No. 160. A bill exempting Carter's ferry across James river from the operation of the 23d and 24th sections of the act passed January 30th, 1819, regulating ferries. No. 161. A bill amending the statutes of distribution. No. 162. A bill to authorize the Bank of the Valley to establish a branch of said bank at Staunton. No. 167. A bill incorporating the Shenandoah lodge No. 32 of the Independent order of Odd Fellows. No. 168. A bill authorizing the collection of certain state rifles. No. 170. A bill changing the times of holding the county courts of Nicholas. No. 171. A bill divorcing Amanda Woodyard from her husband John Woodyard. No. 172. A bill to incorporate the trustees of the Piedmont institute in the county of Bedford; and No. 174. A bill to incorporate the Woodstock female seminary. No. 175. A bill increasing the capital stock of the Leesburg and Snicker's gap turnpike company, and authorizing a subscription of two fifths of the said increase by the Board of public works, was on motion of Mr. HARRISON of Loudoun ordered to be laid upon the table. No. 176. A bill incorporating the Appomattox savings bank in the town of Farmville, was read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. No. 148. A bill concerning John Coke late sergeant of the City of Williamsburg, was on motion of Mr. BANKS ordered to be laid upon the table. No. 164. A bill changing the time of holding certain courts in the fourth judicial circuit, was on motion of Mr. JONES of Gloucester ordered to be laid upon the table. No. 165. A bill allowing to purchasers of land sold for nonpayment of taxes, further time to obtain deeds, and for other purposes, was on motion of Mr. HAYMOND ordered to be laid upon the table. No. 46. A bill making an annual appropriation from the treasury of $50,000 to the primary schools, was taken up on motion of Mr. YERBY, read a second time, and ordered to be engrossed and read a third time. On motion of Mr. CARSON, Resolved, That leave be given to bring in a bill to authorize James Castleman to build a bridge across the Shenandoah river at or near his ferry, known as Snicker's ferry in Clarke county. The SPEAKER deferred announcing the committee to bring in said bill until to-morrow. Mr. MAYO presented a petition of James Lyons and William H. Macfarland and others, praying that the state will guarantee the bonds of the Richmond and Guyandotte railroad company; which was ordered to be referred to the committee of roads and internal navigation. The following bills were read the first and ordered to be read a second time, viz: No. 177. A bill further to amend an act concerning the Howardsville and Rockfish turnpike company. No. 178. A bill to incorporate the Nelson county savings bank at Lovingston. No. 179. A bill authorizing the discontinuance and sale of certain vacant and useless streets in the plan of the town of Martinsburg in the county of Berkeley, and directing the application of the proceeds thereof. No. 180. A bill prescribing the conditions upon which grants of the commonwealth may be given in evidence in suits for the recovery of land west of the Alleghany mountain. No. 181. A bill adding the county of New Kent to the seventh judicial circuit. No. 183. A bill concerning Thomas F. Conway. No. 185. A bill to amend the act passed the 25th February 1846, to establish district free schools in Lancaster and other counties. No. 186. A bill concerning the estate of Blair Bolling late of the public guard. No. 187. A bill providing for the issuing of new certificates of debt in place of certain bonds issued by the James river company. No. 188. A bill concerning Joseph Selden late of the public guard. No. 190. A bill discontinuing the separate poll required to be held at the house of David West in Wetzel county. No. 191. A bill divorcing Catharine Hillary from her husband William Hillary. No. 192. A bill releasing to George Nicholson the commonwealth's right to a lot of land therein mentioned. No. 195. A bill to incorporate the trustees of the glebe fund of Lancaster county. No. 196. A bill providing for the enlargement of the Western lunatic asylum. No. 197. A bill to establish a flour inspection in the town of Staunton. No. 198. A bill to incorporate the New England woollen and cotton manufacturing company. No. 199. A bill to establish the Bank of Martinsburg in Virginia in the county of Berkeley. No. 200. A bill providing that the fiscal year of the Eastern lunatic asylum shall commence on the 1st of October annually. No. 201. A bill respecting the lunatic asylums of the commonwealth. No. 202. A bill providing further for the admission of insane persons into the lunatic asylums of the commonwealth. No. 203. A bill concerning Lavinia W. Richardson administratrix of the late Capt. John B. Richardson. No. 204.* A bill concerning the sheriff of Middlesex county. No. 204. A bill concerning Jane Hailstock. No. 205. A bill amending an act, entitled "an act changing the place of holding a separate election in the county of Mason and for other purposes," passed February 17th, 1845. No. 206. A bill to incorporate the Ivanhoe manufacturing mills company in the county of Amherst. No. 208. A bill to incorporate the Branch mining and manufacturing company. No. 209. A bill changing the laws in relation to pilots. No. 210. A bill directing the school commissioners of the county of Appomattox to pay to Barbara G. Wright a sum of money due her for the instruction of poor children in the year 1845. No. 212. A bill authorizing the county court of Preston to divide said county into two revenue districts and for other purposes. No. 213. A bill concerning the Rivanna navigation company. No. 214. A bill to incorporate the Manassa's gap turnpike company. No. 215. A bill to authorize and establish battalion musters in the 41st regiment in Richmond county. No. 216. A bill authorizing the sale of the real estate of James W. Winfree of the county of Chesterfield. No. 218. A bill concerning Samuel Phillips, superintendent of quarantine for the port of Fredericksburg. No. 219. A bill prescribing the mode of electing trustees for the town of Darkesville in the county of Berkeley, and vesting them with certain