141 



prevent their dams from obstructing the navigation of 

 the water-courses. The general asseuibly have on se- 

 veral occa.^ions shown a great desire to encourage the 

 opening the great tails of James and Patowmac rivers. 

 As yet however, neither of these liave been effected. 



The laws have also descended to the preservation 

 and improvement of the races of useful animals, such as 

 horses, cattle, deer ; to the extirpation of those which 

 are noxioijs, as wolves, squirrels, crows, blackbirds; 

 and to the guarding our citizens against infectious dis- 

 orders, by ohiiging suspected vessels coming into the 

 state, to perform quarantine, and by regtdating the con- 

 duct of persons having such disorders within the state. 



The mode of acquiring lands, in the earliest times of 

 our settlement, was by petition to the getieral assem- 

 bly. It' the lands prayed fur were ali-eady cleared of 

 the Indian title, and the assembly thought the prayer 

 reasonable, they passed the property by their vote to 

 the i)etitioner. But if they had not yet l>een ceded by 

 the Indians, it was necessary that the petitioner should 

 previously jjurchase their right. This purchase tliR as- 

 seinldy verified, l>y enquiries of the Indian proprietors; 

 and being satisfied of its reality and fairness, proceeded 

 further to examine the reasonableness of the petition, 

 and its consistence with j)olicy ; and aiicordin^ to the 

 result, either granted or rejecteii jhe petition. The 

 company also sometimes, though very rarely, granted 

 lands, independently of the jjeneral assend)ly. As the 

 colony increased, and individual a|)|t!ications for land 

 multiplied, it vvas found to give too nnjcli occupation to 

 the general assemhly to empiire into and execute the 

 grant in every special case. They therefore thought it 

 better to establish getieral rules, according to which all 

 grants shoidd be made, and to leave to tiie governor 

 the execution of them, under these rules. Tliis they 

 did by what have been usually called the land laws, 

 amending them from time to time, as their defects were 

 developed. According to these laws, when an indivi- 

 dual wished a portion of unappropriated land, he vvas 

 to locate and survey it by a public officer, appointed 



