114 Assembly Proceedings, April 1-26, 1684.

Lib. W. H.

Authority in the s^d Act prescribed by pretext whereof & the
Great difficulty of Getting so Great A number of the Comis-
sioners together by Reason of their Remotenesse of habitation
the shortness of time And want of survey^rs And other Impedi-
ments the execution of the s^d Act hath been Much Retarded
Many of the s^d Towns ports & places: As yett not purchased
layd out or surveyed: And very few or none layd out into
Lotts And Staked out as by the s^d Act is Directed And the
time for the doing thereof being now Elapsed soe Good and
severall A Benefitt for the Advancement of the Trade of this
province by the said Act intended is like to be wholly frus-
trated. For prevention Whereof and to the Intent the said
Act may bee put into speedy execution The Deligates And
Deputies of this p^rsent Generall Assembly Doe Humbly pray

p. 263

that it may bee Enacted And be it Enacted By the Right
Hono^ll the Lord Propry by and with the Advice & Consent
And Authority aforesaid That forthwith after The end of this
present sessions of Assembly the severall and Respectiue
Sheriffes within this province shall Giue notice to the severall
and Respectiue Comissioners of the severall & Respectiue
Countyes in the said Act named That they and every of them
doe Meet together at the severall and Respectiue County
Courts within this province to bee held in the moneth of June
next there to Agree And Consent what shall be most needfull to
be done for the more effectuall prosecuting of the powers and
Authoryties in and by the said Act Given them: And every
Comissioner in the said Act named not Appearing att the day
& place Aforesaid or not Makeing sufficient excuse by writing
or otherwise to bee Approved of by the said Comissioners or
the Major part of them thⁿ present ffor such absence shall be
fined one thousand pounds of Tobacco: to be levyed of his or
theire Goods and Chattells And to be disposed of by the
Coffiissioners Afores^d of the severall Counties Aforesaid for
and Towards the payment of labourers that Carry the Chayne
and Getting Stakes and Assisting in the Stakeing out the
severall Lotts in the severall Townes places & ports Afore-
said or to such other vses & in such Manner & pportion
Indifferently as to them shall seeme Meet Att which said
Generall Meeting of the Comission^rs of the severall Countys
afores^d shall be p^rsent the severall and Respectiue Sherriffe of
the severall Counties Afores^d or their suffitient deputies; As
Also the severall and Respectiue Deputy surveyours of the
said severall Counties being therevnto by the Sheriffe alsoe
sumoned as Aforesaid then And there to Receiue such further
orders and Directions as by the s^d Comissioners then present
shall bee ordayned; And In Case the s^d Sheriffe or their