having families not to enter on board any colonial vessels, unless provision be made by the owners for their families whilst absent; the owners to find security also to return such persons when their engagement expires.  The owners must likewise maintain their men while on shore, or the latter may relinquish their contract.  The owners must also provide sufficient provisions for the support of their men, or be prosecuted at civil law.  Colonial vessels not to depart for oiling and sealing, until bonds be entered into by the owners, binding themselves in five hundred pounds, and two sureties in fifty pounds each (to be renewed annually, for the conduct of masters in their employ), to perform as follows:—­To take no person without permission and regular notice of departure; to obtain a clearance; not to navigate beyond the limits, namely, 10.37. and 43.39. south, and 135. east, from Greenwich; not to entice seamen, or entertain deserters; to provide sufficient provisions for the support of their men; not to break bulk, until entered and the fees paid; not to authorize strange vessels taking away British subjects from the gangs; not to purchase or receive more than twenty gallons of spirits from any vessel they may meet, without the governor’s permission.

Constables—­forbid releasing persons taken in charge, until discharged by a magistrate.

Convicts—­not to employ others to do their work:  to which all overseers are strictly to attend, under such punishment as a bench of magistrates may adjudge.  Convicts not to strike or be struck by free persons:  penalty, two hundred lashes the prisoner, and jail-gang twelve months; a free man to pay two pounds for the first offence, and be bound over; and, for the second offence, five pounds, and security doubled.  Those prisoners assigned to individuals to be of no expence to the crown, nor can any convict’s person be attached for debt.  Those prisoners taken off the stores to be employed on their master’s ground only, and in no case be permitted on their own hands, or let to hire:  penalty to Orphans; the master to pay ten pounds, and half-a-crown for each day the servant has been absent from public labour.  Servants, who are prisoners, are not to be beaten by their masters; who are to complain to a magistrate when necessary, on pain of forfeiting such future accommodation.  Those prisoners off the stores who charge exorbitant prices for their labour, or misbehave in any other respect, will be recalled, and such other punishment inflicted according to the nature of the offence.  Masters of convicts to clothe and maintain them with a ration equal to that issued by government; to provide for them a sheltered lodging; the servant to work, in his own time, for his master, in preference to any other person, and never absent himself without leave; in case of misbehaviour, the master is to prefer his complaint to a magistrate, who will order such punishment as the case shall require.  Persons secreting or employing such servants during government hours, will be punished for a breach of public orders on that head.  Those convict servants indented for, not to be suffered on their own hands; penalty, the master to pay half-a-crown per day, and one shilling for each day the servant shall be discharged before the time indented for expires.