University of Virginia Library

TO JAMES MONROE.

Dear Sir,—The proceedings of the Assembly
since my last, dated this day week have related 1. to
the Bill for establishing Religious freedom in the Revisal.
2. a Bill concerning British debts. 3. a Bill
concerning the Proprietary interest in the Northern
Neck. 4. for reforming the County Courts. The
first employed the H. of Delegates several days; The
preamble being the principal subject of contention.
It at length passed without alteration. The Senate I
am told have exchanged after equal altercation, the
preamble of the revisal for the last clause in the Declaration
of Rights; an exchange wch. was proposed
in the H. of D. and negatived by a considerable

majority. I do not learn that they have made or
will make any other alteration. The Bill for the payment
of British debts is nearly a transcript of that
which went thro' the two Houses last year, except
that it leaves the periods of instalment blank, and
gives the Creditor an opportunity of taking immediate
execution for the whole debt, if the debtor
refuses to give security for complying with the instalments.
The Bill was near being put off to the next
Session on the second reading. A majority were for
it, but having got inadvertently into a hobble, from
the manner in which the question was put, the result
was that Monday next should be appointed for its
consideration. The arrival & sentiments of Col:
Grayson will be favorable to some provision on the
subject A clause is annexed to the Bill, authorising
the Executive to suspend its operation, in case
Congs. shall signify the policy of so doing. The
general cry is that the Treaty ought not to be executed
here until the posts are surrendered, and an
attempt will be made to suspend the operation of the
Bill on that event or at least on the event of a positive
declaration from Congs. that it ought to be
put in force. The last mode will probably be fixed
on, notwithstanding its departure from the regular
course of proceeding, and the embarrassment in
which it may place Congress.

The bill for reforming the County Courts proposes
to select five Justices, who are to sit quarterly, be
paid scantily, and to possess the Civil Jurisdiction of
the County Courts, and the Criminal jurisdiction of

the Genl. Court under certain restrictions. It is
meant as a substitute for the Assize system, to all
the objections against which it is liable, without possessing
its advantages. It is uncertain whether it
will pass at all or what form it will finally take. I
am inclined to think it will be thrown out. The Bill
relating to the N. Neck passed the H. of D. yesterday.
It removes the records into the Land office here,
assimilates locations of surplus land to the general
plan, and abolishes the Quitrent. It was suggested
that the latter point was of a judiciary nature, that it
involved questions of fact, of law, and of the Treaty
of peace, and that the Representatives of the late
proprietor ought at least to be previously heard according
to the request of their Agent. Very little
attention was paid to these considerations, and the
bill passed almost unanimously. With sincere affection