By chapter 140 of the resolves of 1859, the undersigned were appointed commissioners "to edit and superintend the printing and publication of the General Statutes of the commonwealth, together with the Constitution thereof, the Constitution of the United States, and such other additions as they deem expedient," and to prepare marginal notes to the sections of the Statutes, and an exact and copious Index to the whole.

The text of the Constitution of Massachusetts and of the Statutes has been carefully compared with the rolls by the editors personally. In the necessary haste in which the Statutes were engrossed upon parchment during the last part of the special session, some errors appear to have been made therein. These have been noted by brackets, thus [], enclosing in Roman letters, like the body of the text, any omitted word or words which should have been engrossed upon the roll, and in Italics any erroneous or superfluous word or words found there; but this does not apply to cases where brackets are used in forms.

The marginal references to the statutes and decisions are taken chiefly from the commissioners' report; the references to the acts of the legislature of 1859, and to the later volumes of Gray's Reports, and a few other references having been added. The editors have attempted to connect together, by cross references in the margin, many of the provisions of law relating to the same subject.

A list of general acts passed subsequently to the passage of the Revised Statutes and expressly repealed before the passage of the General Statutes, with references to the repealing acts or sections, has been added, as a useful appendage to chapter 182, in order that the fact and time of the repeal of many laws not enumerated in that chapter may be more easily ascertained.

In compliance with chapter 138 of the resolves of 1859, a Glossary has been added, which is made rather for popular than for professional use, according to the supposed object of the resolve.

Much care and labor have been devoted to the Index, and it is believed that it will be found more full than that to any former edition of the laws of this commonwealth..

The editors trust that the short time allowed for printing the volume and for preparing the Glossary and Index will be deemed a sufficient excuse for any errors or imperfections which may be discovered in their editorial labors.

WILLIAM A. RICHARDSON,

GEORGE P. SANGER.

May, 1860.

ANALYSIS

OF THE

SEVERAL TITLES AND CHAPTERS

CONTAINED IN

THE GENERAL STATUTES.

PART I.

OF THE INTERNAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT.

TITLE I.

OF THE JURISDICTION OF THE COMMONWEALTH, LEGISLATURE, STATUTES, PUBLIC

REPORTS AND DOCUMENTS, STATE LIBRARY AND OTHER PUBLIC PROPERTY.

PAGE

CHAPTER 1.-Of the Jurisdiction of the Commonwealth and Places ceded to the United States, 43

CHAPTER 2.-Of the Legislature,

CHAPTER 3. Of the Statutes, .

CHAPTER 4.-Of Public Reports and Documents,

CHAPTER 5.Of the State Library and other Public Property,

TITLE II.

OF ELECTIONS.

CHAPTER 6.-Of the Qualifications of Electors,

CHAPTER 7.-Of the Manner of conducting Elections and returning Votes,

CHAPTER 8.-Of the Election of Governor and other State Officers,

CHAPTER 9.Of the Election of Representatives in Congress and Electors of President and

Vice-President,

CHAPTER 10.-Of the Election of District and County Officers,

TITLE III.

-

CHAPTER 15. Of the Auditor, Treasurer, Land Agent, and Matters of Finance,

CHAPTER 16. Of the State Board of Agriculture,

TITLE VI.

CHAPTER 17.-OF COUNTIES AND CERTAIN COUNTY OFFICERS,

TITLE VII.

OF TOWNS AND CITIES.

Of the Powers of Towns, and the Election, Qualification, and Duties, of Town

CHAPTER 21.

168

-

CHAPTER 19. Of certain Powers and Duties of Cities,

CHAPTER 20. Of the Census,

Of the Registry and Returns of Births, Marriages, and Deaths,

CHAPTER 22.- Of Workhouses and Almshouses,

CHAPTER 23.- Of Watch and Ward, .

CHAPTER 24.- Of Fires and Fire Departments,

CHAPTER 25.-Of Fences and Fence Viewers, Pounds, and Field Drivers, .

OF PARISHES AND RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES; AND OF RELIGIOUS, CHARITABLE, AND

EDUCATIONAL FUNDS AND ASSOCIATIONS.

CHAPTER 30.- Of Parishes and Religious Societies,

CHAPTER 31.-Of Donations and Conveyances for Pious and Charitable Uses,

CHAPTER 32.- Of Associations for Religious, Charitable, and Educational Purposes,

CHAPTER 33.

-

- Of Public Libraries,

CHAPTER 42. Of the Employment of Children and Regulations respecting them,

TITLE XII.

OF WAYS, BRIDGES, PUBLIC PLACES, FERRIES, SEWERS, AND DRAINS.

CHAPTER 43.- Of the Laying out and Discontinuance of Highways, Town Ways, and Private

Ways,

CHAPTER 44.- Of the Repairs of Ways and Bridges, .

· Of Regulations and By-Laws respecting Ways and Bridges,

231

244

249

Of the Boundaries of Highways and other Public Places, and Encroachments

thereon,

251

CHAPTER 49.— Of the Inspection and Sale of Provisions and other Merchandise,

CHAPTER 50.- Of Sales by Auctioneers and Hawkers and Pedlers,

CHAPTER 53.

-

Of Money, Bonds, Bills of Exchange, and Promissory Notes,

CHAPTER 54.- Of Agents, Consignees, and Factors,

CHAPTER 60.- Of Manufacturing and other Corporations organized under Special Charters,. . 336

CHAPTER 61.- Of Corporations organized under General Statutes,

-

CHAPTER 67.- Of Proprietors of Wharves, General Fields, and Real Estate lying in common,. 379

CHAPTER 68. Of the Powers, Duties, and Liabilities of Corporations, .

384

B