The Enquirer

Virginia Legislature.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES,

Tuesday, January 1st.

A report from the committee of Propositions and Grievances (which lay on the table) was taken up and read in the following words:--The Committee of Propositions and Grievances have, according to order, had under their consideration sundry petitions to them referred, and have come to the following resolutions thereupon:

1. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Powhatan, and elsewhere, praying that an act may pass making certain amendments to the law establishing the Manchester turnpike road, is reasonable.

2. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry persons, owners of coal waggons using the said road, in opposition thereto, be rejected.

3. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Giles and Monroe, praying that an act may pass appropriating part of the revenue of each of the said counties towards opening a road from the mouth of Bluestone river, in the county of Giles, to intersect the state road at the mouth of Lower Loop creek, in the county of Kanawha, is reasonable.

4. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Jeffersonville, in the county of Tazewell, praying that an act may pass allowing the further time of five years to build on and improve the lots in the said town, is reasonable.

5. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry mechanics of the borough of Norfolk, praying that an act may pass for incorporating them into a society, for certain purposes therein set forth, is reasonable.

6. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, that the petition of sundry persons, owners of lots in the town of Smithfield, in the county of Jefferson, praying that an act may pass giving them further time to build on and improve their lots in the said town, is reasonable.

7. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Hardy, praying that all that part of the said county, contained within the following bounds, to wit: beginning at the division line between the said county and the county of Shenandoah, on the North mountain, thence along the dividing ridge, at the upper end of Devilshole settlement, to the top of the mountain, between the said settlement and the Thorn Bottom settlement, thence down the said mountain to a place called the Half Moon, thence a direct line to the top of the said North mountain, to the said division line of the said counties, and with that line to the beginning, may be added to and made a part of the county of Shenandoah, be rejected.

8. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Waterford, in the county of Loudoun, praying that an act may pass incorporating the said town, is reasonable.

9. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the town of Monroe, in the county of Botetourt, praying that an act may pass, incorporating a water company in the said town, is reasonable.

10. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of James S. Mathews, of the county of Norfolk, praying that an act may pass prohibiting the trustees of the town of Portsmouth, from extending the limits of the said town from Effingham to Chesnut street, for the term of fifteen years from the expiration of the time heretofore prescribed by law, unless his consent therefor, shall be sooner obtained, is reasonable.

11. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna & Louisa, praying that an act may pass incorporating a company to open the navigation of the Rivanna river, from the Point of Fork, to the town of Milton, and to demand and receive a toll for using the said river, until the said company shall be reimbursed the capital expended, with legal interest thereon, is reasonable.

12. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Montgomery, praying that an act may pass establishing a town on the land of Adam Hance, is reasonable.

13. Resolved, as the opinion of this committee, That the petition of John Maddux, of the county of Prince William, praying that an act may pass authorizing him to erect two gates on that part of the public road leading from the town of Dumfries to Hay Market, which passes through the land now in the use of the said John Maddux, and commonly called Bristoe's tract, is reasonable.

The said resolutions, being severally read a second time, were agreed to by the House.

Wednesday, Jan 2.

Engrossed bills "Incorporating the Female Humane Association, of the city of Richmond," "Incorporating a manufacturing society in the town of Occoquan, in the county of Prince William," were read a third time and passed.

Mr. Kelly presented, according to order--A bill "To amend the penal laws of this commonwealth and give further jurisdiction to the county and superior courts of this commonwealth, in certain cases, and for other purposes."

On motion, Resolved, That this house will, on Wednesday the 9th inst. proceed, by joint ballot with the Senate, to the election of a Brigadier General, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the death of Brigadier General Emanuel Wills.

On motion, Resolved, That the Auditor be, & he is hereby enjoined and inhibited from issuing any warrant for any fee or fees, commission or commissions, which may be claimed by the escheators or attornies prosecuting on behalf of the commonwealth or sheriff, or either of them, for or on account of any inquest of escheat, executed in either of the counties of Harrison, Kanawha or Wood, or which may be executed previous to the end of the present General Assembly, without the special instructions of the Executive.

On motion, Resolved, That the Treasurer of this commonwealth be, and he is hereby instructed to vote for and use his exertions (at the general meeting of the stockholders of the Bank of Virginia) to obtain a postponement of the election of directors of said bank, to some day subsequent to the examination into the situation and conduct of that institution, by the committee appointed on the part of the Legislature, for that purpose, and make report thereof.--Ordered, That the Clerk carry the said resolutions to the Senate and desire their concurrence.

Resolved, That the Committee for Courts of Justice be instructed to enquire into the expediency of amending the laws relative to the attachment of witnesses, and report their opinion to this House.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill "To alter the senatorial districts, and for equalizing the land tax," and that Messrs. Beeson, Monroe, Mercer, Bowyer, Lee (of Westmoreland) Caperton (of Monroe) Taylor, Mallory, Brent (of Frederick) Young, Lee (of Norfolk) Smith (of Greenbrier) and Claiborne do prepare and bring in the same.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill "To amend an act concerning sheriffs, passed February 8. 1809," and that Messrs. Ball, Shearman, Rice, Downing, Ritchie, Johnson (of Isle of Wight) Hairston and Mason do prepare & bring in the same.

Ordered, That leave be given to bring in a bill "Concerning Old Point Comfort, the property of the commonwealth, in the county of Elizabeth City." and that Messrs. Mallory, Watts, Garrott, Lee (of Norfolk borough) Holt, Newton, Parker (of Accomack) Finnie and Dunton do prepare and bring in the same.

Thursday, January 3.

A Communication from the Senate by their Clerk--The Senate have passed the following bills:

A bill "Concerning Patrick H. Fontaine:"

and

A bill Authorising William Duval, trustee of Samuel Duval and his children, to sell certain lands, and to vest the proceeds of the sale in other lands for their benefit;"

And they have agreed to the resolution, instructing the committee appointed to examine into the state and condition of the Bank of Virginia, with amendments, to which they request the concurrence of the House of Delegates.--The H. of D. concurred.

Engrossed bills "Vesting in Stephen H. Lacey the commonwealth's right to the real estate whereof Peter Piernet died seized" "Increasing the powers of the Trustees of the town of Falmouth, in the county of Stafford" "Concerning Landon Carter" "To amend the act, entitled an act, to amend the several laws concerning slaves" "Incorporating a company to establish a turnpike from the termination of Hunting creek turnpike at Dogue run, to the town of Occoquan," were read a third time and passed.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, covering a letter from Ja's. Haslett, esq. on the subject of leasing the Manufactory of Arms.

On motion, Ordered, That the said letter be laid upon the table.