USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Volume of records relating to the early history of Boston : containing Boston town records, 1784 to 1796 > Part 23
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Committee relating to Lighting the Lamps Reported - on mo- tion
Voted That the Selectmen to continue Lighting the Lamps at the Expence of the Town, Untill the Adjournmt. to which time the consideration of said report is referred-
Adjourned to Tuesday the 10th of April next 10. O'Clock A : M :
[273.] At a meeting of the Male inhabitants of the Town of Boston of Twenty one years of age & upwards qualified as the Law directs, as the Constitution Prescribes, and legaly Warned in Public Town meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Monday The 2ª. Day of April Anno Domini 1792. -
Prayer was made by the Reverend James Freeman --
Warrant for Calling Meeting - read
Paragraphs of the Constitution or Frame of Goverment. rela- tive to the Choice of Governor. Lieut. Governor & Senators - read -
It was then declared by the Selectmen that no Votes would be received but such as are unfolded, and that they Propose the Poll
286
CITY DOCUMENT.
should be closed at half past 12. O'Clock. The Votes to be re- ceived at The Table, and the Bells to begin tolling at 12. O'Clock -
Persons Voted for as Governor, -
Votes
His Excellency John Hancock Esqr.
689
Honble Francis Dana Esqr. -
5
Joseph Barrell Esq". 5 Honble Benja. Austin Jun". Esqr.
7
Honble James Sullivan Esq".
2
Honble Elbridge Gerry Esq".
1
Mr. Adam Colson
5
Honble. Thomas Russell Esq".
5
Mr. Joseph Gleason 1
Honble Samuel Phillips Esqr.
1
[274.] Persons Voted for as Lieut. Governor with The Number of Votes for Each Person Vizt.
His Honor Samuel Adams Esqr. - 686
Charles Jarvis Esqr. 2
Honble Thomas Russell Esqr. 17
Mr. William Cleland Esqr. 1
Honble William Phillips Esqr.
1
Mr. Adam Colson 7
Mr. Joseph Shed 2
Mr. Nathaniel Balch
1
Mr. Russell Sturgis -
1
Honble Caleb Strong Esqr.
1
Honble Benjamin Austin Esqr. . 3
Persons Voted for as Senators for the County of Suffolk with the Number of Votes for Each Person - Vizt.
.
Honble William Phillips Esq".
118
Honble Cotton Tuffts Esqr.
205
Honble Stephen Metcalf Esqr. Honble Thomas Davis Esq". -
715
Honble Benjamin Austin Jur. Esqr. 577
574
91
John Read Esq". 299
Oliver Wendell Esqr. - 494
363
James Bowdoin Esqr. - Charles Jarvis Esqr. - Mr. Elkanah Hawkes
215
Richard Cranch Esq.
1
Thomas Crafts Esqr.
1
William Cooper 7
Edward H. Robbins Esqr. 35
Votes
645
Honble William Heath Esq". - Honble Thomas Russell Esq".
7
[275.7
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1792.
287
Mr. Joseph Sprague
7
Solomon Lovell Esqr. - 12
Mr. John Kneeland
7
Honble Stephen Higginson Esqr. 3
Collo. Ebenezer Hancock Esq.
1
Elisha Dunbar Esqr. 1
Thomas Clark Esqr.
2
Mr. Hugh Cargill
7
Ebeneser Thayer Esqr. 13
7
Honble Caleb Davis Esqr. 2
1
John Coffin Jones Esqr ..
3
Jonathan Mason Jur. Esqr.
2
Honble Ebenezer Wales
1 1
Mr. William Brick -
1
William Eustis Esqr.
1
Mr. John French
7
Mr. Elisha Sigorney
Mr. Joseph May
1 1 1
Capt. Norton Brailsford -
Mr. Samuel Wheelwright -
1
Capt. Michael Homer
1
Mr. Benja Russell -
1
Attested Copies of the Persons Voted for as Governor, Lieut. Governor, and Senators for The County of Suffolk were Com- mitted to the [276.] Secretary of this Commonwealth and the Inclosures. Sealed up in Town Meeting. Superscribed as follows -Vizt.
