[ L. S. R.] Frederick, R to Andree, February 22, 1855

Ordinance containing further provisions relative to the second section of the ordinances of the 26th of January, 1849, for St. Croix, of 18th May, same year, for St. Johns, and of the 13th of June, same year, for St. Thomas.

We, Frederick the Seventh, by the grace of God, King of Denmark, the Vandals, and the Goths, Duke of Schleswig, Holstein, Stormarn, Dithmarsh, Lauenborg, and Oldenborg, make known, on the report of our minister of finance, who has laid before us the deliberation of the colonial council in our West India possessions on a draft of ordinance, abrogating the provisions contained in the second section of the ordinances of the 26th of January, the 18th of May, and the 13th of June, 1849, concerning marriage being a legal cause for dissolving contracts for agricultural labor, we most graciously decree:

The provisions contained in the second section of the ordinances of the 26th of January, 1849, for St. Croix, of the 18th of May, same year, for St. Johns, and of the 13th of June, same year, for St. Thomas, relative to the dissolution of contracts of labor on account of marriage, shall in future be interpreted thus: That only in the case of marriage being entered during the course of the year of contract it shall be considered to establish a claim to have the contract dissolved on the conditions therein mentioned, and in such cases the party who intends to move to another estate shall give notice at least three weeks previous to the marriage ceremony. To which all concerned have to conform.