An Act to prevent Levies on Slaves on Saturday.

WHEREAS in these times of general distress many planters are greatly indebted, and by reason of such debts are unable to allow their Slaves to go abroad upon any other than the Sabbath-day; and whereas it is expedient to render the Sabbath as much as possible a day of rest and for religious worship; and whereas it would be right and proper that Slaves should be protected on some other day in the week besides Sunday, from being taken or levied upon for debt under any process issuing out of any of the Courts of Justice in this island, or by Collecting Constables for Taxes; we, your Ma­jesty’s dutiful and loyal subjects, the Assembly of this your Majesty’s island of Jamaica, do most humbly beseech your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it therefore enacted, by the Governor, Council, and Assembly of this your Majesty’s island; and it is hereby enacted, by the authority of the same, that from and after the 1st day of January next, it shall not be lawful to make any levy upon any Negro or other Slave on Saturday, and that they shall be exempt from all such process, and also from levies by Collecting Constables for Taxes on that day the same as on Sunday.