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BRITISH COLONIAL POLICY

In 1654 we find the draft of a bill for transporting vagrants Aug. 14, to the Western Colonies, and two years later a circular letter l656 ‘ was addressed to the Majors-General and Commissioners for the different counties, ordering them to apprehend lewd and dangerous persons, rogues, vagrants, and those who have no way of livelihood and refuse to work, and to treat with merchants and others for the transporting them to the English plantations. The proceeds from the duty on the export of coals were to be appropriated to the carrying on of His Highness’ affairs in America.