constitution and fundamental laws of this commonwealth, and published in immediate connexion therewith, in all future editions of the laws of this commonwealth, printed by public authority. And in order that the said amendments may be promul gated and made known to the people of this commonwealth without delay, it is further $3. First. By relinquishing a part of the land purchased, or held by him, on which a balance stil remains due to the United States, and having their sums paid on the land relinquished, so applied as to complete the payment of the amount due, or to become due, on the whole or a part of the land not relinquished. $4. Second. By paying the amount due, or to be-, come due, on each tract of land purchased, or held by him, in eight, six or four equal annual instalments, according as me fourth, one-half or threefourths of the original price shall have been paid thereon. $5. Third. By paying, on or before the 30th day of September, 1822, the whole amount due, or to ecome due, on any tract of land purchased or held by him, at a deduction of thirty-seven and a half per centum on said amount. Resolved, That his excellency, the governor, be, and he hereby is authorized and requested to issue his proclamation, reciting the articles aforesaid; announcing that the same have been duly adopted and ratified by the people of this commonwealth, and become a part of the constitution thereof; and requiring all magistrates, officers civil and military, and all the citizens of this commonwealth, to take notice thereof, and govern themselves accordingly." Now, therefore, I, Jon Brooks, governor of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority to me given by the resolution last above written, do issue this my proclamation, and I do hereby announce, that the several articles aforesaid have been duly ratified and adopted by the $6. If he wishes to pay the whole, or any part of people of this commonwealth, and have become a the amount due, or to become due, for land purpart of the constitution thereof, And all magis- chased or held by him, by relinquishing a part of trates, officers civil and military, and all the citizens is land, he must, on or before the 30th day of Sepof the commonwealth, are required to take notice tember ne.ct, file, with the register of the land-office, thereof, and govern themselves accordingly. where the land was purchased, a relinquishment, Given at the council chamber in Boston, the day in writing, of any section, half-section, quarter-secand year first above written, and in the forty-tion, half quarter section, fractional section, or lefifth year of the independence of the United gal subdivision of a fractional section, for which he is entitled to relief, and must at the same time surrender the register's certificate for the same. States. JOHN BROOKS. By his excellency the governor, Public Lands. Of relief by relinquishment. §7. If he has purchased two or more quarter sections at the same time, that is, at the same sale of public lands, he cannot relinquish less than a quar. ter section. If he relinquish land to the amount of one or more quarters, he must relinquish entire Notice to debtors to the United States for public lands. quarter sections and not parts of different quarter By the act of congress, passed the 2d day of sections. Where he relinquishes a half-quarter March last, entitled "An act for the relief of the section, he must designate it as the east or west half purchasers of the public lands prior to the first day of the quarter of which it is a moity. [thus: east of July 1820," relief is to be extended to every half of N. W. quarter or west half of N. W. quarter, person who purchased land, or is the legal holder for quarter sections are divided by lines running of a certificate or certificates of land, purchased north and south. The register's certificate, which prior to the 1st day of July, 1820, where the tract he holds, shows the quantity of acres contained in or tracts so purchased and held by him, have not the tract held by him. Any legal division or subbeen fully paid for, and were not forfeited on or be. division, relinquished of that tract, must contain a fore the 2d day of March last, upon the condition quantity of acres proportional to the quantity con only, that he shall, on or before the 30th day of Sep-tained in the tract, as stated in the certificate, tember nert, have signed and filed, with the regis ter of the land office where the land was purchased, a declaration in writing, expressing his consent to the provisions of the act, (as hereinafter prescribed,) and shall have paid to the register fifty cents for receiving, recording, and filing the same. Persons holding lands, liable, by the laws under which they were purchased, to forfeiture, between the 2d day of March last, and the 1st day of October next, are included within the provisions of the act, and, on complying with the foregoing condition, will be entitled to the relief authorized by it, and he is to make his calculations accordingly. §8. If a fractional section contains less than one hundred and sixty acres, a part of it cannot be re linquished. If a fractional section contains one hundred and sixty acres, or more, a part of it may be relinquished; a part less than eighty acres cannot be relinquished; a part which will leave a quantity less than eighty acres cannot be relinquished; so that where a purchaser wishes to relinquishes a part of a fractional section, of one hundred and sixty acres and upwards, he can neither relinquish nor retain less than eighty acres. $9. The course which the divisional line is to Of the relief authorized by the act. run, is to be determined, as nearly as possible, by $2. The interest which shall have accrued be. the register, who is to trace it on the map, accordfore the 30th day of September next, upon any ing to instructions from the treasury, at the time debt to the United States, for public lands, is to be the relinquishment is presented, before it can be remitted. The debt of each person entitled to re-filed. For the part relinquished and the part not lief, is