For John Avery Esqr. Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massa- chusetts -
The Number of Votes of the Town of Boston for A Governor Lieut. Governor, and Six Senators for the County of Suffolk Cer- tified therein, and Sealed up in Town Meeting -
Then the Meeting was dissolved
At The Adjournment Of March Meeting April 10th 1792. The Committee Appointed to take into consideration the representa- tion of Giles Harris Esqr. in behalf of himself and the other Assessors, have Attended that Service, and upon Conferring with the Assessors, are informed, That the time for taking the Valu- ation, Agreeably to the Act of Government, will be at Least Six Months, and making the Taxes and the other business of the Office, in Consequence thereof its Probable will require the re-
---
Jonathan Mason Senr. Esqr.
William Tudor Esqr. -
Ebenezer Storer Esqr.
288
CITY DOCUMENT.
mainder of the Year, therefor Ask Leave to report As their Opinion, That there be Allowed and Paid to each of the As- sessors for the above mentioned Services One hundred & Thirty Pounds for the Present Year in Quarterly Payments. The above not to be Considered as A Precedent in future -
Thomas Dawes Ur. order
[2777.] The Report on Mr. Masons Petition read and Con- sidered whereupon Voted that said report be recommitted and the Committee are further Requested to Report a suitable place for the Erection of an Almshouse, Workhouse, Hospital and other Necessary buildings, at what Price it can be Purchased, and also to Ascertain the Expence of Erecting the said Buildings. and report at the may Meeting -
The Committee Appointed to know what measures shall be taken relative to Lighting The Town the Ensuing Year - Report that they have Attended that Service And from A Calculation they have made from the Actual Expence of Lighting the Lamps the Last month find that the Probable Expence of Lighting the same the Ensuing year will be £800 -- and your Committee beg Leave to observe that in their opinion the Convenience to the Inhabitants in having the Same Lighted will Amply Compensate the Expence. They therefore report as their opinion the Selectmen be Authorized to Light the Lamps the Ensuing Year at the Ex- pence of The Town by Contract with any Individual or Indi- viduals or in Such other manner. as they may think proper - Thomas Edwards Ur order
The following report having been read and Debated, It was - Voted That the said report Be Accepted -
[278.] On Motion. Voted. that all matters and things Un- finished at this Meeting be referred Over to May Meeting -
Voted. That the thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to the Honble Thomas Dawes Esq". for his good Services as Mod- erator -
Then the Meeting was Dissolved
At a meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Boston duly qualified and Legaly warned in Public Town Meeting Assembled at Faneuil Hall on Tuesday the 8th. day of May Anno Domini 1792 -10. O'Clock A : M : --
Prayer was made by the Revd. Mr. Baldwin --
Warrant for calling the Meeting - read
289
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1792.
That part of the Constitution or frame of Goverment which relates to the Choice of representatives read
Sundry Laws to be read at said Meeting - were accordingly - Read -
The Town having Determined by A Vote to Choose Seven Persons to represent them in the General Court of Massachusetts to be held in the State House in Boston on the [279.] Last wednesday of May Current, Agreeably to the Constitution or frame of Goverment for the Massachusets. The Inhabitants were directed by the Selectmen to withdraw, and bring in their Votes for Seven representatives and then it was declared by the Selectmen that no Votes would be received but such as are un- folded and that they intend the Poll shall be Closed at half past 12. O' Clock Bell to toll a little before that time -
The Votes being brought in for Seven Representatives. The Number of the Same were found to be Three hundred and Twenty three - and upon sorting them it Appeared the Eight following Gentlemen had Obtained - A Majority of Votes- Vizt. -
Votes
Honble Thomas Dawes Sent. Esqr. 288
Charles Jarvis Esq". -
297
Samuel Breck Esqr. - 191
Jonathan Mason Esq1. 281
John Coffin Jones Esq". 306
Honble Benjamin Austin Esq".
216
William Eustis Esq". 307
William Tudor Esq". 184
Declaration was then made by the Selectmen to the Town That the Seven first of the foregoing Names were Chosen by A Ma- jority of Votes -
The meeting was then Adjourned To 3. O'Clock. P : M : -
[280.] 3. O'Clock P : M : Town met according to Adjourn- ment -
On Motion Voted, That the Selectmen be requested to make return of the Eight Gentlemen who had A Majority of Votes in the Morning for Representatives -
The Choice of Representatives being over It was on Motion Voted. That the Town will Come to the Choice of A Moderator to transact the other business mentioned in the Warrant by a hand Vote -
The Honorable Thomas Dawes Esqr. was Chosen Moderator Accordingly -
290
CITY DOCUMENT.