corporate powers. No. 220. A bill refunding to Hezekiah Daggs and others, certain sums of money. No. 221. A bill concerning the Rappahannock company. No. 223. A bill to revive the act incorporating the Winchester and Berry's ferry turnpike company. No. 224. A bill authorizing the troop of cavalry attached to the 53d regiment in the county of Campbell, to make enlistments from either of the regiments in said county. No. 225. A bill requiring certain accounts of executors, &c. to be recorded. No. 226. A bill changing the time of holding the county courts of Jackson county. No. 227. A bill changing the time of holding the third quarterly term of the county court of Gilmer. No. 228. A bill concerning depositions taken out of the state. No. 229. A bill concerning the office of sheriff. No. 230. A bill to incorporate the Marshall seminary. No. 231. A bill to incorporate the Lewis county seminary. No. 232. A bill fixing the pay and prescribing the duties of the officers of the public guard. No. 234. A bill authorizing a separate election at the Union meeting house, in the county of Barbour. No. 235. A bill to enlarge the powers of the trustees of the town of Woodstock, in the county of Shenandoah, and for other purposes. No. 236. A bill changing the time for the annual meetings of the Valley turnpike company. No. 237. A bill to amend the act of the 2d March 1846, providing for a road from the Guyandotte to the Kanawha river. 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. No. 239. A bill authorizing the appointment of inspectors at Howardsville, in the county of Albemarle. No. 240. A bill to incorporate the Kanawha salt company. No. 241. A bill authorizing the payment of a certain sum of money to William C. Adams. No. 242. A bill establishing inspections of lime in the City of Richmond and town of Petersburg. 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. No. 244. A bill to amend the act, entitled "an act to authorize the opening of a new street in the town of Petersburg," passed March 23d, 1836. No. 245. A bill concerning Samuel Pannill of the county of Campbell. No. 246. A bill incorporating the Alexandria savings institution in the town of Alexandria; and No. 247. A bill concerning the City Point railroad company. The following reports of the committee of propositions and grievances were read and agreed to, viz: The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition and documents of sundry citizens of the counties of Botetourt, Giles, Monroe and Roanoke, to them referred, praying the passage of an act establishing a new county, to be composed of a part of each of said counties, according to certain boundary lines in said petition and notice described, with the seat of justice thereof at New Castle, together with the remonstrances of sundry other citizens of said counties against the establishment of such new county: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected for failure to take the vote at all the places of voting in the several counties out of which the new county is proposed to be formed. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of sundry citizens of Brooke county, with sundry accompanying documents, to them referred, praying that a new county be erected of the northern half of said county, making the dividing line to run from the Ohio river to the boundary line of the state of Pennsylvania, in a direct east and west course, so as to divide the territory of said county into two equal parts between the new and old county as nearly as possible. And that in the act establishing such new county, disinterested commissioners be appointed to ascertain and fix the boundary line aforesaid, and also to select and fix a site for the courthouse and other public buildings for said new county; and that such new county be exempt from a levy made at the last July term of the county court of said county of Brooke, for the purpose of defraying the expense of expensive repairs then ordered to be made to the public buildings, with a copy of notice, and an affidavit annexed of the publication of the same at the courthouse door of said county, for three successive court days; but acknowledging that they have not complied with the act, entitled "an act concerning the formation of new counties," passed April 7th, 1838: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected for noncompliance with the provisions of said act of 1838, concerning the formation of new counties. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of sundry citizens of the upper ends of the counties of Fauquier and Loudoun to them referred, representing that they have for a long time laboured under many and heavy grievances in attending their courts of justice in their respective counties, the result of various causes, as residing, (as many of them do,) from twenty to thirty miles from their respective seats of justice, bad roads, high waters, crowded and unfinished court dockets, and praying therefore, as a remedy for these and sundry other grievances, the formation of a new county of part of said counties of Fauquier and Loudoun, according to the boundary lines voted upon at the last spring election, and described in said petition and accompanying notice, proved by affidavits to have been duly published at the courthouse of each of said counties, with the seat of justice for the proposed new county in the village of Upperville, in the county of Fauquier, together with pollbooks of the vote for and against the said new county, taken at the polls during the election of April last, in pursuance of the provisions of the act of 1838, concerning the formation of new counties, shewing a majority of fifty-three in both counties together against the proposed new county. The said committee have also had under consideration sundry memorials of other citizens of said counties, remonstrating against the formation of said new county, but principally inveighing against the propriety of the proposed seat of justice thereof being located at Upperville, as also of the boundary lines; themselves proposing another site for the courthouse, to wit: at Middleburg in Loudoun county, and also other