then to be considered, as consisting of the relinquished, must be described in their respective purchase money due, or to become due, on the parts of the relinquishment, and this cannot be tract or tracts purchased or held by him, and may done until it be determined by the register, as be paid or discharged in any one of the three fol-nearly as may be, how the divisional line is to run. lowing ways, or part of the debt may be paid in one of the ways, and a part in either or both of the other ways: $10. The purchaser can only state, in his relinquishment of part of a fractional section, containing more than one hundred and sixty acres, the quan tity of acres he intends to relinquish and the quantity he wishes to retain, and, if he does not appear at the land office, in person, or by attorney, to select or point out which side of the divisional line he will take, the register must determine for him, and state in the relinquishment, before he files it, which side of the line is relinquished, and which is not. $11. The relinquishment must contain all the tracts held by the party, as purchaser, assignee, or otherwise, and purchased at the same land office, for which he wishes relief under the act, and is to be drawn according to the following form, viz. Form of relinquishment. RELINQUISHMENT, NO, 1821. [I, A. B. (or assignee of C. D. as the case may be,)] do hereby declare [my] consent to the provisions of the act of congress, passed on the 2d day of March, 1821, entitled "An act for the relief of the purchasers of the public lands, prior to the 1st day of July, 1820;" and wishing to avail [myself] of the relief granted by the 1st section of the said act [I] do hereby relinquish to the United States, all [my] right and title to, and interest in, the following described tracts and legal subdivision of [the] tracts of land, (the payment of which has not been completed,) held by [me] and purchased in the district lands offered for sale at [ Cincinnati,] viz: of No. of townships.. No. of range........ In testimony whereof, [1] have hereunto set [my] hand and seal this day of, 1821. (A. B.) [Seal. $12. The relinquishment consists of two parts: The first part contains an abstract, in which are to be entered, in their respective columns, the date of purchase-the number and date of the register's certificate, and a description of each and every tract, or of the part of each and every tract, intended to be relinquished. The second part contains an abstract, in which are to be entered, in their respective columns, first, the date of purchase-the number and date of the register's certificate, and a description of the part not relinquished of each and every tract, the part relinquished of which is entered in the abstract of the first part; and, then, the date of purchase, the number and date of the register's certificate, and a description of each and every tract, of which no part is intended to be relinquished. The columns in each abstract are to be extended in proportion to the number of tracts to be entered in it. §13. When a purchaser, or legal holder of land, wishes to relinquish any part thereof, no matter how small that part may be, and no matter how great the quantity held by him, he must file a relinquishment, which, as before stated, must include all the tracts for which he wishes relief. The whole amount of land owned by him is thus divided into land relinquished and land not relinquished. §14 All sums paid on account of purchase money, of the land relinquished, are to be transferred and applied to the payment of the land not relinquished, in such manner as to complete the payment of the greatest number of half quarter sections, or smallest legal subdivisions of fractional sections. The manner in which the distribution of the sums, heretofore paid on land relinquished, is to be made, to complete the payment of land not relinquished, is where the land was purchased. to be determined by the register of the land office [Abstract of the first part of the relinquishment.] And request that the sums paid on account of the §15 All tracts or parts of tracts, unpaid for by the purchase money of said lands relinquished, be trans- transfer of payments, will be further credited, acferred and applied towards completing the pay-cording to the second mode of relief before stated, ment of the following described tracts and legal ($4, and explained hereafter, $29). The purchaser subdivisions of tracts of land not relinquished, (the may, however, pay the balance due on any tract, payment of which has not been completed), held or part of a tract, (a part being relinquished), by me and purchased as aforesaid, viz: which would otherwise be further credited, in cash, at the time of relinquishment; for doing which he will be allowed a discount of thirty-seven and u half per cent. on the amount of that balance. Original Tract or legal subdi certificate Date of herewith surrender'd purchase Number. Date. vision relinquish ed-whether sec tion, half section, section, half quarter sec- No. No. of townships.. of range........ No. of section...... Abstract of the second part of the relinquishment.] And [I] do hereby further request, that if, after the transferring and applying of the said sums as requested, there shall be any balance, (exclusive of interest accrued), due, or to become due, from [me] as [purchaser or assignee] on account of the purchase money, of any part of said land not relinquished, [1] may have further credit on the same, according to the provisions of the 3d section of the act of congress aforesaid. $16. If the purchaser wishes to pay the whole amount due, or to become due from him to the U. States, by relinquishing just so much land as will enable him to complete the payment of his land not relinquished, it may happen that the sum paid on the land relinquished will either fall short of, or exceed, the amount due, or to become due, on the land not relinquished, as he can relinquish parts of tracts only in the manner already laid down, ($7 and 8). §17. If it fall short of the amount required, he may deduction of thirty-seven and