monwealth, to be enlisted by voluntary enlistments, and for that purpose the governor with the advice of the council shall issue commissions for a captain, lieutenant and cornet of horse to every regiment of militia within the respective counties.

than one

troop.

III. Provided always, That the governor with the advice aforesaid, be, and he is hereby authorised to issue where more like commissions for more than one troop of horse in any of the counties on the western waters, where the same shall be found necessary. And all commissions hereby directed to be issued shall be void, unless the number of men to be enlisted for such troop or part of a troop be completed within twelve months.

Horses and

IV. Every captain shall, after qualifying as directed for other officers, proceed to enlist the aforesaid num- accoutreber of men, who shall find and provide themselves each ments. with a horse and necessary accoutrements, and be subject to the same regulations and orders as the rest of the militia.

V. And be it further enacted, That the governor with the advice of council, shall be empowered to order out into actual service from time to time, so many scouts and rangers in any of the counties on the western frontier, or from any other counties the most convenient as to them shall seem necessary, the expence whereof shall be defrayed out of the funds provided or to be provided for the support of government. So much of the said recited act as compels the militia to provide arms and accoutrements is hereby repealed.

Scouts and rangers how

ordered out.

VI. And be it further enacted, That where the courts martial shall exempt any of the militia on ac- when orderExempts, count of bodily infirmity from duty, they may again ed again for direct such persons to be enrolled when able to do duty, duty.

CHAP. III.

An act to amend an act, intituled, An act to amend the act, intituled, an act to restrict foreign vessels to certain ports in this commonwealth.

[Passed the 5th of January, 1788.]

J. FOR the better securing the revenue arising from Vessels re duties on imports and exports, whereby the burthen of taxes upon the people may not be increased; and for regulating the trade of this commonwealth, wherby foreigners may be placed on a more equal footing;

strioted to certain ports.

Ports of entry and clear

ance.

11. Be it enacted, That from and after the first day of February next, the following places shall be, and the same are hereby established as ports of entrance and clearance for all ships and other vessels coming from or going to any port or place without this commonwealth, that is to say: For the district of Elizabeth river, the port of Norfolk; for the district of James river, the port of Hampton; for the district of York river, the port of York; for the district of Rappahannock river, the port of Urbanna; for the district of South Potowmack, at the ports of Yeocomico, or Alexandria: Provided, That all cases of entrance or clearance at Alexandria, shall and may be made with a deputy, appointed by the naval officer of the said district, and residing at the said port; for the district of Accomack, at Accomack court-house; and for the district of Northampton, the port of Cherriston. And that all vessels coming into or going out of this commonwealth shall proceed to one or other of the said ports as above directed; and shall there be subject to such regulations as are or may be by law established. And the masters or owners of such vessels shall perform and do all things which shall be lawfully demanded of them, or either of them, by the naval officers residing at the ports respectively. And no ship or other vessel coming into or going out of this commonwealth, shall break bulk or sail from thence without a legal permit for that purpose first obtained from

the naval officer at the port within the district into which such vessel shall enter, or from which such vessel may go.

III. And be it further enacted, That the following places shall be, ond the same are hereby established as ports of delivery for the unlading and lading of all vessels coming into or going out of this state, nca built within the United States and not wholly owned by a citizen or citizens thereof, that is to say: For the district of Elizabeth river, the ports of Norfolk or Portsmouth; for the district of James river, the ports of Bermuda-Hundred or City-Point; for the district of York river, the ports of York town and West-Point; for the district of Rappahannock river, the ports of Tappahanock, Urbanna, or Port-Royal; for the district of Potowmack river, the port of Yeocomico, mouth of Quantico, and Alexandria; for the district of Accomack, at Folly's Landing, and Onancock; and for the district of Northampton, at Cherriston.

IV. And be it further enacted, That the following places, shall be, and the same are hereby established as ports of delivery for the unlading and lading of all vessels coming into or going out of this commonwealth, built within the United States, and wholly owned by a citizen or citizens thereof, and navigated according to law, that is to say: For the district of Elizabeth river, the ports of Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk; for the district of James river, the ports of Hampton, Bermuda-Hundred, City Point, Petersburg, and Rockets Landing; for the district of York river, the ports of York and West-Point; for the district of Rappahannock river, the ports of Urbanna, Tappahannock, Port-Royal and Fredericksburg; for the district of Potowmack river, the ports of Yeocomico, mouth of Quantico, and Alexandria; for the dirtrict of Accomack, Folly's Landing and Onancock; and for the district of Northampton, at Cherriston: Provided always, That any vessel built within the United States, and wholly owned by a citizen or citizens thereof as aforesaid, and navigated according to law, shall and may lade at any port or place within this commonwealth, with any article or articles for exportation.

