VI

printed in italics and enclosed in brackets. Where a word in the original was deemed superfluous, or injurious to the sense, it has been printed in the common Roman letter, and merely inclosed in brackets, but this liberty has been very sparingly used, and only where the general phraseology of the Statutes, or the original papers in the Secretary's office seemed to authorize, and the connexion to require it. In all cases when a form of expression, which was intelligible, but not strictly accurate, has been often repeated, no change has been made.

Especial pains have been taken to make the references at the head and foot of each act complete, thereby rendering it in some measure an index to all the legislation upon the same subject, and, in general, saving the necessity of referring to five different indexes. This last observation, however, must be taken with a very few exceptions, and especially in the references to the acts passed in the year 1837, as a part of the sixth volume had been actually printed before those acts were passed. In printing the Statute 1830, chapter 58, the general act for the renewal of the bank charters, which is constantly referred to in the margin of the other acts, references to the preceding and subsequent acts connected with it have been omitted, from inability to make such references intelligible in a moderate space.

The Acts in these volumes have been printed from the pamphlet edition published annually by the Secretary of the Commonwealth, and certified by him to be true copies of the originals, engrossed on parchment. They have been carefully examined throughout, and when any inaccuracy was apparent or suspected, reference has been made to the original parchments. In this way a large portion of the acts have been examined, and numerous errors, especially in the earlier volumes of that edition, have been detected;

VII

and no labor short of an entire collation of every act with the original has been spared, to make the acts printed in these volumes exact copies of the originals. For these examinations the Secretary of the Commonwealth has furnished every needed facility.

A few acts passed before the first session of the General Court under the Constitution in 1780, which are referred to, or connected with the acts printed in these volumes, and which have not been printed in any of the five preceding ones, will be found in an Appendix to the seventh volume.

An index to the matters contained in it has been inserted in each volume, according to the directions of the resolve.

NOVEMBER, 1837.

SAMUEL B. WALCOTT.

PRIVATE AND SPECIAL

Statutes

OF

MASSACHUSETTS.

An ACT to cede to the United States the jurisdiction of a part of Billingsgate Island.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in Gen

Chap. 1.

Island to U.S.

eral Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That Cession of part the consent of this Commonwealth be, and hereby is granted to the of Billingsgate United States, to purchase a tract of land, not exceeding four acres, which shall be found necessary for the light house authorized by Congress to be built, on Billingsgate Island, in Barnstable Bay; and hold the same during the continuance of the use and appropriation aforesaid; provided, that this Commonwealth shall retain, and does hereby retain concurrent jurisdiction with the United States, in Concurrent juand over said land, so far as that all civil and criminal processes issu- ed. ed under the authority of this Commonwealth, or any officer thereof, may be executed on any part of said land, or any buildings which may be erected thereon, in the same way and manner as though this consent had not been granted as aforesaid. [June 8, 1822.]

risdiction retain

An Act to extend the powers of the Religious Charitable Society, in the County of Wor- Chap. 2.

cester.

1813. ch. 104.

estate.

BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the Religious Charitable Society, in the county of Worcester, be, and they hereby are authorized and empowered to receive and hold May hold real money or any other property, both real and personal, by gift, grant, and personal devise, or bequest, or otherwise, for any other charitable object, besides those specified in their act of incorporation, and to apply the same, or the proceeds and income thereof, to the particular object or objects, designated by the donor: Provided, however, that the Proviso. whole amount of their annual income, do not exceed the sum limited in their said act of incorporation. [June 13, 1822.]

Chap. 4.

An Act to incorporate the Associated Housewrights in Boston. SECT. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That Augustus Octavius Barton, Thomas Barry, Seth Cope- Persons incor

porated.

General pow

ers.

Real and personal estate.

land, Oliver Downing, John Drayton, Joseph Eustis, William Goddard, Edward Gray, Joab Hunt, Isaac Jenkins, Foster Low, Nelemiah Lovejoy, Ephraim Marsh, Oliver Mills, Alexander Parris, Caleb Pratt, James Sargent, Jesse Shaw, Joseph Stodder, Seth Thaxter, William Todd, Mark Weare, together with their associates and successors, be, and they are hereby incorporated, by the name of the Associated Housewrights in Boston; with power to have and use a common seal, and to make by-laws for the governing the affairs of the said association, and the management and application of its funds; and also for promoting inventions, and improvements in their art, by granting premiums; to assist mechanics with loans of money, and to relieve the distresses of unfortunate mechanics and their families; and shall have and use, all other privileges incident and usually given by acts of incorporation to charitable societies. And the said association may hold real estate, not exceeding in value two thousand dollars, and personal estate, not exceeding ten thousand dollars.

SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That any two of the persons First meeting. herein named, are hereby empowered to call the first meeting of the said association, at such time and place as they may appoint, by giving personal notice to each of their associates, to choose their officers; at which meeting the mode of calling future meetings, shall be regulated and settled.

Legislative control.

Chap. 5.

porated.

SECT. 3. Be it further enacted, That this act may be amended, revised, and repealed, at the pleasure of the Legislature. [June 13, 1822.]

An ACT to incorporate the Boston Iron Company.

SECT. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the Persons incor- same, That Horace Gray, David Moody, and Samuel Dow, Junior, their associates, successors and assigns, be, and they hereby are made a corporation, by the name of the Boston Iron Company, for the purpose of rolling, cutting, and otherwise working iron, at Boston, in the county of Suffolk, and at Roxbury, in the county of Norfolk; and for this purpose shall have all the powers and privileges, and be subject to all the duties and requirements, contained in an act passed the third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and nine, entitled "an act defining the general powers and duties of manufacturing corporations," and the several acts in addition thereto.

Powers and duties.

1808 ch. 65.

Capital Stock.

Real estate.

Chap. 6.

SECT. 2. Be it further enacted, That the capital stock of said corporation shall not exceed four hundred thousand dollars; and they may be lawfully seized and possessed of such real estate as may be necessary and convenient for the purposes aforesaid, not exceeding in value the sum of one hundred thousand dollars, exclusive of the buildings and improvements, that may be made thereon by the said corporation. [June 13, 1822.]

An Act to incorporate the Salem Charitable Mechanic Association. SECT. 1. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, Persons incor- That John Howard, Nathaniel Frothingham, Samuel Gray, and porated. John Derby, Junior, and all those who have associated, or may