An Act in Aid of an Act, intituled, “An Act for the suppressing of Runaways, for the better Government of Slaves, &c.” commonly called The Slave Act, and to alter and to amend the same; and further to provide a Fund for defraying the Expence necessary for the Encouragement of a Party of Rangers employed for the Purpose of suppressing such Runaway Slaves; and to oblige the Inhabitants of this Island to make true Returns, from Time to Time, of all their Slaves run away, as also for the Transportation of such Runaway Slaves as may be taken or surrender, who may appear dangerous to the Community.

WHEREAS a certain Act of this Island, intituled, “An Act for suppressing Runaway Slaves, and for the better Government of Slaves, &c.” commonly called The Slave Act, hath by Experience been found inadequate to effect the Purposes thereby intended: And whereas since the passing of the said Act the Gangs of Runaway Negroes and Slaves have greatly increased in Numbers and Audacity, and have of late been guilty of divers Robberies, Murders, and other atrocious Crimes, insomuch that it is become absolutely necessary to take the most vigorous Steps to suppress them effectually: And whereas Mr. La Font Beaurrusseau, of this Island, Planter, hath entered into an Agreement with the Council and Assembly thereof to collect a sufficient Number of Persons, who, under his Direction and Command, are to act as a Company of Rangers, in order to effect the total Suppression of Runaway Slaves: In consequence whereof it is become necessary to pass a Law to raise a Fund sufficient to defray the Expence of such an Undertaking, and to oblige the Inhabitants, when required, to give in exact Returns of their Slaves, and of such of them as are or shall hereafter become Runaways, as also to alter and amend the hereinbefore-recited Act, so far as respects the present Undertaking:

[Clause I.] Be it, and it is therefore hereby Enacted and Ordained by the Governor, the Council, and the Assembly of this Island, and by the Authority of the same, that from and after the Day of the Date of the Publication of this Act, every Proprietor of a Runaway Slave taken by the said Party of Rangers shall pay into the public Treasury of this Island, as follows, that is to say, for every Man and Woman Slave, Three Pounds Six Shillings, and for every Slave under the Age of Ten Years, One Pound Thirteen Shillings Current Money; and that where the Proprietor, or some other Person for the Proprietor, shall not appear to claim any Foreign Slave or Slaves not owned or belonging to this Island, so taken as aforesaid, and to prove the supposed Proprietor’s Title to and Property in such Slave, within Thirty Days after a Description of such Slave shall have been Three Times inserted in the Public Gazette printed at Saint Pierre’s, Martinique and Basse-terre Guadeloupe, then and in such Case such Slave shall be deemed forfeited, and shall be sold by the Provost Marshal, for the Benefit and Uses of the Colony; and every Proprietor of a Runaway Slave shall be obliged and is hereby required, within Thirty Days after any such Slave hath surrendered, to make a Return in Writing, in the Colony Treasury Office of this Island, of the Name, Sex, Age, and Time of such Slave being absent, under the Penalty of Two Johannes’s for each, in the Case of Neglect, and the Penalty of Four Johannes’s in the Case of Refusal to make such Return as aforesaid. 

[Clause II.] And it is hereby Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in case any Runaway Slave shall be wounded or killed by any of the Party of Rangers, or others than the said Party, the Proprietors of such Slaves, or of any Slave or Slaves who shall be executed hereafter under this Act, shall be entitled to the same Recompence or Compensation as they would be entitled to claim in the like Case under the Act commonly called The Slave Act, no in Force 

[Clause III.] And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Party of Rangers to be employed, or any of them, or any Person or Persons in anywise assisting to take and suppress Runaway Slaves, shall not be liable to pay any Loss or Damage which shall fall on any Proprietor or Renter of a Runaway Slave, or any Slave resisting the Party of Rangers in the Execution of this Act, in case any such Slaves are wounded or killed.

