Enclosure: Statement of the Laws of Virginia, 13 January 1796
Enclosure
Statement of the Laws of Virginia
A statement of the Volumes of the Laws of Virginia, Manuscript and Printed in my possession
A M.S. marked A. given me by the late Peyton Randolph. It had belonged to his father Sr. John Randolph, who had collected papers with a view to write the history of Virginia. It is attested by R. Hickman, and contains the acts of 1623/4 Mar. 5. 35. acts
MS. marked 
purchased of the executors of the late Peyton Randolph, having been among the collections of Sr. John Randolph. From the resemblance of the mark to some I have formerly [seen] in the Secretary’s office, I suspect this to be an original volume of records, [probab]ly borrowed by Sr. John Randolph. It contains the laws from 1629. to 1633.
[MS.] marked F. purchased from the administrator of Colo. Richard Bland deceased. It contains laws from 1639 to 1667.
MS. marked D. purchased from the administrator of Colo. Richard Bland deceased. It contains laws from 1642/3 to 1661/2.
MS. copied by myself of the laws of 1660/1 Mar. 23.
MS. from the Charles City office, to which it belongs probably. I found it in Lorton’s tavern, brought in to be used for waste paper. Much had already been cut off for thread papers and other uses.1 Debnam, the then clerk, very readily gave it to me, as also another hereafter mentioned. It still contains from chap. 31. of the session of 1661/2 to 1702.
MS. marked B. purchased of the executors of the late Peyton Randolph, part of Sr. John Randolph’s collection. It contains laws from 1662. to 1697.
MS. Appendix to a copy of Pervis’s collection from the Westover library, given by the late Colo. W. Byrd to Mr. Wayles, whose library came to my hands.
MS. from the Charles City office, given to me by Debnam as abovementioned. It contains from c. 2. to c. 53. of the laws of 1705.
MS. given me by the present John Page of Rosewell. It had belonged to Matthew2 Page his grandfather, who was one of the Committee of 1705. for revising the laws, and was probably furnished with this copy for that work.3
Printed laws.
Pervis’s collection. This forms the 1st. vol. of my collection of the Printed laws of Virginia.
Revisal of 1732. This forms the 2d. vol.
Revisal of 1748. This is vol. the 3d.
Revisal of 1768. This is vol. the 4th.
Fugitive sheets of the laws4 of particular sessions bound together from 1734. to 1772. Making vol. the 5th.
do. · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · · from 1775. to 1783. Making vol. the 6th.
Revisal of 1783. by the Chancellors. Making vol. 7th.
Revisal of 1794. Making vol. the 8th.
Th: Jefferson
Jan. 13. 1796.
A statement of the particular acts of the assembly of Virginia in my possession either MS. or Printed, and of those not in my possession, and presumed to be lost.
| 1619. June. | The first session of assembly ever held in Virginia. Lost. | |
| 1620. May. | Lost. | |
| 1622. | Lost. | |
| 1623/4 Mar. 5. | I have in MS. | |
| 1626. | Lost. | |
| 1629. Oct. 16.5 | I have in MS. | |
| 1629/30 Mar. 24. | I have in MS. | |
| [1631]. Feb. 21. | I have in MS. | |
| 1632. Sep. 4. | 60 acts. I have in MS. | |
| 1632/3 Feb. 1. | 6 acts in MS | |
| 1633. Aug. 21. | 16 acts in MS. | |
| 1639. Jan. 6. | in MS. | |
| 1642. Apr. 1. | the 21st. & 22d. acts in MS. | |
| 1642/3 Mar. 2. | a revisal.6 I have in MS. | |
| 1644. Oct. 1. | in MS. | |
| 1644/5 Feb. 17. | in MS. | |
| 1645. Nov. 20. | in MS. | |
| 1646. Oct. 5. | in MS. | |
| 1647. Nov. 3. | in MS. | |
| 1648. Oct. 12. | in MS. | |
| 1649. Oct. 10. | in MS. | |
| 1652. Apr. 26. | in MS. | |
| Nov. 25. | in MS. | |
| 1653. July 5. | in MS. | |
| 1654. Nov. 20. | in MS. | |
