think necessary to be taken, (making a reasonable allowance for the same,) and made fit for the reception of such Officers and Soldiers, and to put and quarter such Officers and Soldiers therein, for such time as he shall think proper.

V. And he it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any Military Officer shall take upon himself to quarter Soldiers in any of his Majesty's Dominions in America, otherwise than is limited and allowed by this Act; or shall use or offer any menace or compulsion to or upon any Justice of the Peace, Constable, Tithingman, Magistrate, or other Civil Officer before mentioned, in his Majesty's Dominions in America, tending to deter and discourage any of them from performing any part of the duty hereby required or appointed; such Military Officer, for every such offence, being thereof convicted, before any two or more of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, living within or near such Villages, Towns, Townships, Cities, Districts, or other places, by the oaths of two or more credible witnesses, shall be deemed and taken to be, ipso facto, cashiered, and