By His Excellency Josiah Martin Esquire, Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the said Province.
A Proclamation.
Whereas by an Act passed in the General Assembly of this Province in the year 1754 a duty of Four pence was imposed upon every Gallon of Rum, Wine or distilled Liquor brought into this province by land, the payment of which duty hath too frequently been evaded. I have therefore thought fit, by and with the advice and Consent of His Majesty's Council to issue this proclamation strictly requiring the payment of the Duties imposed by the said Act of Assembly to the Collectors appointed to receive the same. And all persons neglecting or refusing to pay the said duties as they accrue will be prosecuted with the utmost Rigour.
Given under my Hand and the Great Seal of the said Province at New Bern, May the 25th 1773, In the 13th year of His Majesty's Reign.