Mr. BEIRNE a petition of John A. Kelly and others for a change in the time of holding the county court of Giles county.

Ordered, That said petition be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

Mr. SHEFFEY presented a petition of sundry merchants, citizens and millers of the county of Augusta, for the establishment of an inspection of flour in the town of Staunton, which on his motion was ordered to be laid upon the table.

Mr. GODWIN presented a petition of citizens of the county of Isle of Wight, asking the repeal of so much of the act of March 5th, 1846, in relation to the primary school system, as applies to the county of Isle of Wight, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of schools and colleges.

Mr. HAYMOND presented a petition of Simeon West, praying that a sum of money paid by him on a forfeited recognizance bond may be refunded to him, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of claims.

Mr. STREET presented a petition of citizens of the county of Patrick, asking that the portion of said county in which they reside may be annexed to the county of Franklin.

Mr. BAMBRICK a petition of citizens of the town of New Cumberland in the county of Brooke, asking for the establishment of a separate election at said town in said county.

Mr. ANDERSON a petition of citizens of the county of Prince Edward, asking that the act passed 21st February 1845, establishing a separate election at Mrs. Prudence Perkinson's may be repealed.

Also certain documents to accompany the petition of trustees of the town of Farmville for an increase of

their powers.

Mr. CARPER a petition of James Radford and others of the county of Franklin, for the removal of the separate election now held at David Cannaday's to the house of David Baker in said county.

Ordered, That said petitions and documents be referred to the committee of propositions and grievances. Mr. BAMBRICK presented a petition of citizens of the county of Brooke, praying that the terminus of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company may be confined to the City of Wheeling, which was ordered to be laid upon the table.

Mr. M'DEARMON presented a petition of William Browning, praying permission to sell goods, &c. as a pedlar in any county in the state free of the tax imposed by law upon pedlars, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of finance.

Mr. BEIRNE presented a memorial of the officers of the 108th regiment of militia, remonstrating against any change in the place for training the officers of the 166th regiment, which was ordered to be referred to the committee on the militia laws.

No. 189. A bill imposing taxes for the support of government, together with the amendments thereto which were pending when the house adjourned on yesterday, was taken up, and the said amendments were disagreed to. The said bill contained the following clause: "On all yearly income in money accruing to each individual during the period above mentioned, over and above the sum of four hundred dollars, in consideration of the discharge of any office or employment in the service of this commonwealth, or in the service of any body politic or corporate, joint stock company or otherwise, or in the employment of any company, copartnership, individual or individuals, (except such as are exempted by law from taxation,) per centum on the amount of such excess of income; on all fees derived from any office, calling or profession, over and above the sum of four hundred dollars per annum, per centum on the amount of such excess.

On motion of Mr. COCKE the said clause was amended by inserting at the end of the same the words, "except the amount received by ministers of the gospel for clerical services." Ayes 65, noes 38. On motion of Mr. ANDERSON the said vote was recorded as follows:

AYES-Messrs. Powell, M'Dearmon, Sheffey, Scruggs, Burwell, Small, Bambrick, Bocock, Mosby, Fox, Thompson of Dinwiddie, Roane, Love, Hill of Fayette and Nicholas, Stillman, Carson, White, Leake, Calwell, Major, Thompson of Hampshire, Lee, Lancaster, Dillard, Godwin, Howard, Hunter, Thompson of Jefferson, Patrick, Wallace, Gresham, Richmond, Ballard, Harrison of Loudoun, M'Intyre, Haymond, Oldham, Waggoner, Brown of Monongalia, Beirne, Breathed, Kelly, Perrow, Newton, Yerby, Nelms, Oliver, Newman, Syme, Tunstall, Cocke, Fairfax, Anderson, Tyler, Harper, Brown of Rockingham, M'Elhenney, Morison, Tate, Freeman, Burdett, Horner, Castleman, Goodson and Floyd-65.

NOES-Messrs. Jones, (speaker,) Brown of Albemarle, Hart, Layne, Harvie, Johnson, Thompson of Botetourt, Morris, Lacy, Cardwell, Slaughter, Scott, Smith, Carroll, Walker, Stovall, Hiett, Darracott, Gaines, Robinson, Schooley, Poindexter, Edmondson of Lunenburg, Banks, Watts, Davis, M'Pherson, Lanier, Cackley, Daniel, Sturm, Strother, Bare, Hill of Shenandoah, Stickley, Goodwin, Holladay and Chandler-38.

