Bond and security. six months, he shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten thousand pounds, to be recovered in the name of the governor or chief magistrate for the time being, in any court of record, by the solicitor, on thirty days previous notice; and if the deputy register shall at any time fail to account, according to the directions of this act, for the space of six months, he shall forfeit and pay the like sum to the register, to be recovered by him, on thirty days previous notice in like manner; and in both cases the onus probandi shall lie on the defendant. The deputy register shall enter into bond and sufficient security to the register, and the register to the governor or chief magistrate for the time being, and his successors, for the due and faithful execution of their respecFees to be tive offices. On receiving each survey into the register's office, the fees established by law, that will accrue on the same, including the issuing of the grant thereupFees credited on, shall be paid down; and if either the register or deto be accoun- puty register shall credit any person, they shall account ted for, as if for the fees so credited in the same manner as if they paid. had been received. And that provision may be made paid down. ced on the ci vil list. 1 for the payment of a salary to the register of the land office, adequate to his services, Register pla III. Be it further enacted, That from and after the said first day of February he shall be considered as one of the civil list, and shall have and receive the sum of His salary, & eleven hundred pounds annually; and a deputy to rethat of his de- side on the western waters, to be paid also by the public, at the rate of two hundred pounds per annum: All which allowances shall be paid in the same manner as other salaries of the civil list are payable. puty. IV. And be it further enacted, That in case of vaVacancy in cancy in the said office, doring the recess of the geneoffice of re-ral assembly, the governor, with the advice of council, gister, how supplied. is hereby authorized and required to supply such va cancy, subject to the future confirmation of the legislature. And whereas, in the cases where surveys are returned into the land office, it may happen that caveats will be entered against some of the surveys, and the person in whose favor the surveys are made may lose the benefit of the surveys by the event of the caveat: To remedy which, Fees, on dc. termination V. Be it enacted, That whenever upon a caveat the of caveat,how general court shall determine in favor of the caveator, all the fees he shall pay into the register's office in con neid. sequence of such determination, in order to obtain his patent, shall be by the register paid to the person who in the first instance upon the return of the survey hath been compelled to pay the fees. CHAP. XIII. An act to provide for the more effectual collection of the tax of five shillings per hundred acres on lands granted by patent, and to appropriate the money arising therefrom. [Chap LII in original.] 1. WHEREAS the laws directing the payment of Tax on lands, the tax of five shillings per hundred acres on all lands included n included in any patent where the same shall exceed patents, when fourteen hundred acres, have been found imperfect: For remedy whereof, payable. Patents, for II. Be it enacted by the General Assembly, That from and after the passing of this act, there shall be pre-emption paid to the register of the land office the aforesaid tax rights, o mili of five shillings per hundred acres on all lands included tary bounties in any patent, at the time of issuing the patent for the excepted. same, except on patents granted to persons entitled to lands by pre-emption or settlement rights, or for military bounties, or to those claiming under such persons entitled to pre-emption or settlement rights by marriage, marriage settlement, descent, or devise. III. And be it further enacted, That the money aris- Appropria ing from the aforesaid tax shall be appropriated to- tion of tax. wards the payment of interest due or which may hereafter become due to the creditors of this state on the western waters, whose claims have been ascertained by commissioners appointed for that purpose, in such manner as the general assembly shall hereafter direct. IV. And be it further enacted, That so much of any act or acts, as comes within the purview of this act, shall be, and the same is hereby repealed, Chap. LIH in original. confiscations CHAP. XIV. An act respecting future confiscations. I. WHEREAS it is stipulated by the sixth article No future of the treaty of peace between the United States and the King of Great-Britain, that there shall be no future confiscations made; "be made. II. Be it enacted, That no future confiscations shall be made; any law to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided, That this act shall not extend to any suit depending in any court, which commenced prior to the ratification of the treaty of peace. Chap. LIV in org.nal. See ante p. .A. concern. fcutive atfused to CHAP. XV. An act for further continuing the act, intituled, An act concerning pensioners. 1. WHEREAS the act of asseinbly, passed in the year one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, intituled, "An act concerning pensioners," which has been continued by several subsequent acts, will expire at the end of the present session of assembly, and it is expedient that the same should be further continued: II. Be it therefore enacted, That the act, intituled "An act concerning pensioners," shall continue and be in force from and after the expiration thereof, for and during the term of three years, and from thence to the end of the next session of assembly, and no longer. III. And be it further enacted, That the executive shall be, and they are hereby authorized and empowanhe pen- ered, to put on the list of pensioners, with such allowances as to them shall seem just, all regular or militia officers and soldiers who have been wounded or other wise disabled in the service of their country, upon ap plication being made to them therefor. And whereas persons * list. the said recited act, intituled "An act concerning pensioners," directs the courts of the several counties within this commonwealth to inquire into the bodily ability of all persons receiving annual pensions from the public, and to certify to the general assembly whether in their opinion they ought to be continued on the pension Jist; IV. Be it therefore enacted, That the said returns to certify conCounty courts shall be made to the executive, who are hereby author dition of pet:ized to continue or discontinue the said allowances, as sioners to ex ecutive, in to them shall seem proper. So much of any act or stead of asacts, as comes within the meaning of this act, is hereby sembly. repealed. CHAP. XVI. An act authorizing the governor, with the advice of the council, to suspend, when necessary, the surveying of certain lands in the western country.* Chap. LV íà original. 1. WHEREAS it has been represented to the pre- Governor au sent general assembly, that the taking possession of, or *In consequence of this act, two proclamations were issued by the governor, the one on the 6th of January, 1785, the other on the 25th of January, 1787. The first caunot now be found; but the last, which refers to it, is here inserted. " VIRGINIA, TO WIT By &c. Governor of the Commonwealth. A PROCLAMATION. Whereas, in pursuance of the act of the General Assembly, in tituled, "An act authorising the governor, with the advice of the council, to suspend, when necessary, the surveying of certain lands in the Western country," his excellency the governor with the advice of the council of state, on the 6th day of January, in the year of our Lord, 1785, did suspend the taking possession, and surveying of any lands on the north-west side of the Ohio, or below the mouth of the river Tenisee, until authority for that purpose should thereafter be given; it appearing that the tranquility of the government did at that time require such suspension; but whereas the United States in congress assembled, on thorised to suspend, by the taking proclamation, possession of, or surveying the lands re served fortheofficers and soldiers of the Virginia line, and th Illinois regi ment. surveying the lands, in the western territories of this state, which have been granted by law as bounties to the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, will produce great disturbances:... IL. Be it therefore enacted, That the governor, with advice of the council, shall be, and he is hereby authorized and empowered, to suspend, for such time as he may think the tranquility of the government may require, the surveying or taking possession of those lauds that lie on the north-west side of the river Ohio, or below the mouth of the river Tenisee, and which have been reserved for the officers and soldiers of the Virginia line, and the Illinois regiment. Chap. LVI in original. CHAP. XVII. An act for establishing and reviving inspections of tobacco at sundry places. I. BE it enacted by the General Assembly, That the Inspections of inspection of tobacco at Hood's, in the county of Prince tobacco, at George, shall be, and the same is hereby revived and established; and there shall be allowed and paid to each of the inspectors thirty pounds per annum. Hood's ware. house, in Prince Geo. and at Kemps in Middlesex, revived. 11. And be it further enacted, That the inspection of tobacco at the place where Kemp's warehouse the 9th day of May in the year of our Lord, 1786, did resolve, Given under my hand and the seal of the commonwealth, this |