242 Assembly Proceedings, Oct. 20-Nov. 12, 1698.

L. H. J.

frome the poor of the same in the publick Leavy excepting
all such Severall sumes which by law are appropriated to and
for the use of the free schoole.
Signed by order
C Gregory clk: house of Delegates.
The house adjourned till one a Clock.

Eod Die the house mett, and were absent as before.
M^r Sharpes peticon read viz^t

To the hon^ble the Delegates and Burgesses now assembled
at the port of Annapolis.
The humble peticon of W^m Sharpe of Talbott County
Merch'

Humbly Sheweth.
That your peticon^r haveing four Servant Women sent by
one in Virg^a to convey them to M^r George Hutchison in Penn-
silvania and because yo^r pet^r would not do any thing but what
should be allowable in Law, he therefore made report to the
officers appointed for the same, but the officer upon that
report made, detained the s^d Servants, till he should be paid
ten p cent for the value of the s^d Serv^ts which was by the s^d
pef accordingly Complyed with he pretending to demand and
require the same by virtue of the act of assembly of this pro-
vince, whereas these were Servants that were bought in Virg^a
and only sent the nearest way to pennsilvania not brought out
of England to transport through this province, nor are they as
your pet^r is advised such goods and manufactures as is

p. 254

Expressed or Intended by the s^d Act and therefore ought not
to pay that Duty.
Your pet^r therefore humbly prayes this Gen^ll Assembly's
Iudgm^t whether Ten p cent is Included or Intended to be
Included in the said act for servants only travelling through
this province as afs^d and if it is not to be paid the officer may
be ordered to reimburse the same to your petioner.
And as in duty bound he shall ever pray &c.
It is the opinion of this house that the said Serv^ts are not
within the tenor or pveiwe of that act of Assembly if his Ex^cy
and Councill shall concurr there^wt
C Gregory Clk: house of Delegates.

This board concurr with the opinion of the house though
they think the officer did any thing but his duty therein
W Bladen Clk: of Councill.