The Inhabitants having as directed by the Selectmen brought in their Votes of One Constable it appeared upon Sorting them -
That Mr. James Perkins was Chosen a Constable for the Year Ensuing -
The Petition Relative to A New Street at the Bottom of Beacon Hill - read -
Whereupon Voted, That Mr. Charles Bulfinch Capt. James Prince Harrison G. Otis Esqr.
Be A Committee to Consider Said Petition and to Report at the Adjournment -
The Petition of Deacon Daniel Jones read -
Whereupon Voted That Capt. Joseph May George R : Minot Esqr. Doctor Thomas Welch be A Comtee on the Same to report at the Adjournment
[281.] Adjourned to Thursday Next 3. O'Clock P : M :
Thursday the 10th. May. 3 : O'Clock the Town Met according to Adjournment - .
The Inhabitants as directed brought in Their Votes for Three Cullers of Fish. When it appeared that. but Two were Chosen vizt.
Capt. Roger Bartlet Capt. Joseph Doble
The Committee on Mr. Jirah Holbrooks Petition Reported that the Petitioner hath Leave to withdraw his Petition and the Question being put it Passed in the Affirmative -
The School Committee to whom was referred the Petition of Mr. James Carter - Report as follows - Vizt. Pursuant to a Vote of the Town Passed Mar. 12th. The School Committee having Conferred with the School masters on the Subject of Mr. Carters Petition, and after full Consideration thereon ; ask Leave to Report to the Town as their Opinion. That the several School masters cannot, consistently with their Duty to the Public Schools, be permitted to keep a private school, until after the hours of the public school in the afternoon. The Committee also deem it incum- bent on them further to observe for the information of the Town on this Subject; that influenced by a conviction of the impor- tance of giving due effect to the new system, adopted by the Town, for the regulation of the public schools ; whereby the means of education have not only been happily Extended to the Children
291
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1792.
of both sexes, of all the Citizens; but such Improvements and Advantages, have been already experienced, [282.] As are no less honorable to the liberal and Patriotick Principles of the inhabitants of the Town, than beneficial to the rising Generation, the immediate objects of an Institution so benevolent : - They have from A Consideration of the Increased duties resulting to the Schoolmasters thereupon ; and the wisdom as well as Justice of affording them the Encouragement of a Competent Support - as being Essential to A Zealous and faithful discharge thereof. conformably to the powers vested in them by the Town, Voted as Salaries for the present year. -
To Each of the public Schoolmasters £200- To Each of the Ushers 80- Ezek1 Price Chairman
The aforegoing report having been Considered by the Town. the Question was put, Vizt. -
Whether the Same shall be Accepted Passed in the Affirma- tive
The Committee to whom was referred the Petition of Daniel Jones beg Leave to report that upon Enquiring into the Subject of said Petition it appears Probable. That from several unfore- seen Circumstances. Such as opening Drains &c. That the In- come of the Market Square falls short of the Estimate made by the Petitioner. when he Contracted for the same, The sum of Fifty four Pounds. The Committee Therefore Recommend That the Town Pass the following Vote vizt. Voted that the Sum of Fifty Four Pounds Eight Shillings be abated Daniel Jones on his Contract for the income of the Stalls and Stands, without the Market house for the year past. Provided the said Jones Pay into the [283.] Town Treasury The Sum of Seventy Six Pounds Six shillings (in Addition to Sum of Sixty Nine Pounds already paid) On or before the first day of June next, and the further Sum of Seventy Six Pounds Six Shillings on or before the first day of August Next, all which is Respectfully submitted Joseph May r. order
The a foregoing report having been Considered by the Town. On the Question being put whether the Same shall be Accepted Passed in the Affirmative
Mr. Breck chosen A representative declines Serving for reasons given in his Letter on the file of this meeting -
The Committee appointed to Audit the accots. of the Town Treasurer and Examine the drafts of the Selectmen and overseers, have Attended that Service and report,
292
CITY DOCUMENT.
That The Treasurers accounts are right Cast. and well Vouched, and find by his Account Now Rendered, A balance in favour of the Town of £10970 ,, 5 23/4
The General State of the Treasury as follows Vizt.
Drs. Due to the Town from the Several Collectors - Vizt.