boundary lines as more eligible, proper and convenient, for a new county in that part of the country, if one is to be formed there; but acknowledging that they have not given the notice required by the act of 1838, nor proceeded in accordance therewith, and the amendment of 1839, regulating the proceedings in the formation of new counties; and therefore, asking that no action be taken on the subject at this time, "so that at the meeting of the legislature in 1847, when by having both plans before them, justice may be administered:" Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition. of sundry citizens, voters of the county of Fluvanna, to them referred, praying that an act may pass requiring the persons who may conduct the next annual election for said county, to hold a poll at the same time and places with those for a delegate, and take the vote of every qualified voter upon the question, "as to whether any licenses shall be granted in said county for selling ardent spirits or other intoxicating drinks ;" and providing in such act, that if a majority of votes be against the issuing of such licenses, that then no such licenses shall be granted, and the sale of such drinks in said county shall be unlawful and punishable, until otherwise provided by law: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of sundry citizens of the counties of Lewis, Randolph, Barbour and Harrison, with the accompanying documents, to them referred, praying the formation of a new county composed of a part of each of said counties, within certain boundary lines described in said petition and notices, with the seat of justice thereof in the town of Buchanan, on the Staunton and Parkersburg road: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition and accompanying documents of sundry citizens of the county of Fauquier, to them referred, praying that said county be divided by a line commencing at the Thoroughfare gap and running thence to Thompson's (formerly Lawrence's) tavern; thence to the mouth of Thumb run, so as to form a new county of the northern part thereof, with the seat of justice at the town of Salem: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition and accompanying documents of sundry citizens of the counties of Bedford, Campbell and Pittsylvania, to them referred, praying the formation of a new county of part of said counties, according to certain boundary lines in said petition described, to be called the county of Staunton, with the seat of justice thereof in the town of Leesville in the county of Campbell: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected for failure to comply with the requisites of the law in taking the polls for and against the establishment of said new county. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition and accompanying documents of sundry citizens of the counties of Harrison and Marion, to them referred, praying that a new county be laid out and established of part of said counties, within certain boundary lines in the said petition and copy of notice described, with the courthouse thereof at the place called Shinston in the (now) county of Harrison; and also at the same time the memorial of certain other citizens of Harrison county, remonstrating against the formation of such new county: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected. The committee of propositions and grievances have, according to order, had under consideration the petition. and accompanying documents of sundry citizens of the counties of Wood and Jackson, to them referred, praying the formation of a new county of a part of each of said counties, according to certain boundary lines in said petition and notice described, "beginning where the Ritchie county line crosses Goose creek, thence a straight line to the mouth of Hughes's river," &c. with the seat of justice thereof at Elizabethtown in the (now) county of Wood: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected for deficiency in the proof of the publication of the notice in Wood county required by law. The said committee have also had under consideration the petition and accompanying documents of sundry other citizens of said counties of Wood and Jackson, to them referred, praying the formation of a new county of such other part of said counties as is included within certain boundary lines in said petition and notice described, "beginning at Hugle's mill on Hughes's river, and running thence a straight line to Green's ford on said river, near Dickenson's mill," &c. and that the seat of justice be placed on the lands of John Coe, near the Reedy Ripple of the Kanawha river: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petitioners be rejected for want of the poll as required by law from all the several places of holding separate elections in said counties, out of which it is proposed to form the said new county. The following reports of the committee for courts of justice were read and agreed to, viz: The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of so amending or explaining the 19th section of the act, entitled "an act to reduce into one the several acts and parts of acts concerning the county and inferior courts and the jurisdiction of justices of the peace within this commonwealth," passed March 2d, 1819, that the minutes may be signed by any one of the justices last entered as present on said minutes. Also as to the expediency of amending the first section of said recited act, so as to provide that for all the trials of all civil cases three justices shall constitute a quorum: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of so amending the "act to amend the several acts concerning ferries," passed March 5, 1840, as to authorize merchants and millers to carry free of toll any person to or from their stores or mills bona fide engaged in the transportation of grain, timber or other produce to or from such stores or mills, and any person coming to their stores or mills for the purpose of buying of or selling to such merchants or millers or returning therefrom or in any manner to be engaged in trading with said merchants or millers, with any other amendments to said act they may deem proper : Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to change the existing law upon the subject referred to. