11 Stat. at Large of Pa. 209, ch. 1059, §§ 1-2 (1782)

11 Stat. at Large of Pa. 209, ch. 1059, §§ 1-2 (1782)

Abstract

all gun-powder brought into the port of Philadelphia should be deposited in a certain powder house therein described, under the penalty of ten pounds for every offense: And Whereas another powder house or magazine hath been erected in the said city in the public square on the south side of Vine street, between the Sixth and Seventh streets from Delaware at the public expense

Summary

The law limited anyone in Philadelphia or within two miles of it to storing no more than 30 pounds of gunpowder outside the public magazine, with excess powder subject to forfeiture and a £20 fine. Shipmasters and merchants bringing gunpowder into the port were also required to surrender it to the designated officer within 48 hours, or face a £20 penalty per withheld cask and forfeiture of the powder.

Law Text

[Section I.] (Section II, P. L.) Be it therefore enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Representatives of the Freemen of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That no person whatsoever, within the precincts of Philadelphia, nor within two miles thereof, shall, from and after the passing of this act, presume to keep in any house, shop or cellar, store or place whatsoever, in the said city, nor within two miles thereof, other than in the said public magazine, any more or greater quantity at any one time than thirty pounds weight of gun-powder, under the penalty of a forfeiture of the whole quantity so over and above stored, together with a fine of twenty pounds for every such offense. And whatever master, merchant or other person trading or bringing into the said port any gunpowder (other than such as shall be specially licensed in that behalf, by the president or vice-president and council of the state of Pennsylvania) shall not within the space of forty-eight hours from his first arrival and coming to anchor there, and before he hauls to the wharf, upon due notice given him by the officer hereinafter appointed, or his successor or his or their deputies, of the purport of this act, deliver all the powder so brought into the said port aforesaid, unto the said officer, or his successor or his or their deputies, he or they so offending shall forfeit at the rate of twenty pounds for every cask so withheld, together with the whole of the powder, if the property of the person so offending.