The said bill was then farther amended on motions severally made, and as amended ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

On motion of Mr. HARVIE, Ordered, That the consideration of said bill be postponed and made the order of the day for Tuesday next.

No. 27. A bill to increase the capital stock of the Staunton and James river turnpike company for the purpose of M'Adamizing their road, was taken up, and on motion of Mr. JOHNSON the consideration thereof was postponed and made the order of the day for Thursday next.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a communication from the governor enclosing a communication from the governor of the state of North Carolina, covering a copy of an act passed by the legislature of that state to provide for the apprehension of runaway slaves in the Great Dismal swamp, and for other purposes, which on motion of Mr. STOVALL was ordered to be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

The SPEAKER laid before the house a further communication from the governor, recommending the propriety of giving on the part of the state the excess of cost in the outfit of the Virginia regiment of volunteers above the sum provided by the laws of the United States to the said regiment, which on motion of Mr. SYME was ordered to be referred to the committee on the militia laws.

Mr. CASTLEMAN presented a petition of citizens of the county of Clarke, for the construction of a M'Adamized road from the Berryville turnpike road not west of Berryville to Charlestown in Jefferson county, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of roads and internal navigation.

Also a petition of other citizens of Clarke county, asking that the company of cavalry in said county may be furnished with arms, which was ordered to be referred to the committee on the militia laws.

And a petition of citizens of the county of Warren, for the establishment of a separate election at Howelsville in said county, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of propositions and grievances. On motion of Mr. NELMS the house adjourned until to-morrow 12 o'clock.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1847.

On motion of Mr. STOVALL, Resolved, That the committee of finance be instructed to enquire into the expediency of amending the 6th, 7th and 8th sections of the act of the 9th April 1838, providing for the negotiation of loans, and for other purposes.

On motion of Mr. SHEFFEY, Resolved, That the committee of claims enquire into the expediency of reporting a bill to provide for the payment of so much of the expenses of Capt. Kenton Harper, incurred in raising and maintaining the Augusta volunteers as has not been allowed in the settlement of Capt. Harper's accounts.

Mr. BANKS, from the committee of propositions and grievances, presented reports upon petitions of citizens of the counties of Harrison and Marion for a new county; of citizens of the counties of Bath and Pendleton, also for a new county; and of citizens of the counties of Wood and Jackson, also for a new county; and the following bills:

No. 134. A bill authorizing a separate election at the Union meetinghouse in the county of Barbour; and No. 135. A bill to enlarge the powers of the trustees of the town of Woodstock in the county of Shenandoah, and for other purposes.

Mr. FLOYD, from the committee of roads and internal navigation, presented reports upon petitions of the New Shenandoah company for the repeal of the third section of the act of March 11th, 1840, concerning that company; of citizens of the counties of Bath and Alleghany, concerning slopes of dams on the Cowpasture river; and of stockholders of the Valley turnpike company for the appointment of additional proxies to represent the state in general meetings of the stockholders; and the following bills:

No. 236. A bill changing the time for the annual meetings of the Valley turnpike company.

No. 237. A bill to amend and continue the act of the 2d March 1846, providing for a road from the Guyandotte to the Kanawha river; and

No. 238. A bill providing for the construction of a turnpike road from the Lynchburg and Salem turnpike by Franklin courthouse to Jacksonville in Floyd county.

On motion of Mr. FLOYD, the committee of roads and internal navigation were discharged from the consideration of the petition of citizens of the county of Taylor, asking some change or modification of the tolls at the gate and bridge in said county on the Northwestern road, and the said petition was ordered to be referred to the Board of public works.

Mr. DAVIS, from the committee on agriculture and manufactures, presented the following bills:

No. 239. A bill authorizing the appointment of inspectors at Howardsville in the county of Albemarle; and No. 240. A bill to incorporate the Kanawha salt company.

Mr. WALLACE presented a petition of citizens of the county of King George, praying for amendments to the act passed 25th of February 1846, for establishing free schools, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of schools and colleges.

Mr. WHITE presented a memorial of citizens of the county of Giles, remonstrating against the passage of an act to change the time for holding the courts of said county, which was ordered to be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

Mr. HOWARD presented a petition of William Nelson, for the passage of an act authorizing him to construct a wharf on York river at Yorktown.

