[Ch. LXXI in original.]

CHAP. XXXIV.

An act to remedy certain impositions in the adjustment of military claims.

I. WHEREAS it hath been reported to this present session of assembly by the commissioners directed to be appointed by the executive at the last session, to inquire into impositions in the settlement of accounts with the auditors for pay and depreciation on military claims, that many such impositions have been made on forged certificates of service and other insufficient vouchers; Impositions 11. Be it therefore enacted, That the said commisin adjusting sioners shall be empowered, and are hereby directed to military claims on for. notify all persons, or in cases of death, their legal reged, or insuf- presentatives, whose ascounts, or any part thereof, they ficient vouch have adjudged, or shall hereafter adjudge to be founders, bow pre-ed on forged certificates of service, or any other insuf

cates have

ficient vouchers, to furnish them with the best evidence. they can in support of their said respective claims, for their reconsideration thereof, and if any person so notified, shall fail to furnish such evidence as shall satisfy the said commissioners of the justness of the claim in question, in the space of sixty days after receiving such notification, or to refund to the public the amount of the certificate or certificates drawn thereon, in the like certificates, together with the interest which may have been drawn thereon, in specie, or the interest warrants Issued on such certificates, the governor, with the advice of council, is hereby directed to instruct the attor ney general to prosecute such person, his heirs, execu tors, or administrators, for recovery thereof in the general court.

Remedy, III. And be it further enacted, That in case any such where certifi- settlement may have been made by a person not the been drawn. original claimant, and a certificate or certificates obtained by him or her thereupon, and the person so settling and obtaining the said certificate or certificates, his or her heirs, executors, or administrators, skall prove satisfactorily that he or she was acting for the use and benefit of another person or persons, and that he or she had no interest whatever in the claim so settled; and in case of a forged certificate of service, the person so settling, being alive, shall also swear that he or she

had no privity or knowledge of such forgery, or reason to believe that the same was forged, such person, his or her heirs, executors, or administrators, shall not be obliged to refund as aforesaid, but recourse shall in every such case be bad against the person or persons in whose behalf the settlement was inade, fris, her, or their heirs, executors, or administrators. The governor with the advice of council, shall draw on the contingent fund to enable the said commissioners to give the notifications aforesaid,

CHAP. XXXV.

An act for further continuing the act, intituled, "An act for calling in and funding the paper money of

this state.

Ch. LXXIV

in original.

Act for cal

1. WHEREAS the act of assembly, passed in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one, inti- ling in and tuled, "An act for calling in and funding the paper funding pa money of this state," which has been continued and per money further cons amended by several subsequent acts, will expire at the tinued. end of the present session of assembly, and it is expedient that a further time should be given to the holders of paper money for the purpose of funding the same; I. Be it therefore enacted, That the said recited act shall continue and be in force from and after the or one expiration thereof, for and during the term of one year, Provided nevertheless, That nothing herein contained shall extend to so much of the aforesaid act as respects* the purchase of warrants for unappropriated lands..

Ch. LXXV in original.

CHAP. XXXVI.

An act giving James Rumsey the exclusive right of constructing nd navigating certain boats for a im ited time.

1. WHEREAS it is represented to this present general assembly, that James Rumsey hath invented boats which are constructed upon a model that will greatly facilitate navigation against the current of rapid rivers, whereby great advantages may be derived to the citizens of this state; and whereas the said James Rumsey hath made application for the sole and exclusive right and privilege of constructing and navigating such boats for the term of ten years as a recompence for this invention:

II. Be it therefore enacted, That the said James sey granted Rumsey, his heirs, executors, and assigns, shall have exclusive pri vilege of nav. the sole and exclusive right and privilege of constructgating boats ing and navigating boats upon his model, in each and against the

every river, creek, bay, inlet, or harbour within this commonwealth, for and during the said term of ten years, to be computed from the first day of January, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five. If any person, other than the said James msey, his heirs, executors, or assigns, shall during the term aforesaid, either directly or indirectly, construct, navigate, employ, or use, any boat or boats upon the model of that invented by the said James Rumsey, or upon the model of any future improvement which the said Rumsey may make thereon, he or they, for every boat so constructed, navigated, employed or used, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of five hundred infringing his pounds, to be recovered with costs, by action of debt, privilege. to be founded on this act, in any court of record; one on this act in half to the use of the party who will sue for the same, and the other half to the use of the said James Rumsey. Provided always, That the exclusive right and priviRight may be lege hereby granted, may at any time during the said abolished, by term of ten years, be abolished by the legislature, upon paying a cer- paying to the said James Rumsey, his heirs, executors, sation, to the or assigns, the sum of ten thousand pounds current moinventor. ney of Virginia.

tain compen

CHAP. XXXVII.

Anct to regulate the solemnization of marriages.

Ch. LXXVI in original.

dained minis

I. WHEREAS it is necessary to adopt one general Marriages, mode for celebrating marriages throughout this state, how celebra11. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That it ted. shall and may be lawful for any ordained minister of the gospel in regular communion with any society of By any or christians, and every such minister is hereby authorized ter, to celebrate the rites of matrimony according to the forms and customs of the church to which he belongs, between any persons within this state, who, agreeable to an act of assembly, passed in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty-eight, intituled, "An act concerning marriages," shall produce a marriage. licence directed to any authorized minister of the gospel. Provided always, that every such minister shall To provide credentials. first produce credentials of his ordination, and also of his being in regular communion with the christian society of which he is reputed a member, to the court of the county or borough in which he resides; shall take the oath of allegiance to this commonwealth, and enter into bond, with two or more sufficient securities, in the sum of five hundred pounds current money, payable to the governor for the time being and his successors, couditioned for the true and legal performance of this trust: Whereupon such court is hereby required to Testimonial. grant such minister, a testimonial in the following form, given under the hand and seal of the then sitting judge or senior magistrate, and attested by the clerk, to wit: "This shall certify to all whom it may concern, that at a court held for, on the

one

day of thousand seven hundred and A. B. produ ced credentials of Iris ordination, and also of his being in regular communion with the church, took the oath of allegiance to this commonwealth, and entered into bond, as required by an act of assembly, intituled, " An act to regulate the solemnization of marriages," ," and that he is thereby authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony agreeable to the forms and customs of the said church, between any persons to him regularly applying therefor within this stam. Given under my