appendix.] WEST INDIES. 37 5 
penalty of twenty pounds, forthwith, by warrant under his hand and 
seal, directed to the constable, to commit such offender or offenders 
to the common gaol of the county or parish where the offence shall be 
committed, there to remain until he or she shall pay the said sum of 
ten pounds, and charges as aforesaid; one moiety of which said fine 
shall be paid to the informer, and the other moiety shall be paid into 
the hands of the churchwardens of «uch parish, for the poor of said 
parish; any law* custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding. 
(Slaves to be cloatbed by their owner once a year.) 
V. And, for the better encouragement of slaves to do their duty to 
their masters, owners, or possessors, Be it further enacted by the au¬ 
thority aforesaid, That every master, owner, or possessor of slaves, 
shall, once in every year, provide and give to each slave they shall be 
possessed of, proper and sufficient cloathing, to be approved of by the 
justices and vestry of the parish where such master, owner, or possess¬ 
or of such slaves resides, under the penalty of fifty pounds. 
( Owners to instruct slaves in the Christian religion.) 
VI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all 
masters and mistresses, owners, or, in their absence, overseers of 
slaves, shall, as much as in them lies, endeavour the instruction of 
their slaves in the principles of the Christian religion, whereby to fa¬ 
cilitate their conversion, and shall do their utmost endeavours to fit 
them for baptism, and as soon as conveniently they can, cause to be 
baptised ail such as they can make sensible of a Deity and the Chris¬ 
tian faith. 
(Ovjners to give in an account of provision-ground.) 
VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That 
every master, owner, proprietor, or possessor of slaves, his or her 
overseer or chief manager, at their giving in an account of their slaves 
and stock to the justices and vestry, on the twenty eighth day of De¬ 
cember in every year, shall, under the penalty of fifty pounds for every 
neglect, also give in on oath, an account of the quantity of land in 
ground-provisions, over and above the negro-grounds, upon such 
