The Journal of the Commons House of Assembly

FEBRUARY 16, 1759323relates to the Disposing by Will of Lands, Tenements, Rents, Services or otherHereditaments, Remainders or Reversions; And the Committee submit it tothe Consideration of the House, whether it would not be a great Discouragementto a lewd Course of Life, if the said Ninth Clause was permitted tohave an Entire Operation and be in full force; and from their Belief that itwould in a great Measure, if not effectually, answer that End, take the Libertyof recommending a Repeal of the second Clause, so far as the sameenables Persons to devise their Lands &ca. in favour of illegitimate Childrento the Prejudice and Disinherison of their lawful Issue.Ordered that the said Committee do prepare a Clause on the said Reportto be offered to the House at the Second Reading of the “Bill to supply the Defectsin Evidence where Original Wills cannot be procured and to make the Proceedingsupon Questions arising upon such Wills more Easy and Effectual.”Mr. Gadsden (according to Order) Reported from the Committee whowere appointed to enquire into the State and Condition of the CommonGoal, that they had inspected the said Goal and made Enquiry accordingly,and had directed him to report the same, as it appeared to them, to theHouse; And he read the same in his Place and afterward delivered it in atthe Clerk’s Table, where the same was read and is as follows (Vizt.)That They think the Goal very insufficient; That Your Committee observedno Keeper there, excepting a Negroe who was trusted with the Keysand shewed them the Prisoners, however they were told there was a whitePerson that had that Charge upon him, but Your Committee did not see him;To This Your Committee are of Opinion is owing so many Escapes, that havefrom time to time been made, and will still continue to be made, unless theMarshall’s Deputy or some other proper Person are obliged to dwell at theGoal as has been heretofore the Practice; Your Committee observed OneRoom in particular where was a Person dangerously ill with a Peripneumonia,that was unsa[s]hed and without Shutters; As to the Provisions Your Committeefound no Complaints in that Respect.A Motion was made and the Question being put that the said Reportbe now taken into Consideration.It passed in the Negative.Resolved that the Resolution of this House of the 26th of January last,whereby a Sum not exceeding One thousand Pounds was provided for, as aRecompence to the Person or Persons who will undertake to prepare a Digestof all the Laws now in Force in this Province with an Index to bethereunto annexed, for the Press, be extended to Examining, Correcting,making Marginal Notes and References to the said Laws.Mr. Guerard (according to Order) Reported from the Committee appointedto audit the Treasurer’s Accounts, to whom the Memorial of Charles