It is ordered and enacted by the Deputy Governour, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the Council to assist the Governour, or in his absence the Deputy Governour, in the intervals of the General Assembly, shall consist of two of the Assistants at least, and four able, judicious freemen, such as the Governour, or in his absence the Deputy Governour, shall see cause to call to Council; who shall have power in the intervals of this Assembly to manage the affairs of this Colony according to charter, they not to raise men to send out of the Colony, unless in case of exigency, nor to raise money.

This Assembly grants full power and authority to Capt. Aaron Cook and Mr. Richd Edwards of Hartford, to sell so much of the houseing and lands belonging to Nathanael Wilson of Hartford, (an idiot or distracted person,) as may and shall be sufficient to procure money for his support and maintenance from time to time, and also for the payment of all his just debts, according to the advice and direction of the court of probates in the county of Hartford.

Whereas sundry small towns in this Colony are exempted by some late acts of the General Assembly from paying rates to the publick treasury of this Colony: but this Assembly now considering the great charge that will arise this present year, by reason of the expedition against Canada, do order and enact, that the inhabitants of all those towns so exempted shall, notwithstanding any such acts, for this present year, pay their proportion of the publick charge of this Colony, equal with all other towns within the same, excepting three pence upon the pound of all their ratable estate and persons in the list, which shall be abated to them.

[71] Upon consideration of the great charge that will arise this present year by reason of the expedition against Canada, this Assembly do order and enact, that for this present year now begun, all persons whatsoever within this Colony shall be entred in the publick lists of estates, and shall bear and pay their proportion of the publick charges of this Colony in this present year. The heads or poles of such as are exempted by law by reason of bodily infirmity, and the heads or pole of all settled ministers, and the estates of all such ministers in the list to the sum of forty two pounds, are and shall be now exempted out of this act.

This Assembly grants to Mr. John Elliot, Speaker, thirty shillings in pay, and to Capt. Richard Bushnell, Clerk, twenty five shillings in pay, for their good service in the Lower House

at this session.

ber 10th, 1706, and do now order and enact, that upon t said Wait Winthrop his making and executing a resignat or release as aforesaid, that then a full release shall also made and executed to and for the said Wait Winthrop by Secretary of this Colony, under the seal of this corporation the name of this Assembly, pursuant to the intent of the agreement aforementioned. And this Assembly do now l by declare, that the lands which by the said agreement said John Winthrop and Wait Winthrop did therein rese for themselves, never was, neither is, for shall be estceme [70] accounted to be || granted, or intended to be grante this Assembly, unto the inhabitants or proprietors of the of Kellingley, or to any other person or persons whatsoev any act or grant of this Assembly whatsoever, at any made and passed since the said 10th day of October, And this Assembly do appoint and impower Mr. John 1 surveyor of the county of New London, and Mr. John of Plainfield, as speedily as may be, (at the cost and ch the said Wait Winthrop) to survey and lay out, to a the said Wait Winthrop, the two farms of one thousan apiece, granted unto and confirmed upon him and his 1 the said agreement, and by this Assembly at this time, lying north of the town of Plainfield, and the other lyin of the town of Canterbury, and to make sufficient mon for bound marks of the same.

This Assembly do adjudge the selectmen of the Wethersfield to pay to the selectmen of the town of F ton twenty two shillings and nine pence country pay cost of their attendance upon the petition of Wethe this Assembly in May, 1708, and that execution be gr the same.

This Assembly do adjudge Capt. Samuel Eells of pay to Mr. John Read of Stratford the sum of twenty lings, for the cost of his attendance upon the petiti said Eells now at this Assembly, and that execution 1 for the same.

It is ordered and enacted by this Assembly, That persons who do inhabit within the bounds and lim village called the Great Swamp, in or near the tow ingtown, shall pay their ratable proportion of the cha ting up and maintaining the publ worship of Go it shall arise upo

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or persons 5th appoint John Hookly impower he said conI if the matgs, the said ry of twelve -aid quarrels e respecting reof, and the

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Hartford to pay e shillings in

Upon consideration of the petition of the inhabitants of the town of Wallingford, this Assembly grants liberty to them to improve the forty shillings upon the thousand pounds in their list for the school, for two years now next coming, towards the support and maintenance of their aged minister there, and settling another minister among them; provided they shall take effectual care that their children be learned at their own charge.