Ports of delivery tor fo

reign vessels

Parts of delivery for ves nited States.

sels of the U.

V. And be it further enacted, That no vessel coming, Penalty for into any of the aforesaid districts, from any port or without perbreakingbulk place without this commonwealth, or going from thence mit.

Register of vessels.

to any port or place without the same, except as before is excepted and provided for, shall be permitted to break bulk or unlade or lade on board any goods, wares or merchandise whatsoever, at any other port or place within the said districts, nor until a permit for that purpose be obtained, and all lawful duties, tonnage or imposts paid or secured to be paid as the law shall direct; and moreover the said vessels and the goods, wares, and merchandise laden therein, and the masters, owners and crews thereof shall be subject to, and shall do and perform all manner of regulations and things established, or to be established or required by law, at the aforesaid ports of delivery. Any master or owner of any vessel aforesaid, or any owner, importer, or exporter of any goods, wares, or merchandise aforesaid, wilfully neglecting or refusing to comply with this act, shall forfeit the vessel, together with her rigging, tackle, and apparel, or the goods, wares, and merchandise, as the case may be, one half to the commonwealth, and the other half to the informer, to be recovered by information in the court of admiralty.

VI. And be it further enacted, That all persons owning any decked vessel above eighteen feet in length by the keel, to be employed as river or bay craft, shall obtain a register for the same, from the clerk of the court of the county or corporation, in which such owner may reside, specifying the names of the owner and shipper thereof, and the number of men employed therein, which shall be recorded by the clerk of the county or corporation aforesaid, in a book kept for that purpose, who shall receive the fee of two shillings and six pence for every vessel, to be paid by the owner thereof; and every owner, master or skipper of such river or bay craft, when employed by the owner or master of any vessel at the ports of delivery aforesaid, shall deliver to such owner or master employing the same, if demanded, a copy of the said register, under his hand, and shall be answerable for the safe keeping and delivery of all goods, wares, and merchandise received on board such river or bay craft, damage from winds and weather excepted, according to the order of the person shipping the same on board thereof, and for default therein, shall forfeit and pay the full value of such goods, wares and merchandise to the party grieved, recoverable by information in the court of

the county or corporation wherein such owner of craft may reside; and moreover shall be liable to an action for damages to the party grieved as aforesaid.

owner, master or skipper of any vessel as aforesaid, to be employed as river or bay craft, shall presume to take on board his said vessel any goods, wares, or merchandise upon freight or hire, not being first qualified therefor pursuant to this act, such owner, master or skipper shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty pounds, recoverable by information in any court of record within this commonwealth, one half thereof to the person suing for the same, and the other half to the commonwealth aforesaid. If any person not being a citizen of this commonwealth, or some one of the United States, and resident therein, be owner or part owner of any vessel employed as river or bay craft, such vessel shall be forfeited, together with her rigging, tackle, apparel and furniture; one half to the informer, and the other half to the use of the commonwealth, recoverable in the court of admiralty.

a separate

VII. And be it further enacted, That the district of South Quay, South Quay shall be a separate district as heretofore established; and that the executive be, and they are dicts.. hereby authorised to appoint a naval-officer for the same, who shall keep his office at the port of South Quay. All masters or commanders of vessels coming

to report, ex

Sept on the

into this commonwealth shall be obliged to make a Where mas true and just report to the naval-officer at the lowest ters of vessels port of entry upon the river, they shall be bound to, except the river Potomack, of all the cargo on board Potowmack of their vessel, a copy of which report shall be transmitted under the hand and seal of such naval-officer to the deputy naval-officer at the port of entry to which such vessel may proceed, where full entry shall be made and the duties secured, and if any master or commander of a vessel shall break bulk before he secures the duties, such vessel together with her rigging, tackle, apparel and furniture, and the goods, wares and merchandise so unladen or put on shore, shall be forfeited and condemned in the court of admiralty, one half to the informer, the other half to the use of the commonwealth, and moreover the master or commander of such vessel, shall forfeit and pay the two hundred pounds, recoverable by plaint or information in any court of record, to the use of the informer.