IV. And be it
further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That such Public
Letters and packets be endorsed, For her Majesty's Service, and
with the Person's
Name that send them. And if any Person or Persons whatsoever, shall,
at any Time after the Publication of this Act, presume to endorse any Letter
or Letters, Packet or Packets, so as aforesaid, which are not for the
Public
Service, he, or they, shall forfeit and pay for such Offence Five Hundred
Pounds of Tobacco, to be recovered in any of her Majesty's Courts of Record
within this Province, by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information,
wherein no Essoin, Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed.
V. And the
better to ascertain what letters shall be accounted Public Letters,
Be it Enacted, by the Authority,
Advice and Consent aforesaid, That all
Letters directed to the Governor of this Province, for the Time being,
endorsed,
For her Majesty's Service; and all Letters sent by the Governor,
having
his, or the Clerk of the Council's, Name endorsed, and For her Majesty's
Service, directed to any Person whatsoever; and all Letters sent by
any Member
of her Majesty's Council, with the Subscriber's Name endorsed, and For
her majesty's Service; all Letters sent by the Speaker, or Clerk of
the House of
Delegates, for the Time being, with the Subscriber's Name endorsed, and
For her Majesty's Service; all Letters sent by a Justice of the
Provincial Court,
with the Subscriber's Name endorsed, and For her Majesty's Service;
and all
Letters sent by the Public Treasurers of each Shore, to any Naval Officer,
with the Subscriber's Name endorsed, and For her Majesty's Service,
shall be
accounted, only, Public Letters.
VI. And whereas,
also, the Sheriffs of this Province, whose Duty it is to
convey Letters for her Majesty's Service, are very much complained of for
their Negligence therein; Be it Enacted,
by the Authority, Advice and Consent
aforesaid, That if any High-Sheriff, or his Deputies, receive any Public
Letter, he shall, if required, give a Receipt for the same, shewing the
Day
and Hour when he received the same: And when he delivers the same
Letter
to the next Sheriff, or Party to whom directed, the Party that receives
the
same, shall likewise, if required, give such like Receipt to the Sheriff
that
first received it. And any High-Sheriff, or his Deputy or Deputies
(for whom
the High-Sheriff shall be answerable) shall refuse to give such Receipt,
to be
proved by the Oath of the Person demanding such Receipt; or, having received
such Letter, shall willfully neglect immediately to forward such Letter,
as directed, so that such Letter is stopped Twenty-four Hours longer than
it
reasonably need be, (respect being had to the Wind and Weather) the High-Sheriff
shall forfeit the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds of Tobacco in Cask;
the one Moiety thereof to our Sovereign Lady the Queen, her Heirs and Successors,
for the Support of the Government of this Province, the other Moiety
to him or them that will sue for the same; to be recovered by Action of
|
Public Letters,
how to
be endorsed.
Persons so endorsing
Letters,
not for
the Public
Service, forfeit
500 lb
Tobacco.
What Letters
shall be deemed
Public
Letters.
Sheriffs (if
required)
shall give Receipts
for
Public Letters,
and may
demand the
like.
Penalty on
Sheriffs refusing
to give
such Receipt,
or detaining
Public Letters. |