It is ordered and enacted by this Assembly, That Stephen Sherwood of the town of Rye shall have a patent made and executed to him according to law, of a certain tract of land lying within this Colony, between the line or boundary between this Colony and the Province of New York, and the west or northwest bounds of the town of Greenwich; which tract of land he purchased of the town of Rye, as appears by a deed bearing date November 15th, 1708; and that the said patent shall be made and given out to him, when he said Sherwood shall obtain and produce a survey and plat of the said land, describing the quantity and situation of the same.

Mr. John Read of Stratford appeared before this Assembly, and declared that he did not intend to offer any contempt upon the Honbl Court of Assistants setting at Hartford the 11th instant. It is therefore ordered by this Assembly, that if the said John Read shall appear before the Court of Assistants at their next session, and there profess and declare to them that he did not intend to reflect upon them in manner and form expressed in their record, or in any other manner whatsoever, and that he will always be careful not to give any occasion of their resentments, that then said Read shall be admitted to exercise the office of attorney in the said court of assistants, as before.

Whereas there hath lately been discovered a Copper Mine at Simsbury, which hath been so improved as to give a good satisfaction to conclude that a publick benefit may arise therefrom: Now for the better incouraging, directing and enabling the proprietors and undertakers, or others that are or may be concerned therein, their heirs and assigns, to manage, carry on and improve said mines to the best advantage,

the

It is therefore by this Assembly ordered and enacted, That all copper mines that are or may be found in the common lands at Simsbury shall be managed and improved by the consent and approbation of the major part of the proprietors, which majority shall arise from the greatest part of interest or pro[72] priety, who still shall be under such || regulation, order

and direction, as this Court shall think needful from time to time to establish, for the better managing the said mine.

And it is hereby further enacted, That if any of the proprietors of the said mines shall neglect or refuse to improve and carry on his or their part or proportion in the said mines, in equal proportion with the rest of the proprietors, either in their labour or payments of money, that it shall be lawful for any other of the proprietors to enter upon and improve the part or proportion of mine belonging to the person so neglecting, and to hold and improve the same, till from the profits thereof he shall be repaid four fold for the charge and expence he shall be at in managing said part; the same rule shall also be attended in the case of orphans whose guardians shall neglect or refuse to improve their wards part or propriety in the

said mines.

And it is further enacted, That the proprietors of said mines shall once every year have a general meeting, the first to be on the third Tuesday of June next, and on the following years on the third Tuesday in April, and oftener as they shall see cause, to order and direct the affairs and business of the said mine, and to choose and appoint a committee whom they may impower for the ordinary affairs of the said mine, or to call meetings of the proprietors on any special occasion.

And that there may be as little delay or discouragement in carrying on the affairs of said mines, by any quarrels, differences or law suits, that may at any time happen to arise either between the proprietors themselves or between them and the undertakers, all, or any of them, or other person or persons concerned in or about said mine: This Court doth appoint William Pitkin and John Haynes, Esqrs, and Mr. John Hooker, to be their Commissioners, and do hereby fully impower and enable them to hear, issue and determine all the said controversies or differences, quarrels or law suits; and if the matter contested shall exceed the value of forty shillings, the said commissioners are hereby enabled to impannel a jury of twelve lawful men, for the issuing and determining the said quarrels or suits that do or may arise from any difference respecting the said mines; the managing or improving thereof, and the fees of said court shall be as are by law allowed in the county courts; and the aforesaid commissioners shall continue in the said commission for the year ensuing, at the end of which this Court shall either renew their power or appoint others in their room, as they shall see cause.

This Assembly do adjudge Bevell Waters of Hartford to pay to Robert Sandford of Hartford, the sum of five shillings in