A. D. 1784. Inventors of machines to have a like privilege Persons may ral issue. Proviso. IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the inventors of useful machines shall have a like exclusive privilege of making or vending their machines for the like term of fourteen years, under the same privileges and restrictions hereby granted to and imposed on the authors of books. V. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any action or suit shall be commenced or brought against any person or persons plead the gene- whatsoever, for doing or causing to be done any thing in pursuance of this Act, the defendant in such case may plead the general issue, and give the special matter in evidence, and if upon such action a verdict be given for the defendant, or the plaintiff become nonsuited, or discontinue his action, then the defendant shall have and recover his full costs, for which he shall have the same remedy as a defendant in any case by law hath: Provided, nevertheless, that all actions, suits, bills, indictments, or informations, for any offence that shall be committed against this Act, shall be brought, sued, and commenced within three months next after such offence committed, or else the same shall be void and of none effect: Provided always, that after the expiration of the said term of fourteen years, the sole right of printing or disposing of copies shall return to the authors thereof, if they are then living, for another term of fourteen years. Proviso. In the Senate House, the twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America. JOHN LLOYD, President of the Senate. HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. No. 1222. AN ACT FOR ALLOWING A FURTHER TIME TO RENDER IN A STATE AND Preamble. dering in proof of demands PROOFS OF ANY DEMANDS AGAINST THE CONFISCATED ESTATES. WHEREAS, the time limited by an Act passed the sixteenth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, for rendering in claims and demands against the confiscated estates, and producing proofs thereof, is expired, and it appearing that some creditors may be precluded from obtaining satisfaction for their demands against the said estates, or some of them: I. Be it therefore enacted, by the honorable the Senate and House of Time for ren- Representatives, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That the time for rendering in a state and proofs of any demands against confis against the confiscated estates, to the auditor and accountant general, shall be, and is hereby, extended until twelve months from the passing of this months further. Act; and no longer. ted estates, extended 12 In the Senate House, the twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America. JOHN LLOYD, President of the Senate. HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. A. D. 1784. AN ACT TO APPOINT COMMISSIONERS OF PILOTAGE FOR THE PORT OF No. 1223. BEAUFORT, PORT ROYAL, AND TO ENABLE THEM TO IMPROVE THE NAVI GATION OF THE SAME. I. Be it enacted, by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Assembly met, and by the authority of the same, That the commissioners hereinafter named shall be, and they are hereby, em- Commissioners powered to engage proper persons to serve as pilots for the bar and har- to employ bour of Beaufort, Port Royal, and to purchase or build a proper boat or pilots and build pilot boats. boats for the use of the said pilots, in such manner as to the said commissioners shall appear most conducive to the safety of the navigation thereof; and the pilots so engaged shall be subject to such rules as shall be made for their conduct by the said commissioners, and shall for every neglect of duty, be liable to be discharged from the said employment, and also be subject to such forfeiture, not exceeding the salaries to be allowed them, as to the said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall be judged proper, over and above any other damages that may be legally demanded from them. II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said commissioners, or a majority of them, shall be, and they are hereby, em- Salary of pilots and rates of powered to receive from the commissioners of the treasury, out of the duties pilotage. and imposts of tonnage, the annual sum of one hundred pounds, by quarterly payments, to be applied to the support of the said pilots, in addition to the rates of pilotage as fixed by the corporation of the city of Charleston, which they shall be entitled to receive from the master or owner of each vessel arriving at the said port, (coasting vessels belonging to this State excepted,) and also the specific sum of two hundred pounds, within three months from the passing of this Act, for purchasing or building a proper boat or boats as aforesaid, which said sums the commissioners of the treasury aforesaid are hereby required to pay. nage laid on III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That an additional tonnage or duty of three pence per ton, according to the measure- Additional tonment in this State, shall be laid on every vessel which shall make an entry vessels. in the custom house at the said port, from any place without the limits of this State; which additional impost or tonnage shall be paid into the hands of the collector of the said port, who is hereby authorized and required to demand and receive the same from every person making such entry; and which said collector is hereby required and directed to pay to the commissioners of the treasury, every six months, the full amount of the said additional impost or tonnage which he shall receive. missioners, &c. IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That John Joyner, John Jenkins, John B. Barnwell, William Norton, Nathaniel Names of comBarnwell, John Mack Verdier, and Daniel John Greene, shall be, and they are hereby appointed, commissioners for putting this Act in execution; and in case of the death or removal of any one or more of the said commissioners, the remainder of them shall have power to appoint an equal number of other proper persons to serve as commissioners in the room of such as shall be dead or removed. In the Senate House, the twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America. JOHN LLOYD, President of the Senate. HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. A. D. 1784. No. 1224. AN ACT FOR REVIVING AND AMENDING AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act to Penalty on horse stealing. Former Act revived. Penalty for marking or stealing mules, sheep, &c. prevent Stealing of Horses and Neat Cattle, and for the more effectual discovery and punishment of such persons as shall unlawfully mark, brand, or kill the same," PASSED APRIL 12, 1768. I. Be it enacted, by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, now met and sitting in General Assembly, and by the authority of the same, That from and immediately after the passing of this Act, all and every and any person or persons who shall be indicted and found guilty of stealing any horse, mare, gelding, colt, filly, mule or ass, shall be adjudged and deemed guilty of felony, and shall suffer death, without benefit of clergy. II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That an Act entitled "An Act to prevent stealing of horses and neat cattle, and for the more effectual discovery and punishment of such persons as shall unlawfully mark, brand, or kill the same," passed the twelfth day of April, one thousand seven hundred and sixty-eight, excepting the first clause of the said Act, is hereby