CHAP VI An act to repeal the several acts of assembly for seizure and condemnation of British goods found on land. Chap. CL in original. 1. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That all All acts and and every act and acts of assembly or convention, so ordinances far as the same prohibit the importation of British prohibiting importation goods, wares, or merchandize, into this commonwealth; of British or as subject the same to any manner of forfeiture or goods re condemnation, or the person or persons importing them pealed. to any damage or penalty whatsoever, shall be, and are hereby repealed. And that all such goods, wares, and merchandize, be admitted to entry with the naval officers, and subject to the like duties and restrictions imposed by law upon all other goods, wares, and merchandize. 4 II And be it further enacted, That this act shall have the force and obligation of law, from and after the thirteenth day of May, in the present yeares bear: For remedy whereof, Be it enacted, That three pence per barrel only, be paid for the inspection of tar, pitch, and turpentine, from and after the passing this act; any law to the contrary notwithstanding. [Chap. CLIF in original] Chan. Rev. pa. 186. See October 1780, ch. 27, and notes. CHAP. VIII. An act to establish certain and ade quate funds for the redemption of certificates granted to the officers and soldiers for their arrears of pay and depreciation. ་ 1. WHEREAS the funds formerly appropriated by Preamble law for the redemption of the certificates granted, or to be granted, to the officers and soldiers of the Vir ginia line, on continental and state establishments, for their arrears of pay and depreciation, have hitherto proved inadequate, and the finances of the state are at present in such circumstances that the same cannot be paid within the time limited by law, without greatly distressing the citizens thereof: And whereas certain officers, deputed on behalf of the said officers and 4 soldiers, have presented to this present assembly an humble and dutiful memorial, expressing their sincere desire to prevent every embarrassment to the public during the present exhausted state of the country, and declaring their voluntary consent to postpone such payment for a reasonable time, in full confidence that the legislature will establish certain and adequate funds for the redemption of such certificates, within the time Tax or duty which may be now appointed for the same: Be it thereimposed on fore enacted by the General Assembly, That in aid of the particular funds hitherto appropriated for the redemption of the goods im certificates granted, or to be granted, to the said officers ported, in aid of funds, and soldiers for their arrears of pay and depreciation, for redemp the following duties shall be paid on the goods, wares, tion of mili and merchandize, herein after enumerated, which may be imported, either by land or water, into this state; and the money arising therefrom appropriated to the sole purpose of redeeming the said certificates, and the 11. And be it further enacted, That the master or Master of purser of every ship, or other vessel, importing any vessel when goods, wares, or merchandize, liable to a duty by vir- and how to tue of this act, to any port or place within this com- "operto de » monwealth, shall, within forty eight hours after his arrival, make a true and just report, upon oath, with the collector of the duties in the said port or place, of the burthen, contents, or loading of such ship or vessel, with the particular numbers of every cask or package therein laden, and containing any of the aforesaid goods, wares, or merchandize, and of all parcels or quantities of any such goods, wares, or merchandize which may be laden or stowed in bulk on board such ship or vessel, and where, and in what port, the same were laden and taken on board, upon penalty of for feiting two hundred pounds current money, recovera Penalty. ble on information in any court within this commonwealth, who shall thereupon enter judgment and award execution for the same, to be applied, one moiety to the use of the informer, and the other to the use of the commonwealth. till entry, It And be it further enacted, That none of the Dutiable goods, wares, or merchandizes, liable to the said du- goods of to ties, imported or brought into this commonwealth by be landed water, by any person or persons whatsoever, shall be and payment landed or put on shore until due entry made thereof or securing with the collector of the duties in such port or place, the duties. and a true account of the numbers of every cask, and quantity of distilled spirits, wine, snuff, ale, beer, or porter; and also the quantity of salt, hemp, or cordage, as aforesaid, at that port or place where the same was shipped or taken on board, given on oath before the said collector, who shall certify the same upon the back of the original invoice, or a true copy thereof to Forfeiture of Goods im ported by land, how to be entered and duty paid or se cored. him produced, and thereupon such importer paying the duties laid by this act, or securing the payment thereof within six months, shall obtain a permit under the hand of such collector, for the landing and delivegoods other- ry of the same. And all spirits, wine, salt, hemp wise landed, cordage, snuff, beer, ale, or porter, landed or put on shore, or delivered, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, or the value thereof, shall be for feited and lost, and may be seized or recovered by the said collector of the port or place where the same shall be put on shore or delivered, or by any other person or persons whatsoever; and the owner or importer of any of the aforesaid spirits, wine, salt, hemp, cordage, snuff, ale, beer, or porter, by land, shall, in like manner, make due entry of the same, within ten days after the importation, with the clerk of the county court wherein they are brought, who shall receive the taxes or duties payable thereon, or take bond with good and sufficient security from the importer, for the payment thereof within three months; and the said clerks shall, in case the owner or importer of the said articles shall fail to pay the duties imposed thereon, or give bond as aforesaid, proceed in like manner to seize and sell the same as is directed in the case of seiContents of zures made by the collectors or naval officers. Provisi oertain casks ded always, That no person shall be required to give account upon oath of the true contents of any pipe or lesser cask of wine, or any hogshead or lesser cask of spirits imported, but shall have liberty to enter a pipe of wine or hogshead af spirits as aforesaid, at one hun dred gallons, and all lesser casks after the same proportion; any thing in this act to the contrary notwiths standing ascertained false entry Penalty for IV. And be it further enacted, That if any person or persons whatsoever, shall willingly make a false entry, and be thereof convicted, such person or pers sons shall forfeit and pay two hundred pounds current money, and also forfeit the goods, recoverable, on in formation, in any court within this commonwealth, who shall thereupon enter judgment and award execution for the same, to be applied, one moiety to the use of the informer, and the other to the use of the commonwealth. enter vessels Officers may V. And be it further enacted, That the collectors of and bring a the duties aforesaid, or any person by them appoint ed, shall have full power and authority to go and en- way dutiable ter on board any ship or other vessel, and from thence goods, if dus ty, not paid to bring on shore any articles whatsoever, liable to a or secured. duty by virtue of this act, if such duty be not paid or agreed for within ten days after the first entry of such ship or vessel, or bond with good and sufficient security given for payment of the same within three months hext after such entry, which bond, if offered, the collector is hereby authorized and required to accept and take, and such articles so brought on shore to secure and detain until due pay ment shall be made, or security given as aforesaid; and if such payment or security be no made or given within two days from the time of such sei zure, the collector of the duties aforesaid is hereby em powered to sell the same, or so much thereof as shall be sufficient to discharge the said duties, and five per centum for the charges of such seizure and sale. ProProceeding vided nevertheless, That notice shall be given of such thereupon. sale, by advertizing the same two weeks in the Vitginia Gazette; and they are also empowered to stay and remain on board such ship of vessel until all such wines, spirit, salt, hemp, cordage, snuff, beer, ale, and porter, be discharged and delivered out of the same; and if any collector or collectors of the said duties, or clerks of the county courts, or any other perSon or persons deputed by them, or any of them, shall directly or indirectly take or receive any bribe, recompence, or reward, in any kind whatsoever, or shall connive at any false entry of the articles liable to a du VI. And be it further enacted, That it shall be law- Collectors, ful to and for all and every collector and collectors of by warrants, the duties aforesaid, or clerks of county courts, by constable, in and with a warrant under the hand of a justice of the peace, which the day time warrant shall not be granted but upon an information may break made to him upon oath, and accompanied with a con- to search for open houses stable, to break open, in the day time, any honse diable |