Mr. BAMBRICK a memorial of citizens of the county of Brooke, remonstrating against the formation of a separate election in the town of New Cumberland in said county.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the committee of propositions and grievances.

Mr. DORMAN presented a petition of citizens of the county of Rockbridge, asking for the construction of a M'Adamized road from Staunton to Buchanan and from Staunton to Scottsville, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of roads and internal navigation.

No. 233. A bill to authorize the Baltimore and Ohio railroad company to construct the extension of their railroad through the territory of Virginia, was taken up on motion of Mr. SHEFFEY and read a second time; thereupon a motion was made by him to amend the first section of said bill, and then, on motion of Mr. HUNTER the bill and amendment was ordered to be laid upon the table.

No. 77. An engrossed bill incorporating the Richmond and Pamunkey railroad company was taken up, and the question being put upon the passage of said bill and ryder, was determined in the affirmative. Ayes 78, noes 22. On motion of Mr. HOLLADAY the vote was recorded as follows:

AYES-Messrs. Jones, (speaker,) Custis, Finney, Hart, Layne, Powell, M'Dearmon, Sheffey, Scruggs, Thompson of Botetourt, Bennett, Bambrick, Bocock, Morris, Fox, Lacy, Cardwell, Thompson of Dinwiddie, Chisman, Roane, Love, Scott, Smith, Hill of Fayette and Nicholas, Carper, Jones of Gloucester, Carroll, Major, Stovall, Thompson of Hampshire, Darracott, Lee, Dillard, Godwin, Howard, Hunter, Patrick, Gaines, Robinson, Gresham, Richmond, Ballard, Schooley, M'Intyre, Edmondson of Lunenburg, Banks, Oldham, Browne of Mathews and Middlesex, Waggoner, Williams, Beirne, Edmundson of Montgomery and Pulaski, Breathed, Perrow, Yerby, Nelms, Davis, M'Pherson, Tatum, Newman, Cackley, Anderson, Tyler, Mayo, Harper, Dorman, Bare, Brown of Rockingham, Hill of Shenandoah, Stickley, Tate, Fitzhugh, Burdett, Gillespie, Goodson, Chandler, Stephenson and Floyd-78.

NOES-Messrs. Brown of Albemarle, Harrison of Brunswick, Dickinson, Slaughter, Stillman, Street, Leake, Walker, Lancaster, Thompson of Jefferson, Harrison of Loudoun, Kelly, Newton, Oliver, Syme, Tunstall, Cocke, Strother, Morison, Goodwin, Holladay and Freeman-22.

Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate and request their concurrence.
On motion of Mr. BALLARD the house adjourned until to-morrow 12 o'clock.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1847.

A communication was received from the senate by their clerk, which was read as follows:

The senate have passed the bill, entitled

IN SENATE, FEBRUARY 8, 1847.

"An act directing a survey for a road from the Staunton and Parkersburg road in Lewis to the Northwestern road in Harrison." (No. 55.)

On motion of Mr. THOMPSON of Botetourt, Resolved, That the committee on the militia laws enquire into the expediency of so amending the 30th and 31st sections of the act passed 8th March 1834, concerning the militia, as to define more specifically who are exempt from militia duty.

On motion of Mr. HUNTER, Resolved, That the committee of roads and internal navigation be directed to enquire into the expediency of providing by law more effectually to compel the Winchester and Potomac railroad company to accommodate the trade and travel offered at the depots of said road in the county of Jefferson.

On motion of Mr. THOMPSON of Dinwiddie, Resolved, That the committee of finance enquire into the condition of the Washington monument fund, and the propriety of calling in the amount loaned out to individuals in regular instalments, and reinvesting the same in state stocks.

On motion of Mr. WATTS, Resolved, That the auditor of public accounts furnish to this house a statement in detail shewing the amount disbursed out of the appropriation of ten thousand dollars for the Virginia regiment of volunteers for the Mexican war, and to whom and for what service such disbursement has been made.

On motion of Mr. MAYO, Resolved, That the committee of finance enquire into the expediency of increasing the salary of the clerk of the council.

On motion of Mr. TUNSTALL, Resolved, That the committee for courts of justice enquire into the expediency of so amending the law in relation to the settlement of accounts of executors, administrators, guardians, &c. as to require that the same be settled by the respective commissioners in chancery in each county.