James Thompson for 1790 Tax
1791 do.
1987
4
944
Thomas Bayley . 1790-DO.
1791-Dº.
2011 7 111%
Charles Williams . 1790- D9.
765
12 11%
Caleb Blanchard . 1791
1862
2
74
Sum brought over ·
· ·
78 6666 13 4
Town Powder
312 „ 11, 8
Sundry Balances from
, number of
Persons of wch the Committee think £1300 bad .
1672
" 17 9
Sundry Persons for Rent
320 15 ,, 11
Several Small notes
35
"
10 8
Cash in the Treasury .
1838 4 81%
Crs. Due from the Town as follows - Vizt.
Sundry Small Balances
£384 ,, 1 ,, 734
To the Estate of Sam1. Pa-
tridge ·
·
695 7
" 61%
Matthew Nazro 253 2
3%
Notes on Interest
8118 ,, 15
512
9451 ,, 6 ,, 1. 14
10970 ,, 5 ,, 234
Balance due to the Town by the Books - From which must be deducted for Interest due on Sundry Notes 1st. Mar. 1792 Not Yet paid 401 ,, 2 , 3
Collectors and Asses- sors Pay
1050 „,
Abatements on 1791
900
Town Powder
312
1 8
Supposed Bad Debts .
1300
Part of rents
150
4113 ,, 13 ,, 11-
Real ballance due to the Town .
6856 ,, 11 ,, 334
272 9
" 43%
Benja. Henderson 1791- -DO.
2078 17
[blank]
Commonwealth Masssachusetts
[284.]
£597 3 211
Tax .
Provided no greater Loss accrues to the Town from bad Debts, than your Committee have Estimated in the foregoing report There was in favour of the Town on the first day of March Last A balance of £6856 ,, 11 ,, 334 Your Committee beg Leave further to report That the Average Annual drafts of the Select- men and Overseers [285.] for Several Years Previous to the Last have been for £7000 - and the Last Year they amounted to 8477 ,, 13 ,, 012 The Present Year, as there is A New School house and Stalls in the Market Square to be built, Sundry Streets in the Town to be repaired and A Considerable Expence
293
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1792.
for lighting the Town with Lamps, the Current Expences will Exceed the Sum raised the Last Year. Your Committee are therefore of opinion that the Sum Necessary to be raised for the Current Expences of this year will be Nine Thousand Pounds, all of which is respectfully Submitted
Thos. Dawes + order of Comtee
The aforegoing accot. having been Considered by the Town. The Question was put for its acceptance and Obtain'd, -
Voted. That the Sum of Nine Thousand Pounds be raised by . A Tax to be Assessed on the Polls and Estates of the Inhabitants of this Town to defray the Expences of the Current Year -
The Report of the Committee on Mr. Masons Petition -read. and after debate the Question was put for A reference. which was Passed in the Negative -
The Report as amended was accepted by The Town - 112 Persons Present. -
[286.] Adjourned [until] tomorrow 3 'O'Clock P : M :
Friday 3. O'Clock P : M : Town Met According to Adjourn- ment --
The Committee relative to A New Street at the Bottom of Beacon hill reported as on file. whereupon it was moved and Passed That A Committee be appointed to Enquire as to the Titles of the Land Claimed by Mr. Todd & Capt. Dennie and to report the Sum that would be required for the Purchase of the Land Necessary to be taken into the Street, and what would be the other Expences - whereupon
Voted. That the Selectmen be now a Committee for the Pur- pose aforesaid --
On Motion Voted, That A Committee be now Appointed to Consider the duties and Services of the Town Treasurer and the Town Clerk, And report at the Adjournment Adequate Salaries therefore -
Voted, That William Tudor Esq". Honble Stephen Higginson Esq". Mr. Herman Brimmer
Be A Committee for the Purpose aforesaid -
Voted That The Thanks of The Town be and hereby are given unto Samuel Breck Esqr. for his good Services as A Representa- tive A Number of Years past
294
CITY DOCUMENT.
[287.] Voted That the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are given to Jonathan Mason Jun". Esqr. for his good Services As A Representative Sometime past
On Motion Voted, That the Vote of Acceptance on Yesterday of the report of the Committee on Mr. Masons Petition be recon- sidered - also -
Voted That the Honble Thomas Dawes Esq". Charles Jarvis Esqr. Benja. Austin Jun". Esqr. Perez Morton Esqr. Honº. Caleb Davis Esqr. John Sweetser Esqr.
