CHAP. LIX, Resolve on the petition of Martha Thomas. On the petition of Martha Thomas, Administratrix of the estate of Josiah A. Thomas, late of East Sudbury, in the County of Middlesex, yeoman, deceased, intestate, relating to a sale, which she, pursuant to a license granted by the Probate Court for said County, made in her said capacity at public auction, on the twenty-fifth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, of certain real estate of said deceased; and to the affidavit therein mentioned, by her since made of said sale, and her proceedings relating thereto, and now recorded in the Registry of Probate, in and for said County of Middlesex: Resolved, For the reasons and purposes in said petition stated, that the prayer thereof be granted, and that said affidavit by her made of said sale, and her proceedings relating thereto, and now recorded in said Registry as therein alledged, shall be admissible evidence of said sale and proceedings, although the same was not made and recorded as aforesaid, within the time limited by law, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. CHAP. LX. Gentlemen of the Senate, and Gentlemen of the House of Representatives, By the Report of the Joint Committee relative to the Claim of the Commonwealth, now pending with the Government of the United States, it appears that the agents appointed in pursuance of a Resolve passed on the eleventh of February 1823, are proceeding in preferring to the accounting officers of the federal government, the accounts and vouchers on which the Claim is founded and by which it is sustained. The course pursued by the agents in presenting the several items, in the order which they have adopted, was intimated to them as most eligible by the department which was to examine them, and followed by them from a conviction of its fitness and usefulness. An examination of the accounts and vouchers being in the usual order, and a necessary preliminary to any decision or allowance, no other course was within their option.This examination, with explanations frequently called for, was found, as I had the honor to intimate on a former occasion, to require much time and labor. The agents appear to be pursuing with indefatigable industry, the object of their appointment. Eight months have elapsed since they were commissioned, and it is evident that their services will be required some time longer. To those who have deliberately considered the circumstances attending this claim, the nature and number of vouchers necessary. to be produced in its support, and the delays incident to the transaction of business at the public offices in Washington, arising from constant calls upon them, it will not appear extraordinary that greater progress has not been made in its settlement. By the same report, it further appears, that the agents were informed, at the time of their appointment, that one thousand dollars had been appropriated by the Legislature to defray the necessary expenses; and that no further sum was under the control of the Executive. Should the Legislature be of opinion, with the Executive, that no reimbursement to the State can be expected without a previous examination of the accounts, and that it is expedient to continue, at this time, the prosecution of the claim, they will perceive the necessity of making a further appropriation, as the advances made to the agents are not sufficient to cover their actual expenses. CHAP. LXI. Resolve on the petition of Henry Sheafe, Military Store Keeper. February 18th, 1824. Resolved, That there be allowed and paid to the Military Store Keeper, out of the public Treasury of this Commonwealth, the sum of two hundred dollars, annually, in addition to his pay now allowed by a resolve passed on the sixteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one; to be paid in the same manner as is provided in that resolve: Provided, That he shall give bond to the Commonwealth, in the sum of two thousand dollars, with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the Governor and Council, and upon condition that said Military Store Keeper shall faithfully account for all the public property which may come into his possession during his continuance in office: this resolve to continue in force until the further order of the Legislature. CHAP. LXII, Resolve providing for the repairs of Lynn Beach. Resolved, That there be allowed and paid out of the public Treasury, fifteen hundred dollars, to the inhabitants of the town of Lynn in the County of Essex, for the purpose of repairing and securing Nahant Beach in said town: Provided, however, That the inhabitants of the town of Lynn, and others interested, shall pay such additional sum as may be found necessary to complete the work; the whole to be expended and applied under the direction of a commissioner or commissioners, to be appointed by the Governor and Council, at the expense of the town of Lynn; and provided also, that should the whole work not cost the sum of three thousand dollars, including the expense of the commissioner or commission ers, then this grant, instead of fifteen hundred dollars, shall be understood to be for one half only of what it may so cost; and not more than one thousand dollars shall be drawn from the Treasury, till the whole work is finished. And His Excellency the Governor is hereby authorized and requested to draw his warrant or warrants, on the Treasury for the purpose aforesaid, when the said commissioners shall report to him that the several provisions of this resolve have been complied with. CHAP. LXIII. Resolve for repairs on the State House. Resolved, That there be paid out of the public Treasury of this Commonwealth, unto Jacob Kuhn, two hundred dollars, for the purpose of repairing the stairs leading to the cupola of the State House; and also for repairing the roof of a wood shed near the same: and that His Excellency the Governor, by and with the advice of Council, be authorized to draw his warrant for the same, or for any part thereof, when the bill for the same may be presented. CHAP. LXIV. A resolve authorizing the Hon. Nathaniel Bowditch and Professor John Farrar, to ascertain the value of the reversionary interest of the Commonwealth in the Bridges in the vicinity of Boston. February 20th, 1824. Resolved, That the Hon. Nathaniel Bowditch and Professor John Farrar, be a committee to ascertain the present value of the reversionary interest of the Commonwealth, in the several Bridges in the vicinity of Boston, and to make a report of their opinion to the next General Court. CHAP. LXV. Resolve for paying the expenses of printing and publishing the special Laws. February 20th, 1824. Resolved, That there be allowed and paid to Messrs. Wells & Lilly of Boston, the sum of twenty-four hundred and twenty-four dollars, for nine hundred copies of Special Laws, fourth and fifth volumes; also to Asahel Stearns, Esq. of Cambridge, and Lemuel Shaw, Esq. of Boston, the sum of four hundred and fifty dollars each, for their services as Commissioners in the preparation and superintendance of the same work. CHAP. LXVI. Report on the use of Stereotype Plate. The Committee of both Houses, instructed to inquire, "whether any plan can be devised to prevent the counterfeiting of Bank Notes;" respectfully report: That they have given the subject as much attention as their Legislative duties would permit; and from all the enquiries they have been able to make, they have no hesitation in giving it as their opinion, that the use of the Stereotype Plate will afford greater security against counterfeiting, than any other plate within their knowledge.— In this opinion, your Committee are strengthened from the facts stated by the Directors of several of the Boston Banks, that they have lately come to the determination of using this plate, not only as the most safe, but as the most economical that can be adopted. With a view of gaining more exact information on this important subject, the Committee sent for Mr. Abraham Perkins, of Newburyport, who, in the absence of Mr. Jacob Perkins, the proprietor, acts as his agent. He stated that but one instance had, to his knowledge, occurred, of an attempt to counterfeit any of the Stereotype Notes; |