Commission return to court, and to the execu of July next in specie at the aforesaid rates of three shillings per bushel for wheat and six pence per pound for bacon, including an allowance thereon to the said sheriff for collecting the same, of four pence per bushel for wheat and one penny per pound for bacon, to be paid by the persons chargeable with such taxes. VII. And be it farther enacted, That the said com●rs to make missioners shall make a return to the court of their county immediately after the said first day of May, of all the commodities above enumerated, and also of all tive and au- specie by them collected, and of all balances due at ditors. the period aforesaid, and also of all charges and expences incurred in the course of the said collection, and shall also transmit a return of the manner in which they have executed the trust reposed in them by this act to the executive, in such manner as the said executive may direct, which return shall be made on or before the first day of June, and shall also make return to the auditors of the list of balances delivered by them to the sheriff to collect; and the said commissioners To obey orders of exe- shall observe and comply with all such orders and regulations respecting the collection, removal, sale or payment of all or any part of the said commodities and money collected, arising from the sale of the said commodities, as the executive may from time to time direct, excepting always that the said commissioners shall have power to apply so much of the said commodities or money as may be necessary to pay all expences of storing, manufacturing or removing the same, including a commission thereon for their own trouble at the rate of ten per centum, to be paid in kind: And moreover the said commissioners shall be exempted from all militia duty for and during the space of six months, to commence from the day of their appointments by their respective county courts. cutive. Power of VIII. And be it farther enacted, That the sheriff shall sheriff to dis- have the same power to distrain, and be accountable in train and his the same manner, as in the collection of other taxes, liability. and shall pay all the money arising from the said taxes into the treasury on or before the first day of September next. CHAP. XXXIII.. An act for ascertaining the salaries [Chan. Rev. to the officers of civil government. I. WHEREAS the provision made for the officers p. 150.] Council. of government by an act of assembly passed in May Annual salalast, hath been found inadequate to their services, as ries to be well on account of the quantuin as the depreciation be- paid quarterly in specie. tween each quarterly payment: Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, That from and after the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, the several officers herein after mentioned shall, for their respective services, be entitled to the following annual salaries, to be paid in specie out of the public. treasury, in quarterly payments, after the same shall have been audited according to law: To the governor Governor. or chief magistrate, the sum of one thousand pounds; to the privy councillors, the sum of three thousand two hundred pounds, to be divided amongst them according to their attendance; to the judges of the high court Judges. of chancery, the general court and court of admiralty, each, the sum of three hundred pounds; to the treasurer, the sum of six hundred pounds; to the attorney Attorney gegeneral, the sum of three hundred pounds; to the audi- neral. tors of public accounts, the sum of four hundred pounds; Auditors. to the commercial agent, the sum of four hundred pounds; to the commissioner of the war-office, the sum agent and of four hundred pounds; to the solicitor general, the missioner of sum of three hundred pounds, to the first clerk of the war office at council, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds; to Solicitor gethe assistant clerk of the council, the sum of one hun- neral. dred pounds; and to each of the clerks of the auditors, solicitor general, commissioner of war, and treasury, the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds; to the first clerk of the commercial agent, one hundred and fifty pounds; to the second clerk to the commercial agent, one hundred pounds. Treasurer. Commercial an end. Clerks. made good. II. And be it further enacted, That the salaries here- Salaries from tofore allowed to the said officers respectively, shall be July to be made good to them in specie from the first day of July last, after the rate of twenty shillings for each hundred Former acts repealed. pounds of tobacco; and the auditors are hereby autho- III. And be it farther enacted, That all other act or CHAP. XXXIV. An act for allowing farther time to purposes. Preamble. I. WHEREAS the late invasion, and the ravages committed by the British army, have given such interruption to the several collectors of taxes within this commonwealth, as to prevent, if not render it impracticable for them strictly to perform the duties required of them by law: And whereas it is expedient that further time be given not only to the collectors, but also to all persons within the respective counties chargeable with taxes: Sheriffs al ther time to collect and II. Be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly, lowed a fur- That all sheriffs or collectors of taxes due for the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, be allowaccount for ed a further time for collecting, accounting for, and taxes of 1781 paying into the public treasury, all taxes due and payable for the year aforesaid, and they are hereby authorised and required to collect, account for, and pay into the public treasury, on or before the first day of April next ensuing, all taxes due by them respectively as aforesaid, according to the directions of the several acts imposing the same. Judgments III. And whereas it is represented to the general asagainst sher. sembly, that judgments on motion in behalf of the comiffs suspend- monwealth have been rendered against several sheriffs ges remitted of counties whose collection of taxes in their respective counties have been prevented as aforesaid, and in other cases where the said sheriffs or collectors of taxes have applied at the auditor's office and have been ready to make a settlement of their said collections respectively, and also where sheriffs or collectors have lodged money in the hands of the treasurer, at his office, for the purpose of discharging the same; IV. Be it farther enacted, That in all and every such case or cases, the respective sheriffs or collectors shall be discharged from the payment of damages and interest, in the said judgments contained, and execution, thereupon shall be stayed until the said first day of April next ensuing: Provided nevertheless, That all and every sheriff or sheriffs, collector or collectors, against whom such judgments have been obtained, and who have, before the time appointed by law for accounting for and paying the amount of their said taxes, received the same in their respective counties, do forthwith make payment thereof at the public treasury aforesaid, any thing contained in any act to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. CHAP. XXXV. An act to empower the justices of Elizabeth City county to hold their courts at any other place than the court-house in the said county. Justices of Elizabeth city county, hold their I. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That the authorised to justices of the peace for the county of Elizabeth City, courts out of shall, and they are hereby empowered to hold their Hampton, sessions at such place in the said county as they may while the think proper, so long as the court-house in the town of there is ocHampton shall be occupied by the troops of our allies, as a hospital. court-house cupied by the troops of our allies, as a hospital. [Chan. Rev. p 150.] All impress ed. CHAP. XXXVI. An act to regulate impresses. I. WHEREAS many continental officers, soldiers, es prohibit commissaries, quarter-masters and other persons have, upon pretence of a right to impress, committed great violences upon the property of the citizens of this state; and it being the duty of the representatives of the people to protect them in the quiet possession of their property: Be it therefore enacted, That if any officer, soldier, commissary, quarter-master or other person shall presume to take from any citizen or citizens of this com Exceptions. monwealth, any part of their property by way of imProceeding; press, unless it be by warrant from the executive, in case of actual invasion, or by sheriff's bringing criminals to the general court, it shall be lawful for any magistrate in the county where the offence is committed, upon information on oath, to issue his warrant for the immediate taking and safe-keeping of such offender or offenders, till they are delivered by due course of law; and all county lieutenants and other officers of the militia are hereby enjoined to support the civil power in securing and bringing such offenders to justice. on illegal impresses. 2 CHAP. XXXVII. [Chan Rev. An act to regulate the inspection of p. 151.] See May 1782, c. 52. Preamble. flour. I. WHEREAS the law now in force for the inspec tion of flour, is found insufficient for giving due encouragement to so valuable a branch of our commerce in guarding against abuses; and as sound policy requires that our flour trade should be put upon a respectable footing, which can only be done by establishing such regulations as will prevent the manufacturer from bringing to market any flour that will not pass the public |