| 1655. Mar. | in MS. | |
| 1655/6 Mar. 10. | in MS. | |
| 1656. Dec. 1. | in MS. | |
| 1657/8 Mar. 13. | A revisal in MS. | |
| 1658/9 Mar. 1. | in MS. | |
| 1659/60 Mar. 13. | in MS. | |
| 1660. Oct. 11. | in MS. | |
| 1660/1 Mar. 23. | in MS. | |
| 1661/2 Mar. 23. | Chap. 1. to 138. inclusive. Printed. | |
| 1662 Dec. 2. or 23. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 15. 17. 18. 21 23. Printed. | |
| 14 16. 19. 20. 22. in MS. | ||
| 1663. Sep. 10. | Chap. 1. 2. 4. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 14. 16. 17. Printed. | |
| 3. 5. 6. 12. 13. 15. 18. in MS. | ||
| 1664. Sep. 20. | 9 Acts. Printed. [3. 9. Inserted.]7 | |
| 1665. Oct. 10. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Printed. | |
| 4. 10. in MS. | ||
| 1666. June 5. | Chap. 2. 3. 4. Printed. | |
| 1. in M.S. | ||
| [Oct. 23]. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 5. 6. 7. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. Printed 4 8. 14. in M.S. | |
| 1667. Sep. 3. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. Printed | |
| 5. 6. 7. in M.S. | ||
| 1668. Sep. 17. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Printed | |
| 1669. Oct. 20. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Printed. | |
| 8. 9. in MS. | ||
| 1670. Oct. 3. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. Printed | |
| 11. in MS. | ||
| 1671. Sep. 20. | Chap. 1. 4. 5. 6. Printed. | |
| 2. 3. 7. in MS. | ||
| 1672. Sep. 24. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8. 9. 10. Printed. | |
| 6. 11. in MS. | ||
| 1673. Oct. 20. | Chap. 1.2. 3. 4. 5. Printed. | |
| 6. 7. in MS. | ||
| 1674. Sep. 21. | Chap. 1. 3. 4. 6. 7. Printed. | |
| 2. 5. 8. 9. 10. in MS. | ||
| 1675/6 Mar. 7. | Chap. 3. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. 4. in MS. | ||
| 1676. June 5. | Chap. 1. to 20. in MS. | |
| 1676/7 Feb. 20. | Chap. 4. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 13. 14. 16. 17. 20. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. 3. 5. 12. 15. 18. 19. in MS. | ||
| 1677. Oct. 10. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. Printed. | |
| 6. 7. in MS. | ||
| 1679. Apr. 25. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Printed. | |
| 10. 11. in MS. | ||
| 1680. June 8. | Chap. 1. to 17. Printed. | |
| 1682. Nov. 10. | Chap. 1. to 13. Printed. | |
| 1684. Apr. 16. | Chap. 2. Printed. | |
| 1. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 in MS. | ||
| 1686. Oct. 20. | Chap. 1. to 11. in MS. | |
| 1691. Apr. 16. | Chap. 12. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18 [19. 20. 21.] in MS. | ||
| 1692. Apr. 1. | Chap. 1. to 7. in MS. | |
| 1692/3 Mar. 2. | Chap. 1. to 7. in MS. | |
| 1693. Oct. 10. | Chap. 1. to 5. in MS. | |
| 1695. Apr. 18. | Chap. 1. to 6. in MS. | |
| 1696. Sep. 24. | Chap. 1. to 14. in MS. | |
| 1697. Oct. 21. | Chap. 1. in MS. | |
| 1698. Sep. 28. | no law past at this session. | |
| 1699. Apr. 27. | Chap. 1. to 16. in MS. | |
| 1700. Dec. 5. | Chap. 1. to 4. in MS. | |
| 1701. Aug. 6. | Chap. 1. to 6. in MS. | |
| [1702. May] 30. | [Chap.] 1. 2. Lost. | |
| [Aug. 14. | Chap. 1. a part of it i]n MS. | |
| 2. 3. [4.] Lost. | ||
| [1702/3] Mar. 19. | [no act passed.] | |
| [1704.] Apr. [20. | Chap. 1.] to 11. Lost. | |
| [1705. Apr. 18. | Chap. 1. to] 4. Lost. | |
| Oct. [25. | Chap. 2. 3. 5. 6.] 7. 8. 9. 10. 12. 13. 14. 15. 17. [19.] 20. 22 23. 25. 27. 28. 29. 30. 32. 33. [35. 38.] 39. 40. 41. 43. 44. [45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 52. 53. Printed.] | |
| 4. 11. 16. 18. 21. 24. 26. 31. 34. 36. 37. 42. 51. 55. in MS. | ||
| 1. 54. Lost. | ||