[Clause IV.] And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the same Powers and Authorities as by the hereinbefore-mentioned Act, commonly called The Slave Act, is vested in Parties going out in Pursuit of Runaway Slaves, under the Authority of Magistrates, is hereby given to and vested in the Party or Parties of Rangers, acting under or by virtue of this present Act.

[Clause V.] And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in case any of the Slaves who may or shall be hired by the Party of Rangers to carry Provisions or other Necessaries, or to serve as Guides, shall be killed, wounded, or otherwise hurt, being actually employed on that Duty, the Proprietor of such Slave shall receive out of the public Treasury of this Island, within the Space of Three Months after he shall have been so killed or hurt, the Amount of the Value of such Loss or Damage which shall be ascertained by the Appraisement (before or after going out) of Two credible Persons residing in the Neighbourhood of the Parish, or Plantation, or Town where such Slave usually resided, and who have known such Slave at or about the Time when he went out in the Employ of the Party of Rangers as aforesaid, One of which Appraisers shall be nominated by the Owner or Renter, or some Person acting for such Owner or Renter, and the other by the nearest Justice of the Peace; and in case the Two Appraisers so named cannot agree in Opinion with respect to the Loss or Damage to be valued, they shall then chuse a Third person, whose Determination shall be final with respect to the Amount in Value of the actual Damage suffered, which Appraisement and Arbitration (as the Case may be) shall be made in Writing, and be signed by the Appraisers and Arbitrators, or Umpire, and shall be delivered to the Owner, Renter, or Person acting for such Owner or Renter of the Slave injured.

[Clause VI.] And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Rewards and Recompences enacted and ordained to be paid to Persons apprehending or killing Runaway Slaves, shall cease from the Publication of this Act, and that no Reward or Recompence whatever shall be claimed or paid, during the Continuance of this Act, for the apprehending or killing of any Runaway Slave, other than the Rewards or Recompences contained herein, any Thing contained in any other Act of this Island now in Force to the contrary notwithstanding.

[Clause VII.] And whereas it is thought just and equitable that the Expences attending the Expedition for the apprehending and suppressing of Runaway Slaves should in some Manner be sustained by their Proprietors, who will reap considerable Benefits from their Slaves Return, by being taken or forced to surrender, as well as from their being deterred from running away in future: And whereas some of such Proprietors, with a View of saving the Expences to be incurred, may omit making exact Returns of such their Runaway Slaves: Therefore be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Proprietor who on or after the Date of the Publication of this Act shall have one or more Slaves surrender to him, or any Person acting for him, shall within Thirty Days after such Return or Surrender, give Notice in Writing of the Name, Age, Sex, and Description, with the Time of being absent, of each and every such Slave so surrendered or returned, and deliver the same into the Treasury Office of this Island, under the Penalty of Six Pounds Twelve Shillings for neglecting, for each Slave so neglected, and Thirteen Pounds Four Shillings Currency for every Slave refused to be returned in Manner herein directed.

[Clause VIII.] And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That every Proprietor of Slave or Slaves shall, at any Time after the Publication of this Act, when thereunto summoned by any Justice of the Peace, appear before such Justice, and make Oath as to any Slave or Slaves run away from him, and to such of them as shall have surrendered, in Manner as follows: viz.

“I A.B. of the Parish of C. in the Island of Dominica, do solemnly swear of the Holy Evangelists of Almighty God, That on the [blank] Day of [blank] 1782, I had [or had not any, as the Case may be] Slaves absent or run away from my Service [or as the Case may be] and no more; and the Names, Age, Sex, Description, and Term of Absence, and also those of such as have returned or Surrendered since the said Day, are, as nearly as I can ascertain, truly and faithfully set forth hereunder: Which Oath I have taken and subscribed without any Evasion or mental Reservation whatsoever, so help me God [Slaves Names, Ages, Time of Absence, Description of each, when returned or surrendered]. Sworn before me, &c. D.E. Justice.

(Signed)               A.B.”

