Sheweth

That Whereas a Malignant & Contagious Distemper hath Infected the horned Cattle hither Province for many years past, whereby some thousands have been Destroyed, Under which Calamity we still are Suffering daily, & our Stocks of Cattle reduced to a very small Number.

We Therefore Pray that your Excellency, with the Honourable Council, & the Worthy Gentlemen Representatives for the Several County's will take this matter into your Serious Consideration And Prevent the driveing Out of this Province for the future all Horned Cattle to any of the Neighbouring Provinces, As we are Under fearful Apprehensions, that we shall Scarcely have Beef Enough in a few years for Our Own Consumption.

And Whereas many Large Tan Yards have been lately set up in this & other parts of the province, Sufficient to Tan & Curry all the Hides Kill'd in it whereby the Leather Manufactory is greatly Encreased, and a Number of Tradesmen Constantly employ'd in working up the same. We Therefore Pray that Your Excellency with the Honourable Council & Gentlemen of the Assembly will do all in your Power to Encourage so Useful & Beneficial a Manufactory And that you will ^lay^ a small Duty of one penny ⅌ pound on all Good Trim'd Dry hides, & one half penny ⅌ pound on all Green hides that shall be Exported raw & Untann'd (Except to Great Britain) Or Prohibit the Exportation of all Good Trim'd Dry hides that will fetch five pence ⅌ pound and all Green hides not distemper'd two pence half penny ⅌ pound, and Limitd the price of Good Tann'd Sole Leathr. at twelve pence ⅌ pound so long as the price of hides does not Exceed the above Limitation, or such other Duty as to you shall Seem most, Otherwise those Gentlemen who have ^been^ at Considerable Expence in Settleing Large yards will be Under a Necessity of laying them a Side, And One of Our Valuablest & best Export will be Discouraged. We further Pray that if a Duty or Prohibition be laid on all Hides pieces of Hides & Calf Skins that all Masters of Vessells at Clearing out of this province, Shall be Sworn before the Naval Officer to the Contents of his Cargo. And That one Person in Every Port well Skilled in Taning & the Leather Manufactory be Appointed Inspector & that none shall be Deemed Merchantable but such as they shall Stamp nor shall any be Exported but such as is Stamped And We your Petitioners as in Duty bound Shall Pray.