Assembly Proceedings, May 26-June 11, 1697. 559

That the following agrievances often happens in the sev-
erall Countys (to witt) that the Sherriffes haveing the lists of
publick officers ffees to collect do (allthough a receipt for the
same produced and sworne such Sheriffe) not takeing notice
thereof but execute Severall persons therefore.
Resolved that a bill be brought in for redress thereof.
2^dly That whereas there is a good Law in this province
restreining the County courts from takeing cognizance of any
demand under 200^lb tob^o and the provinciall Court under
1500^lb tob^o yet both these good Lawes are evaded by such
who in any times prosecute suites of contention rather than of
necessity wherein allthough the demand be more than either
2oo^ls tob^o in the county courts or 1500^ls tob^o in the provinciall,
yett upon tryall it appeares the Just Ballance is under 200^l
tob^o in the county courts and 1500^l tob^o in the provinciall
Court. That an Act may be made that where the ballance in
the county courts doth not amount to 200^l and in the provin-
ciall 1500^l tob^o that the party pit: may be nonsuited.

L. H. J.

And Whereas by the Lawes of this province an appeale
doth not Lye from the County Court to the provinciall Court
for 1200^lb tob^o and the Assembly thereby Intending that all
persons should rest satisfied with the Judgment of the County
Courts about su es and to avoid Multiplicity of suites
and appeales. Yet many people who have been cast in such
suites in the respective courts of a Litigious and vexatious
humor when they cannot by common Law appeale as aforesaid
do yet contentiously and yexatiously evade and supercede
such Judgm^t by Injunctions out of the chancery to the very
great agrievance and vexation of many good people of this
province. Tho^s Smithson Chairman.

Resolved that a Bill be brought into stop Injunctions in
Chancery where the originall debt or demand exceeds not
1200^lb Tob:
M^r Philip Clarke chairman of the Comittee of Laws, pre-
sents the Journall of the said comittee which is approved of.
Also he presents the following reporte, with which the
house concurrs Viz;

By the Comittee of Lawes &c.

Whereas it was referred to the comittee to draw up a Lawe
to oblige the Masters of Ships to change the Country powder
Especially during the warr tyme.
This Comittee having considered and debated the same
can not finde any way to compell Masters of Shipps to change
powder Especially during Warr tyme, powder being laid in

p. 129