Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/574

 could claim his remuneration. It was finally delivered him by the sheriff of the county, who was required to collect all dues of this general nature. No member of this profession who had received a commission was permitted to refuse to make a survey when called upon to do so by any person who had obtained a certificate giving him the right to sue out a patent to a tract in the county to which the particular surveyor was restricted. If the latter declined without a tenable excuse, he brought himself under the censure of the County Court. He could not, however, be compelled to go so far from the place where he resided as to render return impossible in a day, unless he was allowed thirty pounds of tobacco for every twenty-four flours included in the period of his absence from home. If, to arrive at the place where the new plantation was to be laid off, he was forced to travel by water, the expenses of his transportation were to be borne by the person employing him. At a later date in the history of the Colony, the additional fee of thirty pounds of tobacco was not considered in every case sufficient, and the surveyor under these circumstances doubtless charged whatever the inconvenience and difficulty of the special work appeared to justify.

In the regular course of procedure the plat was returned to the office of the Secretary, and the original or a copy was afterwards filed in the office of the Surveyor-General. Previous to the arrival of Howard, it does not appear to have been necessary to record this plat. There was so much complaint of the uncertainties arising in consequence of the failure to do so, that at the instance of the practising attorneys, a rule of court was adopted during his