chartered be affected by this act authorised so to do, or unless such company of individuals shall be by law incorporated for that purpose; and all bonds, bills, notes or written contracts given to, entered into with, or discounted by any such individual or company of individuals, shall be and the same are hereby declared null and void. Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That until Certain un the first day of January, in the year one thoubanks not to sand eight hundred and eighteen, the provisions of the fifth and sixth sections of this act shall not be construed to extend to any bank or banking company which may have commenced bank business by discounting any paper previous to the first day of January, in the year one thousand eight hundred and fifteen. This act to take effect from and after the first day of March next. Speaker of the house of representatives. JOHN POLLOCK, THOMAS KIRKER, Speaker of the senate. February 8, 1815. Persons pe CHAPTER XXI. An act regulating the mode of petitioning the legis lature in certain cases. Sec. 1. BE it enacted by the general assem titioning to bly of the state of Ohio, That previous to any give 30 days petition or memorial being received by any fuprevious not. ture legislature, praying that any act may be passed, whereby the particular rights or privi leges of any individual or individuals, bodies politic or corporate, may be affected or infringed; notice of such intended application, by petition or otherwise, shall be given at least thirty days before the ensuing session of the general assembly, either by advertisement in a newspaper, printed or in general circulation within the county where the party or parties interested reside, or in case no such paper be printed or circulated within such county, then notice shall be given by advertisement, to be fixed on the door of the house where courts are held for such county, and at three of the most public places in said county, for the aforesaid period of thirty Parties inte days; but if the party or parties interested as siding with aforesaid do not reside within this state, then in the state four months notice of such intended application 4 months shall be given, in at least one of the public notice to be papers printed within this state. rested not re given Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That it Duty of the shall be the duty of the speaker of that branch speaker as to of the legislature to whom such petition or me- notice being morial may be offered, to enquire, at the time given such petition or memorial is presented, whether notice thereof has been given agreeably to the requisitions of this act, and if satisfactory proof of such notice is produced, then such petition or memorial shall be received. MICHAEL BALDWIN, Speaker of the house of representatives. NATHL. MASSIE, Speaker of the senate, 9th April, 1803. CHAPTER XXII. An act to amend an act regulating the mode of petitioning the legislature in certain cases. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Ohio, That all persons hereafter petitioning the legislature for the erection, or establishment of a new county, or a review, or removal of a seat of justice within this state, shall, in their petition or petitions, identify the place where they wish the seat of justice to be fixed therein. Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That any act or part of an act, coming within the purview of this act, be, and the same are hereby repealed. MATTHIAS CORWIN, Speaker of the house of representatives. THOMAS KIRKER, Speaker of the senate. February 20, 1812. Justices of summon a CHAPTER XXIII. An act to provide for the safe-keeping of lunatics, and for other purposes. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the general assem peace on ap bly of the state of Ohio, That justices of the plication to peace in their respective townships within this. jury of seven state, are hereby empowered and required, upon application being made in writing, by any of the relations of any idiot, non compos, lunatic or insane person, or by any overseer of the poor in the township where such person resides, men to issue a warrant to any constable of said township, requiring him to bring such person before him; and also to summon seven discreet, disinterested householders to appear at the same time, who, being first duly sworn, shall enquire into the case, and return their verdict in writing to the justice; and if they shall unanimously adjudge such person to be an idiot, non compos, lunatic or insane, they shall moreover certify, under their hands, whether, in their opinion, there is danger of such person destroying his or her own life or property, or the life or property of others; and whether such person ought to be put into close confinement or not. jury Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That in case Duty of the the inquest, as provided by the first section of justice in this act, shall set forth in their verdict that such acting on the verdict of a person is an idiot, non compos, lunatic or insane, and do not adjudge that he or she ought to be put into close confinement, the justice shall issue his warrant to the overseers of the poor, directing them to take care of, and provide for the maintenance of such person, agreeably to the provisions of the act, entitled An act for the relief of the poor,' and in case the inquest shall set forth in their verdict, that, in their opinion, there is danger of such person destroying life or property as aforesaid, and that he or she ought to be put into close confinement, the justice shall commit such person to the jail of the county, (unless the friends or relations of such person shall give bond, with security, for the safe keeping of such person, in a sum to be approved of by the justice, payable to the county treasurer for the use of the county) and shall set forth in the mittimus the particular cause of commitment; and it shall be the duty The jailor to notify the missioners of the jailor to receive, and safely keep such person until he or she shall be discharged, as hereinafter provided. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the jailor shall, within five days after receiving such county com person, notify the commissioners of the county to meet at the jail on a particular day, not farther distant than ten days, whose duty it shall be to meet accordingly; and they or any two of them so met, shall carefully examine the Duty of com state of such person, and if, in their opinion, medical aid shall be requisite, they shall employ 'some skilful physician to attend such person, and use such means as may be most conducive to restore the exercise of reason. missioners Duty of the physician Physician Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That whenever such physician shall be of opinion, that such person may be safely released, or ought to be otherwise disposed of, he shall make report thereof to the commissioners who shall thereupon meet; and it shall be competent for them at such meeting, or at any other time, upon due examination, to release or provide, in whatever way they shall deem most adviseable, for the keeping of such person. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That the how compen commissioners shall make such allowance to sated any physician or other person employed to keep or take care of any idiot, non compos, lunatic or insane person, under the provisions of this act, as they shall deem lawful and right, to be¿ paid out of the county treasury, in case there be no estate of such person to satisfy those claims. Justices to seers to se Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That in every direct over case where any person is adjudged to be an cure the ef idiot, non compos, lunatic or insane, by a verfects of idiots diet returned to a justice of the peace, agreeably |