474 Assembly Proceedings, June 29-July 22, 1699.

Lib. L. L.

shall Accrew by reason of Conveying any such Letters or Pack-
etts any former Law usage or Custom to the Contrary Notwith-
standing And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid
That any Sherriffe undersherriffe or Deputy th^e shall Neglect
or Delay the Speedy Conveying of any such Letters or Packetts
shall forfeitt and pay to his Sacred Ma^ty for every such offence
the sume of five hundred pounds of Tobbacco one halfe to the
informer or him or them that will sue for the same and the
other halfe to be Imployed for the defraying of the County
Charge where any such neglect shall happen to be recovered
in any of his Ma^tys Courts of Record within this Province by
Action of Debt wherein no Essoyne Protection or wager of
Law to be Allowed And be it further Enacted by the Author-

p. 196

ity aforesaid That all such publick Letters and Packetts be in-
dorsed for his Matys Service and with the Persons name that
send them and if any pson or persons whatsoever shall att any
time after the publication of this Act presume to indorse any
Letter or Letters Packett or Packetts so as aforesaid which are
not for the Publick Service shall forfeitt and pay for such
Offence five hundred pounds of Tobbacco to be recovered in
Maner aforesaid

An Act Impowering the Commissioners of the County Courts
to Leavy and raise money to defray the necessary Charges
of their Countys.

Forasmuch as in the Intervall of Assemblys in this Province
there have been Severall Necessary Charges laid out and Ex-
pended in the Severall & respective Countys of this Province
by Severall and respective Comissioners of the said Countys
and others for the good & welfare and Conservation of the
Peace of this Province and of and within the said Countys and
w^ch ought to be borne by the Severall and respective Countys
distinctly and have been formerly used & Accustomed to be
reimbursed and defrayed paid and Satisfyed by and out of the
County Leavy leavied and Assessed by the Com^rs of the said
respective Countys by Equall Assessment upon the Estates
and Persons of the Inhabitants of the said Severall and respec-

p. 197

tive Countys but the said Comissioners of the said County
Courts not haveing Sufficient Warrant and Authority to raise
such Leavy Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excell' Ma'^y by
and with the Advice and Consent of this Present Generall
Assembly and the Authority of the same That for the future it
shall and may be Lawfull to and for the Severall and respective
Comissioners of the Severall and respective County Courts
within this Province att the Severall & respective Courts to be