Which Oath shall be left in the Hands of such Justice, who shall forthwith cause the same to be delivered into the Colony Treasury Office in Roseau; and in such Case, if any Person shall take a false Oath, such Person shall be liable to be indicted, and if convicted of having wilfully sworn falsely, shall suffer the like Pains and Penalties as Persons are by Law liable to for and in Cases of wilful and corrupt Perjury; persons neglecting to take such Oath for the Space of Ten Days after they shall have been thereunto required in Writing, shall forfeit the Sum of Six Pounds Twelve Shillings, and persons refusing shall forfeit Thirteen Pounds Four Shillings Currency for each Refusal to take such Oath as is hereby directed, such Fines to be paid into the Public Treasury for the public Uses of this Island; and every Justice of the Peace in this Island is hereby required and directed, when and so often as he shall be ordered by the Commander in Chief, or by the Council and Assembly, to cause to be summoned each and every Person residing in his Parish, being a Proprietor or Renter of One or more Slaves, to appear before him at such Time and Place such Justice shall appoint to take such Oath as aforesaid; and such Justice shall, within Fifteen Days then next following, cause the said Oath or Oaths so taken before him to be delivered into the Colony Treasury Office.

[Clause IX.] And whereas it appears to be absolutely necessary for the future Security of this Colony, that Runaway Slaves, who have not been guilty of any other Crimes, in Addition to that of running away, should be transported to some distant Country, so as to be put as much as possible out of their Power to return again to their Malpractices in this Island; Be it therefore, and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That every Runaway Slave who shall be taken, or who shall surrender at the Time or after the Publication of this Act, and although the Proprietor shall have paid into the Treasury Office the Sums as hereinbefore directed to be paid, shall be tried by Two or more Justices of the Peace, and be dealt by in Manner as they shall adjudge under the Powers and Directions hereinafter contained;  that is to say, that every Slave having run away, and not having been absent more than Thirty Days at any One Time, who shall not be found guilty of any other Crime than that of having been a Runaway as aforesaid, shall suffer such Corporal Punishment as such Justices shall think adequate to the Crime; every Man Slave who shall not be found guilty of any other Crime than that of having been a Runaway upwards of Thirty Days, shall be transported to any Country not nearer this Island than the Island of Saint Croix, or that of Trinidada; and every Slave convicted of Burglary, Robbery, Murder, setting or attempting to set Fire to Plantations or Buildings, and all Leaders of Gangs of Runaways, shall suffer Death as Felons.

[Clause X.] And be it, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in every Case where it shall happen that the Slave Act shall be repugnant in anywise, or contradictory to this present Act, so much of the said Act, commonly called The Slave Act, shall be deemed and considered as annulled, and is hereby repealed, during the Continuance of this Act only.

[Clause XI.] And be it, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in every Case where a Slave shall have been taken, and afterwards delivered up to the Proprietor under the present Act, or a Slave who shall have surrendered to the Proprietor, or to any other Person on Behalf of the Proprietor, shall afterwards run away, and continue absent more than Thirty Days, then and in every such Case such Slave, being re-taken, shall be conveyed and delivered to and remain in Custody of the Provost Marshal or his Deputy, till such Time as the Proprietor or Renter shall transport him off this Island to some distant Country as hereinbefore directed; and such Proprietor or Renter shall cause such Slave to be conveyed, delivered, and transported at his Expence, and shall pay all Fines and Expences hereinbefore made payable, and such Slave shall be delivered up as aforesaid within Fifteen Days after he shall be so taken or re-taken, under the Penalty of Twenty Pounds, and shall be so transported within Six Months after the Day of his being delivered to the Provost Marshal, under the Penalty of Twenty Pounds like Current Money, such Fines to be paid by the Proprietor or Renter of such Slave; and in case any Slave who was run away, and had surrendered before the Date of the Publication of this Act, shall hereafter be discovered to have been guilty of Burglary, Murder, Robbery, setting or attempting to set Fire to Plantations or Buildings, such Slave shall be tried for the same in Manner as hereinbefore directed with respect  to any other Slaves for the like Crimes; and such Slave, being found guilty, shall suffer the same Pains and Penalties, and shall be dealt by in all Respects the same, as Slaves taken after the Publication of this Act, and convicted of the like Crimes.

