586 Assembly Proceedings, 1714-1726.

Session
Laws

said by such Commissioner as aforesaid: Always excepting from
the aforementioned Punishments, young Negroes that are not
arrived to the Years of Discretion; and New Negroes Twelve
Months after their Arrival here in the Country.

March, 1725
Chap. XXII
[Wm Parks
compilation,
1727, p. 283]

An Act to restrain the ill Practices of Attorneys, and to prevent
their taking Money-Fees, and ascertaining what Fees shall be
allowed to the Practitioners in the Law, who shall attend the
Circuit-Courts.

Whereas the sundry Laws that have been heretofore made, to
restrain the evil Practices of Attorneys, and to ascertain their To-
bacco-Fees in the several Courts of this Province, have been found
ineffectual; insomuch that Complaints are made from sundry Parts
of this Province, of the exorbitant Fees taken by Counsellors at
Law, Chamber-Counsel, Barristers, Attorneys, and other Practi-
tioners and Advisers in the Law, to the great Damage and Aggriev-
ance of the good People of this Province, and Impoverishing them-
selves and Families: All which, this General Assembly hath taken
into Consideration; and, for Prevention thereof, do pray that it
may be Enacted :
And be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprie-
tor, by and with the Advice and Consent of His Lordship's Gover-
nour, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly of this Prov-
ince, and the Authority of the same, That from and after the End
of this present Session of Assembly, it shall not nor may be lawful
for any Counsellor or Counsellors, Attorney or Attorneys, or any
other Person or Persons, of what Denomination soever in the Law,
to ask, demand, take, or receive, on any Pretext or Pretence what-
soever, any greater, or other Fee or Fees, Gratuity or Gratuities,
Gift or Gifts, Present or Reward whatsoever, either by himself or
any other Person, for his Use, for Counselling, Commencing, Ad-
vising, Prosecuting and bringing to final Judgment, Agreement or
other End thereof, any Cause whatsoever, to be prosecuted or im-
pleaded in any Court or Courts, as aforesaid, other than such Fees
as are hereafter enumerated, (that is to say,)
For Bringing, Prosecuting or Defending, any Action of what
Nature or Quality soever, to final Judgment, Agreement, or other
End thereof, in the several County-Courts, the Sum of One Hun-
dred Pounds of Tobacco; unless the principal Debt or Damage, or
Ballance of any Debt or Damages sued for and recovered, do exceed
the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds of Tobacco, or Ten Pounds
Sterling; that then the said Attorney shall have Two Hundred
Pounds of Tobacco and no more.

p. 284

To the Clerk of Indictments, for Prosecuting any Suit of the
Lord Proprietor, in the County-Court, either by Indictment, Pre-
sentment, Information, or otherwise, One Hundred Pounds of To-