Honº. James Sullivan Esqr. William Scollay Esqr. Mr. Charles Bulfinch
Be A Committee to provide Proper and Convenient buildings for the reception and better accommodation of the Public Poor. so as that the healthy, sick & Convalescents - may be Lodged in distinct and Separate appartments and for the Purpose afore- said the said Committee or A Major Part of them, are hereby Authorized and impowered to Appropriate and Set Apart any of the vacant Lands belonging to the Town (except the Public Common) to Erect said buildings, upon or to purchase any other Piece of Land which they may think more convenient : To Con- tract with any Persons for Erecting & Completing [288.] said buildings, and Supplying the Materials, or if they or a Major part of them shall Judge it most for the interest of the Town and the Comfortable accomodation of the poor to Enlarge and repair the Present Almshouse &c. and to Erect any Additional build- ings On the Land Contiguous thereto. And in order to defray the incidental Expences of the aforesaid undertaking the said Committee or A Major part of them are hereby further Author- ized and impowered in the Name of the Inhabitants of The Town to make Sale if they see fit of the peice of Land on which the Granary. Almshouse. and Workhouse now Stand - And the Land Contiguous thereto to any Person or Persons who will give the highest price therefor or any part thereof, and to make & Exe- cute good and Sufficient Deeds thereof in the Name of the In- habitants of the Town to the Purchaser or Purchasers. and if the Proceeds of such Sales Shall not be sufficient to Defray the Expence of the New Buildings &c. The said Committee or A Major part of them are further Authorized and required to raise as much of the Deficiency as they Can, by A Public Subscription, in Aid of so human and benevolent an undertaking, and if any deficiency shall therefore remain, The said Committee or major Part of them are directed to make report thereof to the Select- men, who are thereupon required [289.] to call A meeting of the inhabitants that they may Provide for the Same in due time by A
295
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1792.
Public Tax. Provided That said Tax shall not amount to A Sum Exceeding Two Thousand Pounds
On Motion Voted That the Vote Passed by the Town the 30th. March 1791. for, farming out of Faneuil Hall Market to the highest bidder, be reconsidered, and that the Selectmen be and hereby are authorized & impowered to Appoint A Suitable Person as Clerk of said Market. under such regulations and directions as to them may Appear most Advantageous To the Town, and to allow said Clerk what may appear to them Adequate to his Services - also.
Voted, That the Selectmen be Authorized and impowered to dispose of the Hay Engine to the Person they shall Judge most suitable for said Trust, and allow him what Sum they shall Judge Adequate to his Services -
Adjourned to Friday. 18th Instant -
3. O'Clock P. M : For the Purpose of taking up and Acting upon the report of the Committee relative to By Laws and Trans- acting other matters in the Warrant not yet acted upon. May 18th 1792 -
Friday P : M : 3. O'Clock. Town Met according to Adjourn- ment - The Committee appointed to Consider and report what they may Judge to be Adequate Salaries [290.] For the Town Treasurer and Town Clerk - report
That after conversation with the Town Clerk and Town Treas- urer & due Enquiry take Leave to Report that there be granted to the Town Clerk the Sum of One hundred & fifty Pounds as his Salary for the Year 1791 - and for- the Present Year -
And that the Town Treasurer have at the rate of Two hun- dred Pounds Pr. Year during the time he has Come into Office and up to the Month of March 1793 - as an Adequate Salary and Allowance for his duties and Services, which is Submitted,
William Tudor Herman Brimmer
The Aforegoing Report being read the Question was put Vizt. Whether this Report shall be accepted - Passed in the Affirma- tive -
The Committee on Mr. Bowdoins Proposals - reported Ver- bally ; and have Leave to Report again -
The Report of the Committee relative to the Carrying the By Laws into Execution - read -
296
CITY DOCUMENT.
