The Lower House. 77

Also a Bill relating to Servants and Slaves thus indorsed
Viz.

By the Council in Assembly
May the 23rd 1715.

Read the first Time and recommended that a Clause be
added limitting how many Stripes it shall be lawful for a
Master to give his white Servant for any one Offence without
applying to a Justice of the Peace and proposed that the
Stripes exceed not ten in Number but when any Master or
Mistress shall think their white Servants deserve greater
Correction they shall in such Cases be obliged to apply to a
Justice of the Peace who shall be impowered to order such
Correction at no Time exceeding thirty nine Lashes.

The Petitions of Major Hawkins and Mr John Salter are
herewith recommended to the Consideration of the House
that a Clause be added to the Law for preventing any Negroes
or Molattoes being set free by their Masters or Owners either
in their Lifetime or at their Death which has been found very
prejudicial to all Neighbourhoods where such Negroes so
inhabit and that a Fine of twelve Pounds be imposed on such
Persons who shall manumit their Slaves in their life times and
that the Executors or Administrators of all such Persons who
by their Wills or otherwise at the Time of their Death set
any of their Slaves free shall pay the like Sum to the Use of
the Free-Schools and that such Negroes or Slaves so manu-
mitted shall immediately become Slaves to the Use of the
Free Schools of this Province

Signed p Order W Bladen Cl. Council

L. H. J.

The same is referred to be considered of till the Afternoon

Col^o Thomas Greenfield from the Honble Council delivers
Mr Speaker the two following Bills Viz.

A Bill for the Appointment of Constables &ta thus indorsed
Viz.

By the Council in Assembly
May the 23d 1715.

Read the first and second Times and will pass with the
Amendment Viz.

" The Constables Fee for serving Warrants in Cases of small
Debts being made thirty Pounds Tobacco or half Crown."

Signed p Order W Bladen Cl. Council.

p. 556