Richmond Enquirer

RICHMOND, FEBRUARY 27.

LEGISLATURE OF VIRGINIA.

EXTRACTS FROM THE JOURNALS OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.

February 21.... A communication from the Senate, that they had passed the bill "to amend and revive an act, incorporating a company for the purpose of clearing and rendering navigable Nottoway river, passed the eighth day of February, eighteen hundred and twelve."—Also with amendments the bills "concerning William Jones"—and "to reduce into one act the several acts against usury."—The said amendments proposed by the Senate, being twice read, were, on questions put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

On motion of Mr. Wills, Resolved, That the expense that may be incurred by a survey, by the engineer of the Board of Public Works, of a contemplated route for a navigable canal to connect the waters of the Appomattox and Staunton river, be defrayed out of the revenue of the fund for internal improvement.

On motion of Mr. Magill, the Bill, entitled, "an act to reduce into one act the several acts for regulating conveyances and concerning wrongful alienations"—with the amendments thereto proposed by the Senate, was taken up; and the said amendments, being twice read, were, on questions severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

On motion of Mr. Magill, the bill "for limitation of actions; for preventing frivolous and vexatious suits; concerning jeoffails, and certain proceedings in civil cases," with the Senate's amendments to the said bill, was taken up, and the amendments concurred in.

Engrossed bills—"declaring the middle fork of Holston river a public highway, as far as the seven mile ford in the county of Washington;"—"concerning George W. Maupin," and "extending the jurisdiction of the magistrates of the city of Richmond, and for other purposes," were severally read a 3d time and passed.

February 25.—A communication from the Senate, that they had passed the bill—"Establishing a new judicial circuit, and for other purposes"—Also, with an amendment, the bill, "To reduce into one the several acts concerning the auditor and treasurer."—And that they had agreed to the resolution concerning the navigation of the Chickahominy river.

The said amendment, proposed by the Senate, was, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

On motion of Mr. Magill, the bill entitled "an act to reduce into one act the several acts concerning executions, and for the relief of insolvent debtors," with the amendments thereto proposed by the Senate, was taken up: and the said amendments, being twice read, were, on questions severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

On motion of Mr. Magill, the bill entitled, "an act to reduce into one act the several acts concerning the method of proceeding against free persons charged with certain crimes, declaring the mode of proceeding on indictments, informations and prosecutions on penal statutes, and for preventing vexatious and malicious prosecutions, and moderating amercements," with the Senate's amendments thereto, was taken up: and the said amendments, being twice read, were, on questions severally put thereupon, agreed to by the House, with two amendments, proposed by Mr. Cook, of Norfolk county, to the Senate's 19th amendment.

Mr. Magill, from the committee on the subject of the revisal of the laws, presented a bill "to reduce into one the several acts directing the course of descents." and a bill "reducing into one act all acts and parts of acts making provision for the restraint, support and maintenance of idiots and lunatics, and the preservation and management of their estates." which bills were received and laid upon the table.

On motion of Mr. Miller, of Powhatan, Resolved, That the committee of the whole House, on the state of the commonwealth, be discharged from the further consideration of the bill "prescribing the mode of ascertaining the land tax within this commonwealth," and also of the bill "prescribing the mode of ascertaining the taxable property within this commonwealth, and of collecting the public revenue," and that the said bills be recommitted to the committee on the subject of the revisal of the laws.

Engrossed bills, "Appropriating the public revenue"—(with a rider proposed by Mr. Miller of Powhatan)—"Authorizing John Staples and others to erect a toll bridge across James River"—"Incorporating a company for the purpose of improving the navigation of Chickahominy River"—"Prescribing the mode of passing the bridge across the Rappahannock river at Falmouth"—"Concerning Archibald Thweatt"—"Placing Scarborough Blossom on the pension list, and for his present relief"—and "Concerning George Winston," were severally read a third time and passed.

The Speaker laid before the House a communication from the Governor, which was read as follows:

Richmond, February 25, 1819.

SIR—I have the honor to submit to the Legislature the enclosed resolutions of the Board of Public Works, and to recommend the respective objects of the same, to their consideration.

I have the honor to be, with great respect,

your obedient servant.

JAMES P. PRESTON,

President of the Board of Public Works.

The Honorable the Speaker of the House of Delegates.

"The committee of the Board of Public Works to whom was referred the petition of the South Branch toll bridge company have had the same under consideration, and have come to the following resolution:

"Resolved, That it be recommended to the Legislature to authorize the Board of Public Works to subscribe two fifths of the stock of the South Branch toll bridge company, under the restrictions and limitations prescribed by law, as a work highly necessary, and worthy the patronage of the Legislature."

"The committee of the Board of Public Works to whom was referred the application of John U. Page, Esq. for, and in behalf of the Ashby's Gap Turnpike Company, have had the same under consideration, and have come to the following resolution:"

"Resolved that it be recommended to the Legislature to pass an act authorizing the Ashby's Gap Turnpike company to increase their stock three hundred and fifty additional shares, for the purpose of building a toll bridge across the Shenandoah river at or near Berry's Ferry and that the Board of Public Works subscribe for one hundred of said additional shares, on the terms, and under the restrictions and limitations prescribed by law."
FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.

The present Legislature have passed a law for "establishing a new Judicial Circuit, and for other purposes:" which takes effect from the 24th February, 1819, the day on which it passed. The new circuit consists of the counties of Lewis, Harrison, Wood, Mason, Cabell and Kanawha.—(A more particular account of the sessions of its courts will be given in the Sketches of the Laws, which we shall probably commence in our next.)—YESTERDAY, the Legislature by joint ballot elected Lewis Summers, Esq. of Kanawha, as the judge of this new circuit.