[Clause XII.] And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That throughout this Act, where the Word ‘Proprietor’ is used, it shall be understood and construed to extend to each [4] and every Proprietor, Owner, Renter, and to each and every Representative of the same, as fully as if the same Words were repeated throughout this Act; as likewise where the Word ‘Slave’ is made Use of in this Act, it is meant and shall be construed to extend to such and every Slave of either Sex, and to any Number of Slaves, as the Case may require; and that in every Case where there is not a particular Mode pointed out for the Recovery of Fines, Forfeitures, or Penalties, every such Fine, Forfeiture, or Penalty, shall be recovered by Warrant from the Treasury or Deputy Treasurer, directed to the Provost Marshal, ordering him to levy and collect such Fine, Forfeiture, or Penalty, in the same Manner in all Respects as the Taxes, or Arrears of public Taxes, are directed to be levied, collected, and paid in by the said Marshal, or his Deputy, in and by the several Tax Acts now in Force in this Island.

[Clause XIII.] And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That as a further Fund towards carrying this Act into Execution, a Tax of Five Shillings Currency shall be paid into the public Treasury of this Island, which Tax shall be paid into the hands of the acting Treasurer for the Time being by the respective Owners or Renters of Slaves, or by his, her, or their legal Representative or Representatives, or some One of them, for each and every Slave in this Island, owned or rented by them, in the like Manner in all Respects, and under the same Penalties, Forfeitures, Provisoes, and Restrictions whatsoever, as Taxes on Slaves, Houses, and Lands, are directed to be raised, paid, levied, collected, and paid in, by and in the several Tax Acts now subsisting and in force in this Island, which Tax aforesaid shall be paid into the public Treasury as aforesaid in ready Gold and Silver Current Money in this island, on or before the Twentieth Day of May next ensuing the Day of the Publication of this present Act.

[Clause XIV.] And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That all Fines, Forfeitures, and Penalties, inflicted by this Act, together with all Monies whatsoever which shall be raised and paid into the public Treasury of this Island, under and by virtue thereof, shall be applied towards carrying the same into Execution; and the Treasurer is hereby required, by himself or his Deputy, to keep a separate and regular Account of all Monies received and expended by virtue of this Act; and in case there shall be any Surplus of such Monies so received and paid by virtue of this Act, remaining in the Treasury, the same shall be reserved to be applied and disposed of in such Manner as the Legislature shall hereafter order and direct for the public Uses of this island.

[Clause XV.] And be it Enacted, and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the several Constables who may or shall be employed by the Magistrates, or by the Treasurer or Deputy Treasurer, in the Execution of this Act, to summon the Inhabitants, or any other necessary Duty, shall be paid out of the Monies arising under the same, in the same Manner, and after the same Rates, as the Constables are directed to be paid for Duty done by them in the Execution of the Way Warden Act of this Island, in and by the said Way Warden Act now in force.

[Clause XVI.] And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Treasurer or Deputy Treasurer may or shall discount all such Sums of Money as have been or may hereafter be subscribed (and actually advanced) by such Subscribers, for the Purpose of carrying this Act into immediate Execution, against the Taxes or other Monies payable under and by virtue of this Act, the several Persons so subscribing and having advanced as aforesaid only.

[Clause XVII.] And be it, and it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act shall be and continue in force for One whole Year, to be computed from the Date of the Publication of the same, and no longer.

JS Morson, Speaker.

Passed the Council this 13th Day of March 1782. DAVID FRASER, Dep. Clk. of the Council.

Passed the House of Assembly in Roseau, Dominica, the 11th Day of March 1782. HENRY CONSTABLE, C. to the Assembly.

Assented to the 20th Day of March 1782. DUCHILLEAU. 

Duly published in the Town of Roseau, the 20th Day of March 1782. WM ATKINSON, Dep. Pro. Marshal.

Recorded and examined this 21st March 1782.