CHAP, v.] WEST INDIES. 229 



quired that all persons (after six weeks residence) in- 

 tending to depart this island, do affix their names in 

 this office, twenty-one days before they are entitled 

 to receive a ticket or let-pass, to enable them to leave 

 the country. In order to enforce this regulation, 

 masters of vessels are obliged, at the time of entry, to 

 give security in the sum of . 1,000, not to carry off 

 the island any person without such ticket or let-pass. 

 Trustees, attornies and guardians of orphans, are re- 

 quired to record annually in this office accounts of the 

 produce of estates in their charge ; and by a late act, 

 mortgagees in possession are obliged to register, not 

 only accounts of the trops of each year, but also, an- 

 nual accounts current of their receipts and payments. 

 Transcripts of deeds, &c. from the office, properly 

 certified, are evidences in any court of law, and all 

 deeds must be enrolled within three months after 

 date, or they are declared to be void as against any 

 other deed proved and registered within the time 

 limited ; but if no second deed is on record, then the 

 same are valid, though registered after three months. 

 It is presumed that the profits of this office, which is 

 held by patent from the crown, and exercised by depu- 

 tation, exceed . 6,000 sterling per annum. 



The provost-marshal-general is an officer of high 

 rank and great authority. The name denotes a military 

 origin, and the office was first instituted in this island 

 in 1660, by royal commission to Sir Thomas Lynch. 

 It is now held by patent from the crown, which is 

 usually granted for two lives, and the patentee is per- 

 mitted to act by deputy, who is commonly the highest 