After some debate, It was moved. and the Question Put That said reports be considered by Paragraphs - Passed in the Nega- tive -
It was then moved and the question Put That said report be now Accepted by the Town ; which Passed in the Negative. -
On Motion Voted. That all matters and things which shall remain Unfinished at this meeting. be referred over to the next General Town meeting that shall be called -
[291.] Voted. That the Thanks of the Town be and hereby are Given to the Honble Thomas Dawes Esq". for his good Ser- vices as Moderator
Then the Meeting was dissolved -
The following is the report of the Committee for Carrying the By Laws into Execution, which report was not accepted. Vizt. -
The Committee appointed to Consider the By Laws of the Town of Boston, And to report measures for carrying them into Execution ; have attended to the Subject of their Commission, and report as their Opinion, That the following are the Principal obstructions to the carrying of the By Laws into Effect; and un- less removed, must forever Embarrass them in their Operation : - 1st An Apprehension existing in the minds of the Justices of the Peace residing in the Town of Boston, that they are interested, in the Penalties which may be recovered for A breach of the said By Laws. and therefore. they are disqualified from taking Cog- nizance and Jurisdiction of Complaints that may be brought be- fore them in such Cases, whereby prosecutions for the breaches of the Said By Laws must be carried on at Some distance, and with great Additional trouble and Expence - 2ª. The want of a Sufficient Pecuniary Compensation to the Inspectors of the Police to reward them for the Services which it was designed they should render and the want of A Proper responsibility and Penalties on the part of those officers for the Neglect of their Duty.
[292.] 3dly An inconvenience arising from the Inspectors of the Police Applying to the Selectmen, previous to Commencing Prosecutions for breaches of the By Laws, which have occasioned delay in Cases, where there were no legal doubts of A Prosecu- tion being sustained. 4th The want of an Attorney for the Town, who should act when called on, in all prosecutions to be Commenced for breach of the By-Laws, and to whom the in- spector of the Police and all other Officers of the Town Should apply, when Needful, for Advice and direction free of Expence -
297
BOSTON TOWN RECORDS, 1792.
The Committee are therefore of Opinion, That it will be Ex- pedient for the Purpose of Carrying the said By Laws into Effect, That the Town should Pass the following Votes Vizt.
WHEREAS doubts have Arisen in the Minds of the Justices of the Peace for the County of SUFFOLK, residing within the Town of BOSTON, of their Authority to Sustain and try Prosecutions for breaches of the By-Laws of the said Town, and other Laws apper- taining to the Government of the same, in Cases where the Pen- alties may Accrue for The benefit of the inhabitants thereof ; Voted, that application be made to the Legislature of the Common- wealth, Stating the Difficulties thence resulting in Carrying the Said By-Laws into Effect, Praying, if they think proper, that the Au- thority of such Justices may be declared to be Competent. to the Sustaining, Trying & determining of such Prosecutions ; or direct such A mode of Process as they think Proper, in order that the By-Laws may be duly Executed, Agreeable to the Genius & Spirit of The present Constitution of the Town. And as it is of The greatest importance to the due Execution of our By Laws, That the inspectors of the Police, be men, not only of good moral [293.] Character, But of known Stability, firmness of mind and Laudable zeal for the good order of the Town-
Voted, That previous to the appointment of Such Officer or Officers of Police by the Selectmen, A Nomination list shall be hung up in the Selectmens room One month before the Choice is made, in order that every inhabitant of the Town, so inclining, may Enter the Name of one Candidate thereon; and the Select- men are required to Elect by Ballot, from such nomination List, on the first wednesday of May Next, and afterwards on the Third wednesday of March Annually, one or more Persons for the afore- said Office, - whose duty it shall be to Patrol The Town from time to time, and to Prosecute in behalf, and at the Expence of the Town (first Advising with The Town-Attorney if Necessary) before any Justice of the Peace, all breaches of the By-Laws that may come to his or their knowledge, either by his or their own Observation, or by the information of Others. And the officer, or Officers of the Police are hereby directed to keep an Office in or Near the Market Place, to be provided by the Selectmen, at which he or they, or Some Person acting under him or them, Shall daily Attend (Lords days or days set Aside for Public Worship Ex- cepted) from the Hours of Eleven to One O'Clock, in order that the Inhabitants may with Greater facility give Notice to him or them of any Breaches of the By-Laws. The said Officer or Officers of Police are directed to make Weekly returns of his or their doings to the Selectmen. Voted that an Attorney be appointed by the Town by written Votes at the March meeting [294.] Annually, who shall be empowered to appear before any Court in all Prosecutions for a breach of the By-Laws when Necessary. Also to Commence and Prosecute under the direc-
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