The native American., 1838-06-02

favorable impression Wlilcn may nave existed as
to the nature Of the law which the Legislature
|of Jamaica have thought it expedient to enact.
The undersigned, &c.
CHARLES BANKHEAD.
Copy of the 10Th clause of an act passed By the Legislature
OF jamaica Oa the 24h February 1881, entitled I'm act
for raising tar By The poll and trades, supercar-
goes and masters ovesses, and hoses. and ceria
wheel carriages and applying the same 10 several uses,
ond for other purposes"
xxx. And whereas the public hospital at
Kingston is supported at great expense, and af-
fords relief to transient poor persons and vessels
of all countries trading to this island, by receiv-
ing as many men from them as are sick and sent
to it, as well as persons who are left destitute on
shore, many Of whom remain much longer time
a burden on the public than is necessary for their
health, in consequence of masters and owners of
vessels demanding excessive or unreasonable
sums Of money for their passages: for remedy
whereof, BE 1t enacted by The authority afore-
said, That whenever any inmate or inmates OF
the Kingston public hospital shall be desirous
Of leaving the island, and are to be provided with
a passage to any country at the public expense,
notice shall be given to the master and consignee
or consignces of any vessel about to sail for the
port or place to which such inmate or inmates
are willing to 60, that one or more of the said
inmates will be put on board such vessel, but
not to exceed one for every vessel under one
hundred TONS, nor 10 eloeea one for every
hundred tons burden Of larger vessels; and Tho
master shall receive such inmates on board his
vessel, and take care6Of and support and protec
them, and carry them to the port of her destina-
ton, unless good cause to the contrary shall be
forthwith shown to the satisfaction Of the sitting
magistrates of Kingston; and the said master shall
receive, for the passage and support Of each
inmate put on board his vessel as aforesaid, at
the rate Of three shllings and four pence per day,
computing the length Of the passage fifty days to
Europe, thirty days to the British provinces in
North America, twenty days to Bermuda and
the United States Of America north of Saint
Augustine and all places to the eastward Of St.
Domingo, twelve days to New Orleans, ten days
to all other foreign places to the southwark Of
Pensacola, and five days to any place in this
island; and if the master Of any vessel to whom
notice has been given as aforesaid, shall refuse
to receive on board his vessel any inmates from
the public hospital, or shall not carry them TO
the port of her destination, he and the consgnee
or consignees Of his vessel shall be liable to a
fine Of fifty pounds for each inmate SO left behind,
which shall be recovered in summary manner
before any two justices Of the peace.
Vera copia: w. q. STEWART,
Secretary and Notary Public.
Ertract of a letter from Mr.. Livingston to- Mr..
Bankhcad, dated
OCTOBER, 4, 1881.
Sir: have the honor to acknowledge the re-
ceipt Of your note of the LIST instant, by which
you transmit to me the copy Of part Of an act
Of the Assembly Of Jamaica, passed in February
last, obliging, under heavy penalties, the mas
iers Of vessels about to sail from the island to
take on board and convey to the ports of their
destination all such paupers as are willing to
leave the island, and are to be provided with a
passage at the public expense.
This act is SO obviously injurious in its opera
ton upon the United States, by forcing their
ships to convey to this country any pauper who
chooses to burden it with his support, that it is
believed the Assembly Of Jamaica will, on a pro
per representation, repeal law which is intended
10 dsgorge all the inhabitants Of its hospitals and
|poor-houscs upon foreign countries, who may not
lbe willing to receive them. 1t also imposes an
Individual hardship on the master or owner Of the
vessel, who is obliged by the State laws, in most
|or all our ports, to find security that the passcn-
gers he brings shall not become chargeable to the
parish. While hope that your representation
may induce the Assembly to repeal SO unjust q
law, L must, in the mean time, send copy Of The
act 10 our minister at the Court of his Britannia
Majesty, with instructions to ask the interference
Of his Majcsty's Government in the case.
1 ~