An Act for the Better Securing the City of Philadelphia and Its Liberties, from Danger of Gunpowder, ch. 104, §§ 1–2, 1783 Pa. Laws, 256, 256 (Thomas Bradford).

"CHAP. CIV.
An ACT for the better securing the City of Philadelphia, and its Liberties, from danger of Gunpowder.

    Sect. I. WHEREAS by an Act, entitled, “An Act for the better securing the City of Philadelphia from danger of Gunpowder,” passed in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twenty-four, and a Supplement thereto, passed in the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and Forty-seven, continuing the said Act in force until altered by a future Assembly, it was directed that all Gunpowder brought into the Port of Philadelphia should be deposited in a certain Powder House therein described, under the Penalty of Ten Pounds for every offence: 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:^[1] AND WHEREAS the said Penalty of Ten Pounds is not deemed sufficient to deter Persons from storing large quantities of Gunpowder in private Houses and Stores, to the great danger of the Inhabitants:
    Sect. II. 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 of Gunpowder, 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 Offence. 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^[2] to the Wharf, upon due notice given him by the Officer herein after 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 with-held, together with the whole of the Powder, if the Property of the Person so offending."