CHAP. XL.

An act to repeal so much of An act of assembly passed in the twenty-fifth year of his late majesty's reign, intihuiled, An act for building a bridge over Appamattox river by subscription, as relates to prohibit the inhabitants of Dinwiddie and Chesterfield from building a bridge at the place in the said act mentioned, at the charge of the said counties.

I. WHEREAS by an act of assembly made in the Part of act twenty-fifth year of the reign of his late majesty king for building a bridge oGeorge the second, intituled, An act for building a ver Appobridge over Appamattox by subscription, it was enact- mattox river, ed that the said bridge should be maintained no longer repealed. than the same could be done by subscription, and that neither the justices of the counties of Dinwiddie or Chesterfield, should be obliged at any time thereafter to build a bridge over the said river at the place therein appointed: And whereas it hath been represented to this general assembly, that the rebuilding of the said bridge is necessary and convenient; Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and Burgesses of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the anthority of the same. That so much of the said recited act as relates to prohibit the justices of the said counties of Chesterfield and Dinwiddie, from rebuilding or maintaining the same, at the charge of their respective counties, be, and the same is hereby repealed and made void.

Vessels im

vants, infect

fever, to per

tine.

CHAP. XLI.

An act to compel ships importing convicts or servants infected with the goal fever or small-pox to perform quarantine.

J. WHEREAS by an act of general assembly made porting con- in the eighth year of the reign of his majesty king victs or ser George the first, intituled, An act to oblige ships comed with goal ing from places infected with the plague to perform their quarantine, it is enacted, That all vessels coming form quaran- from any place infected with the plague shall make their quarantine: And whereas it is represented to this present general assembly, that the goal fever and smallpox are frequently propagated among the inhabitants of this colony by the importation of convicts and indented servants, which maladies have proved equally infectious, and very little if any less fatal than the plague; Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and Burgesses of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this act, all vessels importing convicts or indented servants infected with the goal fever or small-pox, shall make their quarantine in such manner, and under the like penalties and forfeitures, as in and by the said recited act are directed.

Regulations II. And, for the more effectual discovery of such into prevent fected vessels, be it further enacted by the authority contagion. aforesaid, That no master of a vessel shall permit any convict or indented servant to quit the vessel before entry at the naval office, as now directed by law; and every such master shall, at the time of entering such vessel, in presence of the naval officer, take and subscribe the following cath: I A. B. do solemnly and sincerely swear, that none of the convicts or indented servants, now by me imported into this colony, have been infected with the goal fever or small-pox at any time within fifty days now last past. So help me God. Which oath the naval officer is hereby required to administer, and subscribe, as a witness thereto. And if any master shall refuse to take such oath, or if it shall appear to such naval officer, that the said vessel ought to make quar

Penalties:

antine, such naval officer shall immediately by express give notice thereof to the governor or commander in chief of this colony for the time being; which express shall be paid at the rate, and in the same manner, public expresses are now paid. And if any master of such vessel shall take a false oath, or any naval officer shall permit any vessel to enter contrary to the directions of this act, every such master or naval officer shall respectively forfeit and pay the sum of fifty pounds each, to be recovered by action of debt in any court of record within this colony one moiety thereof to the use of the poor of any parish where any such convicts or indented servants shall be landed; the other moiety to the use of the informer. And in every such action the master shall be obliged to give special bail, if the court before whom such action shall be depending, shall see cause to rule him so to do: And moreover, such master taking a false oath as aforesaid, shall be subject to the same pains and penalties as are inflicted on persons guilty of wilful and corrupt perjury.

III. And be it further enacted, That every master of a vessel permitting any convict or indented servant to quit such vessel before entry as aforesaid, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds for every convict or indented servant so permitted, to be recovered and applied in manner as afore-directed.

CHAP. XLII.

