Edit. 1769, p. 326.

Preamble.

CHAP. VIII.

An Act for the prohibiting the Inspectors of tar, pitch, and turpentine, from pur. chasing such commodities.

I. WHEREAS it is represented to this General Assembly, that it is of pernicious consecuence to permit the inspectors of tar, pitch, and turpentine, to buy for themselves, or any other person, any such commodity.

Inspectors of II. Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, tar, &c. their Council, and Burgessess, of this present General Assemduty. bly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, That from aud after the passing of this act, no person or persons, appointed to inspect the filling of tar, pitch, or turpentine, shall, during his or their continuance in such office, directly, or indirectly, for himself or themselves, or for any other person or persons, buy or receive, by way of barter, loan or exchange, or by any other ways or means, any tar, pitch, or turpentine whatsoever, except for his or their own use, under the penalty of forfeiting five shillings for every barrel of tar, pitch, or turpentine, so bought or received; to be recovered with costs, by action of debt or information, in any court of record within this dominion, where the penalty or forfeiture exceeds twenty five shillings; and where the same does not exceed that sum, before any justice of the peace of the county where the offence shall be committed; one moiety whereof shall be to our sovereign lord the king, his heirs and successors, for and towards the better support of this government, and the contingent charges thereof, and the other to the person or persons who shall inform or sue for the same.

CHAP. IX.

An Act for the relief of the proprietors of the tobacco burnt in Bolling's Point warehouse, in the county of Dinwiddie.

I. WHEREAS by a late accidental fire, large quan- Preamble. tities of tobacco were burnt at the public warehouses at Bolling's point, in the county of Dinwiddie; an account of which tobacco, as near as could be collected, with the names of most of the proprietors, is stated in the memorial of the inspectors at said warehouse, and contained in a schedule hereunto annexed; but by reason of several difficulties, and particularly for want of proper vouchers and accounts; the exact quantity of the said burnt tobacco, and the names of the proprietors thereof, cannot be known; for remedy whereof, and to the end it may fully appear to whom the said burnt tobacco belonged; and that a just account thereof may be stated, and the sufferers receive satisfaction for their several losses;

II. BE it enacted by the Lieutenant Governor, Coun- Commiscil, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, sioners. and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That John Jones, isham Eppes, Richard Bland, Stephen Dewey, William Poythress, John Banister, and Robert Ruffin, gentlemen, shall be, and they are hereby constituted and appointed commissioners for taking, examining, and stating the accounts, claims, and demands of all the proprietors, not mentioned in the said schedule, of the tobacco burnt in the said warehouses, which shall appear to them to have been inspected, and refused by the inspectors at the said warehouses, but not picked and reprized by the proprietors and owners thereof; and of such tobaccos as were not inspected before the burning of the said warehouses. And for the better enabling the said commissioners, or any four or more of them, to take and state the said accounts,

ers.

III. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, Their powThat the said commissioners, or any four or more of them, are hereby authorized and impowered to meet at such time or times, and at such places as they shall think fit; of which time and place, public notice, shall

Commissioners to take an oath.

"The form.

Their direc

tion in stat ing the acCounts.

rate the treasurer is to

pay to the

be advertised in the Virginia Gazette, and at the said warehouses at least one month before such meeting, and to examine any person or persons they shall judge necessary for their information, in all things relating to the said accounts, and to administer an oath or affirmation, as the case shall be for the better discover ing of the true quantity of the said burnt tobacco, to any person or persons.

IV. And be it further enacted by the authority afore said, That every of the said commissioners hereby constituted before he enters upon the execution of this act, shall take an oath before the county court of Dinwiddie, the tenor whereof, shall be as followeth; that is to say,

I A. B. do swear, that I will, according to the best of my skill and knowledge, faithfully, impartially, and truly demean myself in taking, examining, and stating the accounts, claims, and demands of the proprietors of the tobacco burnt in Bolling's point warehouse, according to the directions of the act, intitu led, An aot for the relief of the proprietors of the tobacco burnt in Bolling's point warehouse, in the county of Dinwiddie.