revived. III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That any person who shall be lawfully convicted of marking, branding or disfiguring of any mule, ass, sheep, goat or hog, or stealing the sheep, goat or hog of any person or persons, shall be subject to a fine of five pounds sterling for every mule, ass, sheep, goat or hog so marked or disfigured, and every sheep, goat or hog so stolen; and in case any such offender shall not be able to pay such fine, he, she or they shall, for every such offence, be subject to be imprisoned, and receive such corporal punishment, not extending to life or limb, as to the court where the offender is convicted shall appear most proper. In the Senate House, the twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America. JOHN LLOYD, President of the Senate. HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. No. 1225. AN ACT TO ALTER AND AMEND THE THIRTY-SIXTH CLAUSE OF AN ACT OF THIS STATE COMMONLY CALLED THE JURY LAW, AND FOR ALTERING THE TIME OF HOLDING THE COURTS OF SESSIONS AND COMMON PLEAS. Special court of common I. Be it enacted, by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Assembly now met, and by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act, the special court of common pleas for hearing, trying and determining causes wherein transient persons pleas limited in shall or may be concerned, shall be confined and limited in its jurisdiction its jurisdiction. and authority to such causes, transactions, debts, dues and demands only, as shall have arisen, accrued, or shall be done or become due, on the then present voyage or present residence of such transient person to or in this State; and that no indorsee of any bill of exchange or note of hand, and no obligee of any bond, bill or obligation, nor any attorney, executor, administrator or assignee, nor any person whosoever, other than the transient person himself, who was the original creditor, shall be admitted or entitled to sue or implead in the said court; any thing in the before mentioned Act to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding. A. D. 1784. II. And whereas, great inconvenience hath arisen to the good citizens of Charleston, from the present mode of holding the said special court, on Times for holdthe occasional application of any individual transient person; Be it enacted ing said court. by the authority aforesaid, That the said special court shall, after the passing of this Act, be held on the first Monday of every month throughout the year, except the months of February, May, August and October, in which last mentioned months the causes of auch transient persons as aforesaid. shall be tried and determined in the ordinary court of common pleas, as heretofore hath been used in the special court. ing other courts III. And whereas, the holding the ordinary court of common pleas for the district of Charleston antecedently to the court of sessions, in the Times for holdmonths of February and October, is found to prevent the dispatch of pub-altered. lic business in the said courts; Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the court of common pleas for the said district, instead of being held and opened on the second Tuesdays in February and October, as heretofore held and used, shall, after the month of June next ensuing, be held on the third Tuesdays in February and October; and that the court of general sessions, instead of being held subsequent to the said court of common pleas, as heretofore, shall commence and be held after the aforesaid month of June, on the second Tuesdays in February and October, and not on the third Tuesdays, as heretofore; any former law to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding. In the Senate House, the twenty-sixth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four, and in the eighth year of the Independence of the United States of America. JOHN LLOYD, President of the Senate. HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker of the House of Representatives. AN ACT to prevent the damming up Broad, Saludy, Pacolate, Tyger No. 1226. and Enoree Rivers and Stevens's Creek, or otherwise obstructing the fish from passing up the said rivers; and to oblige such persons who have already dammed or otherwise obstructed the passage of fish in said rivers, to open the said dams or obstructions, so as fish may pass. (Passed March 26, 1784. See last volume.) AN ACT for incorporating divers Religious Societies, therein named. No. 1227. (Passed March 26, 1784. See last volume.) A. D. 1784. (Passed March 26, 1784. No. 1228. AN ACT to explain and amend an Act entitled "An Act to incorporate Charleston," and to enlarge the powers of the City Council. See last volume.) No. 1229. AN ACT FOR RESTORING TO CERTAIN PERSONS, THEREIN MENTIONED, Preamble. Estates re stored to list No. 1. Banishment repealed. Assessment on restored estates. THEIR ESTATES, BOTH REAL AND PERSONAL, AND FOR PERMITTING THE THEREIN MENTIONED. WHEREAS, by an Act entitled "An Act for disposing of certain estates, and banishing certain persons therein mentioned," the estates of such persons were confiscated and forfeited to the use of this State; and whereas, the United States in Congress assembled have earnestly recommended to the several States to reconsider and revise their laws regarding confiscation, so as to render the said laws perfectly consistent, not only with justice and equity, but with that spirit of conciliation which, on the return of the blessings of peace, should universally prevail; I. Be it enacted, by the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Assembly met and sitting, and by the authority of the same, That all and every the estate and estates, both real and personal, of the several persons whose names are mentioned in the list number one, hereunto annexed, and which estates have not been sold by the commissioners of forfeited estates, is and are, and shall be, taken from and divested out of the commissioners appointed by the said Act for disposing of the said estates, and from their heirs; and every such estate is hereby restored to and revested in the several persons respectively mentioned in the said list number one, and to the heirs of each and every of them, in the same manner, and for the same use and behoof, as each and every of the said persons were seized or possessed of the same before the passing of the said Act. II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all and of the said person and persons mentioned in the lists number one, every two and three, be allowed and permitted to return to and reside in this State; and every part, clause, matter and thing, in the said Act contained, respecting the banishment of the said persons, and the disposal of their estates for the use of this State, except such part thereof as have been sold by the commissioners of forfeited estates, be, and the same is hereby, repealed. III. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the persons named in the lists number one and three, their attornies or agents, where their estates have not been sold, shall make a just and true return to the said commissioners, on oath or affirmation, of all their estates, real and personal, within four months next after the passing this Act, and that the said commissioners shall cause an assessment of twelve per centum to be rated on the just and real value of such estates; which assessment shall be paid by the said persons to the said commissioners, in specie, on or before the first day of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-five, and on their failing so to do, the said |