An act to repeal an act passed in the thirtieth year of the reign of his late majesty George the second, intituled, An act to impower the justices of the county of Norfolk to agree with persons to keep certain ferries, and to levy the expence thereof upon the inhabitants of the said county, and for other purposes therein mentioned.

I. WHEREAS it is represented to this present ge- Act authoris neral assembly, by the inhabitants of the county of ing justices

of Norfolk county to a

gree with persons to

ferries, repealed.

but inhabitants to be

Norfolk, that the expence and inconvenience of keeping the public ferries over the three branches of Elizabetli river, and over Tanner's creek, is become very great, keep certain as the same are regulated and settled by an act of assernbly passed in the thirtieth year of the reign of his late majesty George the second, intituled, An act to impower the justices of the county of Norfolk to agree with persons to keep certain ferries, and to levy the expence thereof upon the inhabitants of the said county, and have petitioned that the said act may be repealed; Be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council and Burgesses of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That the justices of the said county of Norfolk be, and they are hereby impowered and required to contract and agree with proper persons who will give most for the privilege of keeping the said ferries and to apply the money arising therefrom towards lessening the county levy. II. Provided always, That the inhabitants of the said county shall be transported over the said ferries free of attend court, ferriage on court and general muster days, and going general mus- to, or returning from, church or chapel; and the justices of the said county are hereby impowered and directed expense of to levy the expence of the same upon the tithable inhabitants of their county, at the laying the county levy; and that such ferry-keepers shall and may demand and receive from all persons other than the inhabitants of the said county on court and general muster days, and going to, or returning from, church or chapel; the following rates, that is to say, for a inan four-pence, and for a horse the same; for every coach, chariot or waggon, and the driver thereof, the same as for six horses; for every cart or four wheeled chaise, and the driver thereof, as for four horses; for every two wheeled chaise or chair, the same as for two horses; for every hogshead of tobacco, and head of nett cattle, as for one horse; for every hog, sheep, goat or lamb, one fourth part of the ferriage of one horse; any law, custom or usage, to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

put over to

ters and

church, at

county.

III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and every clause and clauses of the afore-recited act be, and the same are hereby repealed and made void.

CHAP. XLIII,

An act for increasing the rates of ferriage at Swan's Point, James Town, and Crouche's Creek, and for other purposes therein mentioned.

I. WHEREAS it is represented to this present gene- Rates of ferral assembly, that the rates of ferriage across James ri- riage at Swan's point ver, from James town, in the county of James City, to James town, Swan's point and Crouche's creek, in the county of & Crouche's Surry, and from the two last mentioned places to James encreased. town are too low, as the same are settled by an act passed in the twenty-second year of the reign of his late majesty king George the second, intituled, An act for the settlement and regulation of ferries, and for dispatch of public expresses; Be it therefore enacted, by the Lieutenant-Governor, Council, and Burgesses, of this present General Assembly, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this act the ferry-keepers at the said ferries respectively may demand and take the following rates for ferriage, that is to say, from James town to Swan's point, and from Swan's point to James town, the price for a man one shilling, and for a horse the same; from James town to Crouche's creek, and from Crouche's creek to James town, the price for a man one shilling and three-pence, and for a horse the same; and in that proportion for the transportation of carriages, cattle and other things, and no more.

Ferry at Mecklen

continued.

II. And, whereas by an act passed in the fifth year of his present majesty's reign, a ferry was appointed burg, (now from the land of Thomas Shepherd at Mecklenburg, in Shepherds Frederick county, to Maryland, which is found unne- town) discessary; the same being at a very small distance from a ferry already established from the land of Thomas Swearingen over Potowmack river to Maryland; be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said act be, and the same is hereby repealed and made void to all intents and purposes.

Penalty for III. And, whereas by the first recited act, a public interfering ferry was established from the land of Littleton Eyre on with owner Hungar's river, in the county of Northampton, over the of ferry over bay of Chesapeak to the towns of York, Hampton, and peake.

the Chesa