V. And be it further enacted, by the authority afore said, That in stating the said accounts, the said commissioners, or any four or more of them, shall, and they are hereby required, to distinguish the number of hogsueads of such tobacco, burnt in the said warehouse, before the same were inspected, and the number of hogsheads that were refused by the inspectors. and burnt before the same were picked, with the names of the several owners and proprietors thereof, which said accounts, the said commissioners, or any four or more of them, shall deliver to the treasurer of this colony, under their hands and seals, within two months after the same shall be stated and settled.

VI. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforeAfter what said, That the said treasurer out of the money to be raised by virtue of this act, shall on the last day of October, in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven sufferers, re- hundred and fifty six, pay to the sufferers, respectivespectively. ly, with an interest of five per centum, per annum, from the passing of this act, according to the several quantities of tobacco by them lost, as stated in the accounts of the said commissioners; and also to the several proprietors of the tobacco which had been in

spected, and passed by the inspectors at the said warehouse, mentioned in the schedule aforesaid, after the rates following, that is to say, for the crop tobacco passed between the tenth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and forty eight, and the tenth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and fifty one, eight shillings and four pence per centum: for the crop tobaceo passed from the tenth day of November, one thousand seven hundred and fifty two, to the twentieth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and fifty three, twelve shillings and six pence, per centum: for the crop tobacco passed from the twentieth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and fifty three, to the twentieth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and fifty four, fourteen shillings per centum: for the crop tobacco passed from the twentieth day of October, one thousand seven hundred and fifty four, fifteen shillings per centum: and for the crop tobacco refused, but not picked, allowing five hundred pounds nett for each hogshead, twelve shillings and six pence, per centum: and for the tobacco burnt before it was inspected, allowing one thousand pounds nett for each hogshead, twelve shillings and six pence per centum. And whereas, sixteen thousand three hundred and eighty nine pounds of tobacco, saved out of the crop tobacco, burnt at the said warehouse, now remain in the inspectors hands; and there are due, and owing from the said inspectors, sixteen thousand and ninety two pounds of tobacco, upon outstanding transfer notes:

How the In spectors may

transfer

VII. Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That it shall, and may be lawful to, and for the said inspectors, and they are hereby required to pay pay off their off, and discharge the said sixteen thousand and nine- outstanding ty two pounds of tobacco, due from them upon out- notes. standing transfer notes, out of the said sixteen thousand three hundred and eighty nine pounds of tobacco, so saved out of the burnt tabacco, as aforesaid, and the overplus shall be by them sold, and accounted for, to the treasury for the use of the public.

VIII. And be it further enacted, by the authority Additional aforesaid, That from and after the twentieth day of duty on eveOctober next, an additional duty of three shillings ry hogshead and six pence, shall be paid for every hogshead of to-head of tobacco passed bacco, passed at the several warehouses in this colo- which the inny, by the owners or proprietors thereof; which said spectors are

obliged to collect.

Gontinuance.

duty, the several inspectors at the said warehouses, shall, and they are hereby impowered and required, to collect and receive without any fee or reward, of, and from the said owners or proprietors, before they deliver such tobacco out of their respective warehouses, and shall be by them accomnted for upon oath, and paid to John Robinson, esquire, treasurer, or to the treasurer of this colony, for the time being, appointed, by, or pursuant to an act of Assembly, to be by the said treasurer applied in paying the several proprietors of the tobacco burnt as aforesaid, and such further uses, as shall be directed by the Assembly.

IX. And be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, That this act, as to so much thereof, as relates to the said duty, shall continue, and be in force until the twentieth day of October, which shall be in the year of our Lord, one thousand seven hundred and fifty six, and no longer.

Preamble.

To what

CHAP. X.

An Act for reviving an act, intituled, An act for preserving the breed of Sheep.

I. WHEREAS the act of Assembly made in the twenty fifth year of the reign of his present majesty, intituled, An act for preserving the breed of sheep, expired at the end of the session of Assembly, held in the month of August last, and the inhabitants of the counties of James City, York, Warwick, Elizabeth City, Richmond, Fairfax, Middlesex, Essex, Gloucester, Charles City, King George, Northampton, Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, Goochland, King William, New Kent, King and Queen, Prince George, and Princess Anne, having found the usefulness of the said act, are desirous that the same may be revived and continued:

II. BE it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General counties this Assembly, and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of act extends. the same, That from and after the first day of July