| 1710. Oct. 25. | Chap. 3. 4. 5. 8. 11. 12. 13. 14. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. 6. 7. 9. 10. 15. 16. 17. in MS. | ||
| 1711. Nov. 7. | Chap. 2. 3. Printed. | |
| 1. in MS. Here the MSS. end. | ||
| 4. 5. Lost. | ||
| 1712. Oct. 22. | Chap. 4. 5. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. 3. 6. 7. Lost. | ||
| 1713. Nov. 5. | Chap. 3. 4. 6. 7. 8. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. 5. 9. 10. 11. 12. Lost. | ||
| 1714. Nov. 16. | Chap. 1.2. 3. 5. Printed. | |
| 4. Lost. | ||
| 1715. Aug. 3. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. Lost. | |
| 1718. Apr. 23. | Chap. 1. 3. The substance Printed in Beverley’s abridgment. | |
| 2. 4. Lost. | ||
| Nov. 11. | Chap. 1. 2. Lost. | |
| 1720. Nov. 2. | Chap. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. Substance in Beverl. abr. | ||
| 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. Lost. | ||
| 1722. May 9. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 6. 7. 8. 9. Printed. | |
| 4. 5. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. Lost. | ||
| 1723. May 9. | Chap. 2. 4. 8. 10. Printed. | |
| 1. 3. 5. 6. 7. 9. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. Lost. | ||
| 1726. May 12. | Chap. 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. 8. Printed. | |
| 5. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Lost. | ||
| 1727/8 Feb. 1. | Chap. 3. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Printed. | |
| 1. 2. 4. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. Lost. | ||
| 1730. May 21. | Chap. 1. to 19. Printed. | |
| 20. to 29. Lost. | ||
| 1732. May 18. | Chap. 1. to 20. Printed. | |
| 21. to 35. Lost. | ||
| Here begins my collection of the Fugitive sheets of Laws printed for each session. | ||
| 1734. Aug. 22. | 31 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1736. Aug. 5. | 25 Acts Printed. | |
| 1738. Nov. 1. | 25 Acts Printed. | |
| 1740. May. 22. | 15 Acts. Printed. | |
| Aug. 1. | 1 Act. Printed. | |
| [1742.] May. [6. | 33 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1744. Sep. 4. | 46 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1745/6] Feb. 20. | 30 Acts. [Printed | |
| 1746. July 11. | 2 Acts. Lost. | |
| 1747. Mar. 30. | 5 Acts. Lost. | |
| 1748. Oct. 27.] | Chap. | 1. to 55.8 57. 77. Printed. |
| 5[6. 58].9 to 76. 78 to 89. Lost.10 | ||
| [1752. Feb. 27. | 53] Acts. Printed. | |
| [1753. No]v. 1. | 28 Acts. Printed. | |
| [1754. Feb. 14.] | 3 Acts. Printed. | |
| [Aug. 22.] | 3 Acts. Printed. | |
| Oct. 17. | 7 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1755 May [1. | 24]. Acts. Printed. | |
| Aug. 5. | 8 Acts. Printed. | |
| Oct. 27. | 6 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1756. Mar. 25. | 13 Acts. Printed. | |
| Sep. 20. | 3 Acts. Printed | |
| 1757. Apr. 14. | [30]. Acts. Printed. | |
| 1758. Mar. 30. | [2]. Acts. Printed. | |
| Sep. 14. | 13 Acts. Printed | |
| Nov. 9. | 1 Act. Printed. | |
| 1759. Feb. 22. | 34 Acts. Printed. | |
| Nov. 1. | 6 Acts. Printed | |
| 1760. Mar. 4. | 3 Acts. Printed. | |
| May. 19. | Printed. | |
| Oct. 6. | 4 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1761. Mar. 5. | 31 Acts. Printed. | |
| Nov. 3. | 13 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1762. Jan. 14. | 3 Acts. Printed. | |
| Mar. 30. | 7 Acts. Printed. | |
| Nov. 2. | 44 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1763. May 19 | 13 Acts. Printed | |
| 1764. Jan. 12. | 13 Acts. Printed. | |
| Oct. 30. | 54 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1766. Nov. 6. | 61 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1768. Mar. 31. | 7 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1769. May. 8. | a Convention. No act passed. | |
