and they gave leave to all perfons owing Rr L 306 ] debts to Britifh fubjefts to pay them alfo into the treafury. The monies fo to be brought in were declared to remain the property of the Britifti fubjeft, and, if ufed by the ftate, were to be repaid, unlefs an improper condu6l in great Bri- tain {hould render a detention of it rea- fonable. Depreciation had at that time, though unacknowledged and unperceived by the whigs, began in fome fmall degree.
Great fums of money were paid in by debtors. At a later period, the affembly, adhering to the political principles which forbid an alien to hold lands in the ftate, ordered all Britifh property to be fold:
and, became fenfible of the real progrefs of depreciation, and of the lojQTes which would thence occur, if not guarded againft, they ordered that the proceeds of the fales fhould be converted into their then worth in tobacco, fubjeft to the future diredion of the legiflature. This aft has left the queftion of retribution more problematical.
In May, 1780, another aft took away the pcrmiffion to pay into the public trea- fury debts due to Britifh fubjefts.