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of so amending the act, entitled "an act concerning constables and their securities," passed March 8th, 1826, as to provide that constables' receipts shall not be admitted by the court as evidence against them, after five years from their date : Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to make any change in the law as it now exists upon the subject aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of amending the laws in relation to fees of county surveyors: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to make any change in the existing law upon the subject aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of John H. Gilmer, praying for relief from the penalties of the anti-duelling law, to them referred, and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, enquired into the expediency of so amending the poor laws as to extend the right to vote at elections for overseers of the poor to all who now have the right to vote for members of the Virginia assembly: Whereupon, Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to legislate upon the subject aforesaid. The committee for courts of justice have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of John A. Kelly and others, "asking for a change in the time of holding the county court of Giles county," to them referred, and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected. The following reports of the committee of claims were read and agreed to, viz: The committee of claims have had under consideration, according to order, the petition of Thomas Sergion, praying to be released from the payment of a certain bond executed to the commonwealth as bail for Nancy Taylor, and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of said petition be rejected. The committee of claims have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of "Robert Anderson, one of the heirs and also administrator de bonis non of James Anderson, deceased, praying on behalf of himself and the other heirs of said James Anderson, compensation for their ancestor's services in the revolutionary war," and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved, That the prayer of said petition be rejected. The following report of the committee of schools and colleges was read and agreed to, viz: The committee of schools and colleges have considered the petition of John R. M'Cluer, of the county of Tazewell, asking payment of a sum of money due him for the tuition of poor children in said county in the year 1844, and the committee have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected. The following reports of the committee of finance were read and agreed to, viz : The committee of finance have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of the citizens of Monongalia county, praying a modification of the laws in relation to issuing licenses to ordinary keepers, and have come to the following resolution : Resolved, That it is inexpedient to amend the laws as prayed for by the petitioners. The committee of finance have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of the citizens of Lynchburg, praying the general assembly to amend the laws authorizing the licensing of tippling houses, and have come to the following resolution: Resolved, That it is inexpedient to amend the laws as prayed for by the petitioners. The committee of finance have, according to order, had under consideration the resolution to them referred, to enquire into the expediency of letting the public printing to the lowest bidder, and have come to the following resolution: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That it is inexpedient to make any change in the manner of having the public printing done. The committee of finance have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of the citizens of the county of Marion, praying that the laws may be amended in relation to licensing of ordinaries, and have come to the following resolution: Resolved, That it is inexpedient to amend the laws as prayed for by the petitioners. A further report of the same committee was read as follows: The committee of finance have, according to order, had under consideration the following resolution: "Resolved, That the committee of finance enquire into the expediency of granting licenses to the owners or occupiers of public theatres in the cities and towns of this commonwealth to sell refreshments therein during such periods as they may be open for public exhibition or entertainment, and if in their opinion expedient, to enquire into the amount of tax that should be paid for such license," and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved, That it is inexpedient to grant such license. On motion of Mr. MAYO the same was amended by striking therefrom the word "inexpedient," and inserting in lieu thereof, the word "expedient," and as amended was agreed to by the house, and it was ordered that the said committee prepare and bring in a bill conformably therewith. The following reports of the committee on agriculture and manufactures were read and agreed to, viz: The committee on agriculture and manufactures have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of sundry citizens of the county of Rockingham to them referred, praying the passage of a law authorizing the county court of said county to impose a tax on dogs; and also the remonstrance of one hundred and thirtysix citizens of said county against the same, and have come to the following resolution thereupon: Resolved as the opinion of this committee, That the prayer of the said petition be rejected for want of the notice required by the twenty-third rule of the house. The committee on agriculture and manufactures have, according to order, had under consideration the petition of inspectors of tobacco in the town of Lynchburg to them referred, praying the passage of a law making it a part of the inspectors' duty at the several warehouses in the town of Lynchburg, to cry all the tobacco sold at |