On motion of Mr. TUNSTALL, Resolved, That the committee of roads and internal navigation enquire into. the expediency of amending an act, entitled "an act to incorporate the Richmond and Ohio railroad company."

Mr. HOLLADAY, from the committee of claims, presented the following bill:

No. 241. A bill authorizing the payment of a certain sum of money to William C. Adams.

Mr. DAVIS, from the committee on agriculture and manufactures, presented the following bills:

No. 242. A bill establishing inspections of lime in the City of Richmond and town of Petersburg; and

No. 243. A bill to prevent the authorities of the City of Richmond from laying and collecting a tax upon the bales of hay sent by the farmers of the state to said city.

Mr. THOMPSON of Dinwiddie, from the committee appointed to examine the treasurer's accounts, presented a report thereupon.

Mr. SYME, according to order, presented the following bill:

No. 244. A bill to amend the act, entitled "an act to authorize the opening a new street in the town of Petersburg," passed March 23d, 1836.

Mr. STOVALL, from the committee of finance, presented the following bill:

No. 245. A bill concerning Samuel Pannill of the county of Campbell.

Mr. LEAKE, from the committee on banks, presented the following bill:

No. 246. A bill incorporating the Alexandria savings institution in the town of Alexandria.

Mr. FLOYD, from the committee of roads and internal navigation, presented the following bill:

No. 247. A bill concerning the City Point railroad company.

Mr. SMITH presented six petitions of citizens of the county of Fauquier for the formation of a new county out of parts of the counties of Fauquier and Loudoun, with the county seat of the new county at the town of Upperville, which on his motion were ordered to be laid upon the table.

Mr. LEAKE presented a petition of Joseph R. Bentley, late an ensign of the public guard, praying for the passage of an act to allow him to receive the amount of his account for additional rations, now barred by the act of limitations; which was ordered to be referred to the committee of finance.

Mr. GRESHAM presented a petition of a portion of the citizens of the county of Northumberland, praying that the charter of the Northumberland academy in that county may be repealed and abolished, and that the funds of the said academy be otherwise appropriated; which was ordered to be referred to the committee of schools and colleges.

Mr. M'PHERSON presented the affidavit of William B. Thompson, in regard to the situation of the navigation of the Shenandoah river; which was ordered to be referred to the committee of roads and internal navigation. Mr. SHEFFEY presented the petition of Nancy Thompson, praying that she may be authorized to sell and convey a certain house and lot in the town of Staunton of which her husband died seized.

Mr. FLOYD a memorial of Thomas Payne, remonstrating against the passage of an act to authorize depositions to be taken of witnesses to be read as evidence in a suit in which Hiram Kilgore is plaintiff and said Payne is defendant.

Ordered, That said petitions be referred to the committee for courts of justice.

Mr. SYME, from the committee charged with investigating the charges against judge James H. Gholson, presented a report which was read as follows:

The select committee to whom was referred the memorial of judge J. H. Gholson, praying an investigation into his judicial conduct, and also certain charges preferred by R. R. Collier, have had the same under consideration, and in exercise of the power conferred on the committee, summoned before them sundry witnesses to testify in the premises; that among these witnesses was the said R. R. Collier, who being called on to testify on oath touching the matters aforesaid refused to give his evidence-whereupon, the committee adopted the following resolution : Resolved, That R. R. Collier having been called on by the committee to testify as a witness in relation to the charges preferred by him against judge J. H. Gholson, and having refused to be sworn and to testify, that his said refusal be reported to the house of delegates, in order that such action may be taken in the premises as the house may deem proper.

On motion of Mr. ScoтT, Resolved, That R. R. Collier having refused to testify before the select committee raised to examine into the official conduct of judge James H. Gholson, it is the judgment of this house that the said R. R. Collier is guilty of a contempt of its proper powers, but it being suggested that the said Collier upon this expression of the judgment of the house, will thereupon proceed to give his testimony as required, it is deemed inexpedient at present to take any further order in the premises.

Mr. DARRACOTT presented a copy of a letter from M. Robinson, president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company to Edmond Fontaine, president of the Louisa railroad company, which was ordered to be referred to the committee charged with investigating the conduct of certain railroad companies, and be printed. [Doc. No. 33.]

