At least no instance of its employment has been met with by the writer.

The first law on the subject passed in 1()99 directed that the Sherifi' " shall hold his Court for the same Election at the 7nost publick and usual Place of Election within City or County where the same has most usually been made." This was usually at Westchester before it was chartered as a " Boroughtown " and after that at Eastcliester.

But in 1751, on the 25th of November the place was changed by a s])eci:il act of the Legislature, ^ which is of such curious interest for its reasons and choice of a new place, and its stern enforcement of that choice that it is here given in full.

" Whereas the County of Westchester is very extensive, and the extreme parts thereof to the Northward, have of late years become very populous ; and whereas the Elections for Representatives to serve in the General Assembly for the said County, have, from the first settlement of the said County, been held at the Southern Part of said County; it now becomes extremely inconvenient for the Freeholders of the Upper or Northern Parts thereof, which are now become, by far, the most numerous, to attend those Elections at so great a distance from their respective Habitations : For Remedy whereof for the Future ;

I. Be it Enacted by his Excellency the Governor, the Council, and the General Assembly and by Authority of the Same, That in All Elections hereafter to be Made in the said County of W<stvhcster, for electing Repre-