| Nov. 7. | 89 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1771. July 11. | 4 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1772. Feb. 10. | 68 Acts. Printed. | |
| 1773. Mar. 4. | 16 Acts. Lost from my collection. | |
| 1774. May. 5. | dissolved before any act passed. | |
| 1775. June 1. | the last assembly under the Royal government. It was discontinued by not meeting on it’s own adjournment, without having passed any Law. | |
| Conventions. | ||
| 1775. July 17. | Ordinances. Printed. | |
| Dec. | Ordinances. Printed. | |
| 1776. May. 6. | Ordinances. Printed. | |
| Assemblies. | ||
| Oct. 7. | Acts. Printed. | |
| 1777. May 5. | Acts. Printed. | |
| Oct. 20. | Acts. Printed. | |
| 1778. May. 4. | Acts. Printed. | |
| Oct. 5. | Acts. Printed. | |
| 1779. May. 3. | Acts. Printed. | |
| Oct. 4. | Acts. Printed. | |
| 1780. May. 1. | Acts. Printed. | |
| Oct. 16. | Acts. Printed. | |
| 1781. Mar.11 | ||
| May. 7. | Acts. Printed. | |
| Nov. 5. | Acts. Printed. | |
| 1782. May. 6. | Acts. Printed. | |
| 1783. May. 5. | Acts. Printed | |
| Oct. 20. | Acts. Printed. | |
| Note that the terms ‘Printed’ or ‘in MS.’ mean that I have the Laws Printed or in MS. | ||
PrC (DLC: TJ Papers, 99: 17009, 17011–15); consists of six pages entirely in TJ’s hand; badly faded in part and torn, with bracketed passages supplied from Dft except where noted. Dft (DLC: Madison Papers); with the “statement of the particular acts” beginning on verso of the “statement of the Volumes” and continuing on two additional sheets, cancellations in both sections (see notes 3 and 5 below) indicating that TJ compiled them as complementary inventories; the most important emendations and variations are noted below. PrC of Dft (DLC: TJ Papers, 99: 17010, 17016–20); badly faded in part; lacks several emendations, as noted below. A printed broadside (DLC: Broadside Collection, Portfolio 180, No. 11) containing the “statement of the particular acts” includes two variations (see notes 7 and 11 below) and minor variations in capitalization and punctuation (see note to covering letter). Dft enclosed in TJ to Madison, 24 Jan. 1796 (not found).
The manuscript and printed volumes of laws listed in the statement of the volumes are described in Nos. 1822–30, 1832, 1837–62.
1. Preceding sentence interlined.
2. Word inserted by TJ in blank space in Dft. PrC of Dft has blank space.
3. In Dft TJ here canceled: “The above is an exact statement of my M.S. collection, as I left it when I went to Europe. During my absence the whole were borrowed from my library. After being balloted about by land and by sea, and being some years under a pile of cordage on a warehouse at New York and supposed lost, they were returned to me at Philadelphia, without the volume marked which therefore I suppose is lost. If so, the laws of the six sessions of 1629. 1630. to 1633. are gone forever, as they existed in no other book.” Emendation not in PrC of Dft.
4. Sentence to this point in Dft altered from “Acts.” Emendation not in PrC of Dft.
5. In Dft a brace begins here and extends through the entry for “1633,” with “I had in M.S. in the vol. qu. if now existing?” being written at the point of the brace. TJ amended the note to read “I have in M.S.” Emendation not in PrC of Dft.
6. In Dft a brace begins here and extends through the entry for “1660/1,” with “I have in M.S.” being written at the point of the brace.
7. Word possibly “Inverted.” Dft and broadside lack preceding two figures and word.
8. In Dft remainder reads “Printed. also Chap. 57. 77.”
9. Supplied from broadside.
10. In Dft this line reads: “56. to 89. Lost. (except Chap. 57. 77.).”
11. Broadside: “Mar. 1. acts printed.”