Richmond Enquirer

VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE.

HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

Monday, December 18.

On motion of Mr. Atkinson, leave was given to bring in a bill, to amend the Act respecting the appointments and duties of Sheriffs.

Petitions were presented from sundry citizens of Loudoun and Stafford, suggesting the expediency of amendments to the Judiciary System, especially as relates to the County Courts, and the mode of procuring Juries--and proposing that if nothing more be done, concurrent jurisdiction with the Quarterly Courts be given to the Superior Courts of law.--Referred to the Committee for Courts of Justice.

Also--a petition from John Mayo, in opposition to the petition of Thomas Wilson and others, for leave to erect a toll-bridge across the James River.

Also--one from sundry persons, representing that the foundation of a Museum in the City of Richmond, will be attended with infinite advantages to the State at large, in diffusing useful and general knowledge : and therefore praying that a certain number of feet, on or about the Capitol Square, may be loaned to James Warrell, Artist, of said city, for the purpose of erecting a handsome edifice, always to remain as a public repository of natural and artificial curiosities : with a proviso, that if such building should not be erected in a given time, or should be used for any other purpose than a Museum, the ground and improvements thereon, shall revert to the Commonwealth. --Referred to the Committee for Propositions and Grievances.

Also--a petition of sundry inhabitants of the county of Prince William, complaining that a part of their pay, as soldiers in the late war, has been withheld; and requesting the passage of an Act, appropriating a sufficiency of the public funds, to satisfy their just claims--Referred to the Committee of Claims.

Also--one from sundry inhabitants of Henrico county, praying an Act of Incorporation, for the purpose of turnpiking the Road from Richmond to the New Bridges across Chickahominy--Referred to the C. of R. and I. N.

Also--a petition from the President and Directors of the Loudoun Company for the encouragement of Agriculture and Domestic Manufactures--praying to be incorporated, for Banking purposes in the town of Waterford.

Tuesday, Dec. 19.

Engrossed bills, "Concerning Spencer Ball" "Releasing to Francis Thomas the Commonwealth's right to a tract of land therein mentioned" "To amend an Act entitled 'An act concerning the emancipation of Slaves," (with a rider to the same, moved by Mr. Hill,) were severally read a third time and passed.

[This last bill is intended to invest County Courts with the power of granting, under certain provisoes, the right of residence to emancipated slaves.]

Engrossed bills, "Authorising Moses Ball to bring certain slaves into this Commonwealth" "Concerning Connally Findley" "Appointing Commissioners to ascertain the most proper place for holding Courts for the county of Russell." "To amend the act. entitled ' An act to appoint Trustees for Morgantown, in the county of Monongalia, and for other purposes"- were severally read a third time and passed. Sent to the Senate for their concurrence.

Various petitions were received and referred :-Among others,

One from W. B. Pierce and others, proprietors of large and profitable fisheries on the shores of those rivers where fish are caught in great numbers, praying the passage of a law to prevent the improper use of drift or floating seines, which, without benefit to the public, destroy great quantities of fish ; and, to secure to them, and all other persons, the exclusive use and enjoyment of such fisheries, as they, by their industry, and at their own expence, have rendered valuable--Referred to the C. of P. & G.

The Speaker laid before the House a letter from the Governor, enclosing a Report from the President and Directors of the Literary Fund--from which it appears,

That the Fund owns at present about $43,000--which, with the exception of about $2,000. is vested in productive public stock--[From which "progressive augmentation of the Fund" the President and Directors flatter themselves that they may be enabled to establish a school, or schools, for the education of the poor in each county, sooner than was originally expected--They still, however, most forcibly urge upon the Legislature the expediency of further appropriations in aid of this fund-- They particularly point out the propriety of disencumbering the stock which they own in the two banks, from their proportions of the Bonus due to the State--as also, of vesting in them the Surplus of Militia Fines, &c. &c. They also remonstrate in the most earnest terms against_ the 1st, 2d and 3d sections of the Act of February 8th, 1813, which operate against the extent and facility of Escheats The 1st. Section releasing to all persons who then claimed title to any land at the time their title accrued, had afterwards become citizens, though aliens before the lands should be so escheated. The 2d section declaring that no inquest by a British subject, until two years after the conclusion of the late war The 3d by giving validity to the claims of purchasers lessees heirs and devisees of aliens resident in the U. States, puts it in their power in great measure to elude the escheat laws, the policy of which forbids that they should either hold real estate or exercise dominion over it."]

On motion of Mr. Booker, ordered. that the Committee of the Trustees of the
Theological Society of Virginia be permitted to be heard at the Bar of the House, on Tuesday the 2d January, in support of the Memorial from the said Trustees.

Various Petitions were received and laid upon the table.

Wednesday, December 20.

Many Bills of a local and private nature were read in their progress through the House.

The Report of the President and Directors of the Literary Fund was referred to a Select Committee, on motion of Mr. Scott, of York.

On Mr. Estill's motion, leave was granted to bring in a bill, the object of which is to increase the present very small salaries of the Clerks in the Auditor's, Treasurer's and Register's Offices.

Several Reports of Committees on Petitions were acted upon; and sundry petitions were read and referred.