“An ACT to repeal the fourth Clause of an Act, intituled, 'An Act to explain and amend an Act, intituled, ‘An Act for making Slaves real Estate, and the better government of Slaves and free Negroes,’ and to amend and re-enact the same'”

WHEREAS the fourth clause of the Act, intituled “An Act to explain and amend an Act, intituled, ‘An Act for making Slaves real Estate, and the better government of Slaves and free Negroes,” is imperfect as to the evidence to be given by any slave or slaves on oath; For remedy whereof, We, Your Majesty’s most dutiful and loyal subjects, Sir Charles Brisbane, knight, commander of the most honourable order of the Bath, captain general and governor in chief in and over the Island of St. Vincent and its dependencies, and the council and assembly of the same, have enacted, and the council and assembly of the same, have enacted; and be it and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said fourth clause be and it is hereby repealed, and instead thereof, be it enacted, That as any slave or slaves charged with any of the offences named or mentioned in the before recited Act, or any other offence whatever, which may render him or her liable to the punishment of death, shall be tried in all respects in the same manner as free persons at the court of sessions (save and except that the evidence of any slave or slaves on oath shall, in such case, be taken for and against slaves, but in no other case whatever be admissible); and upon such trial the court are hereby required to appoint a barrister to act as counsel for the prisoner, and the jury, if they find the prisoner guilty, ascertain the value of him or her, and the owner of such slave shall be paid the same as heretofore provided by the above recited Act.

[Clause II] And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any slave or slaves shall be convicted of perjury, he she or they shall be liable to suffer any or all the punishment inflicted on free persons in such cases.

Dated in Kingston [sic], the twentieth day of march, in the fifty-fifth year of the reign of our Sovereign Lord George, by the grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith; and in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifteen Alexander Cruikshank, Speaker.

Passed the Assembly, this twentieth day of march. Hubert P. Cox, Clerk of the Assembly.

Passed the Council, this twentieth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. Andrew Rose, Clerk of the Council.

Assented to by His Excellency the Governor in Chief, this twenty-third day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. Andrew Rose, Public Secretary.

Charles (Great Seal.) Brisbane 

Duly published in Kingston [sic], this twenty-fifth day of March one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. J.Y. Nanton, Provost Marshal General. St. Vincent, 22d April 1815. A true Copy. Andrew Rose, Secretary and Register.