No. 27. A bill to increase the capital stock of the Staunton and James river turnpike company for the purpose of M'Adamizing their road, was taken up and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time.

No. 20. An engrossed bill divorcing Helen A. W. Hamilton from her husband Robert S. Hamilton, was taken up on motion of Mr. HOLLADAY and read a third time and passed.

Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate and request their concurrence.

On motion of Mr. DARRACOTT, the order made to-day to print the letter of the president of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad company was reconsidered and rescinded.

Mr. GOODSON presented a petition of Eliza White, administratrix of James White, deceased, praying for the repayment to her of $75 12, the amount of taxes paid illegally to the commissioner of delinquent and forfeited lands for Scott county on the 7th of August 1840, which was ordered to be referred to the committee of finance. Mr. DICKINSON presented a petition of Wesley Wright and Woodson Wright, deputies of Pichegrue Woolfolk, sheriff of the county of Caroline, praying to be refunded certain damages recovered in the general court against said sheriff, on account of the collection of merchants' licenses, which was ordered to be referred to the same committee,

On motion of Mr. HAYMOND the house adjourned until to-morrow 12 o'clock.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1847.

A communication was received from the senate by their clerk, which was read as follows:

IN SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1847.

The senate have agreed to the resolutions voting the thanks of the general assembly to general Taylor and the officers and soldiers under his command, and voting swords to Gen. Taylor and to lieutenant colonels Matthew M. Payne and J. Garland.

On motion of Mr. SYME, Resolved, That the select committee charged with the investigation of certain charges against judge Gholson be increased to eleven, any five of whom may constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

The SPEAKER deferred announcing the increase of said committee until to-morrow.

On motion of Mr. STOVALL, Resolved, That the committee on the militia laws enquire into the expediency of authorizing commissions to issue to the officers of a company of cavalry in the 172d regiment in the county of Halifax.

Mr. STILLMAN, from the committee on enrolled bills, reported that said committee had examined sundry other such bills and found them truly enrolled.

Ordered, That the clerk communicate the same to the senate for further examination.

Mr. Bocock, from the committee for courts of justice, presented a report upon the petition of John A. Kelly and others, asking for a change in the time of holding the county court of Giles county; and the following bills: No. 248. A bill concerning suits against trustees of religious congregations.

No. 249. A bill releasing the commonwealth's right to a certain lot of land therein mentioned to Nancy Thompson; and

No. 250. A bill to extend the remedy for the collection of taxes in the town of Portsmouth.

Mr. BANKS, from the committee of propositions and grievances, presented reports upon the petition of citizens

of Jefferson county, Sons of Temperance, for an act of incorporation, and upon the petition of citizens of the counties of Randolph, Barbour and Preston, for a new county; and the following bills:

No. 251. A bill incorporating Charity lodge No. 27, of the Independent order of Odd Fellows of the town of Warrenton, Fauquier county; and

No. 252. A bill incorporating Wildey lodge No. 11, of the Independent order of Odd Fellows of Charlestown, in the county of Jefferson.

Mr. STOVALL, from the committee of claims, presented the following bills:

No. 253. A bill authorizing the payment of a certain sum of money to Capt. Edward C. Carrington; and No. 254. A bill authorizing the payment of a certain sum of money to Samuel Patterson.

Mr. FLOYD, from the committee of roads and internal navigation, presented the following bills:

No. 255. A bill to establish a public free ferry across the Corotoman river in the county of Lancaster; and No. 256. A bill to increase the capital stock of the Cacapon and North branch turnpike company. Mr. WATTS, from the committee on the militia laws, presented reports upon the petition of officers of the 42d regiment in the county of Pittsylvania, asking the passage of an act to change the place of training of the officers of said regiment; and upon the resolutions for abolishing all militia musters except of volunteer companies; and for providing that the commissioned officers of this state be furnished with the condensed militia laws of 1834, and all acts appertaining to the militia subsequent to that period.

On motion of Mr. WATTS the committee on the militia laws was discharged from the petition of Robert L. Wright; and on motion of Mr. M'INTYRE the same was ordered to be laid upon the table.

Mr. DAVIS, from the committee on agriculture and manufactures, presented the following bill:

No. 257. A bill to amend the act, entitled "an act incorporating the Ohio coal mining company."