half per cent.; or pay this deficiency, or balance due, by cash, at the have the part of the tract on which such deficiency falls, further credit, ($15), which is to be under. stood as his intention, if he does not pay it in cash at the time of relinquishment. $18. If it exceed the amount required, he must either forfeit this excess, (for he cannot claim any re-payment from the United States), or he must relinquish a half quarter section less, [or a quarter section, if he cannot relinquish less than a quarter secion, (§7)] so as to make a deficiency, or balance, due from him to the United States, which may be paid by cash; or the part of a tract on which it falls may be further credited, as before-(§17). $19. The party must make his calculations before he signs and files his relinquishment. He will always be safe in making his calculations, to relinquish in such manner as to have a balance due from him to the United States, if the sums paid on land relinquished will not exactly meet the payments to De made or the land not relinquished, when it is his intention to pay, if possible, the whole debt to the United States for public land. tain land certificate which he held for the § 26. For every tract, legal division, or subdivi-' sion of a tract of land not relinquished, on which the payment of the amount due, or to become due, $20. But when the purchaser intends to discharge shall have been completed by a transfer of paya part only of the debt to the United States, by re- ments for that purpose, or by cash, at the deduc-" linquishment, the sums paid on land relinquished, tion of thirty-seven and a half per centum, at the will be so transferred and applied by the Register time of relinquishment, the register is to issue a as to complete the payment of the greatest number final certificate, according to the form prescribed, of half-quarter sections of the lund not relinquished, to the person who purchased or held the same, to and the balance remaining due on any tract, or part be presented at the general land office for a patent.' And for each part of a tract (a part being relinof a tract, (a part being relinquished), will be further credited, if not paid, at the time the relinquished) that may be further credited, the register will issue a certificate of further credit to the purs quishment is filed, by cash and discount. chaser. $21. Discount allowed on payments heretofore made on land relinquished,is to be considered a part of the sums to be transferred to complete the payment of land not relinquished. §22. Interest paid on payments heretofore made on land relinquished, is not to be considered a part of the sums to be transferred to complete the pay. ment of land not relinquished. §23. Payments made upon land relinquished in one district, cannot be carried to the credit of payments due in another; as the transactions of different land offices cannot be blended together. $24. The Register's certificate for each and every tract of land, held by the party relinquishing, must be surrendered at the time the relinquishment is filed. § 27. The register is entitled to receive fifty.. cents from the purchaser for receiving, recording, and filing his relinquishment. It contains the declaration of his consent to the provisions of the act as required (§1.) § 28. The register and receiver, respectively, are entitled to receive fifty cents, from the purchaser, for each and every tract whereof the whole or a part is relinquished. Of relief by further credit. the register of the land office, where the land was purchased, a declaration, in writing, expressing his consent to the provisions of the act, in the following $29. When the purchaser does not intend to re linquish any part of the land held by him and purchased at any one land office, but wishes merely to have the further credit authorized by the act, on § 25. If a certificate be lost, the purchaser, or the balance due or to become due on account of person legally entitled to the land, must file with the purchase money of his land, he must, on or bethe register, in lieu thereof, the following docu-fore the 30th day of September next, sign and file, with ments, as proof of its loss, viz: After advertising the lost certificate nine times in a public newspaper, and producing a certificate or affidavit of the printer as to the number of insertions, the owner must produce satisfactory evidence of the loss, un[I, A. B. or assignee of C. D. as the case may be,] der oath, and of its being unconveyed to any other person; and, where the lost certificate contains a do hereby declare [my] consent to the provisions of transfer from a previous owner, a deposition to that the act of congress, passed on the 2d day of March, effect, by the witnesses, or a duplicate conveyance 1821, entitled "An act for the relief of the pur. of the land, will be necessary, unless the assignee chasers of the public lands prior to the 1st day of should have taken the precaution to have the evi-July, 1820;" and request that [1] may have a furdence of transfer legally recorded; in which case, an authenticated copy of the record will suffice. Form of advertisement of a lost certificate. "Lost certificate of land purchased from the United States. Public notice is hereby given, that, three weeks after date, application will be made to the register of the land office at for the renewal of a certificate in my name, for quarter of section No. -, in township No.-, of range No. -, in the district of -; the original having been lost or de stroyed. Given under my hand, at form: DECLARATION, No. 1821. ther credit, agreeably to the 3d section of the said act, on the balance (exclusive of interest accrued) due or to become due from [me] as [ purchaser or assignee, to suit the case] on account of the purchase money of the following described tracts of land, (the payment of which has not been completed,) held by [me,] and purchased of the United States in the district of lands offered for sale at [Cincinnati,] viz: Form of the deposition. } Sct. Personally appeared before me, the undersign. ed, a justice of the peace in and for said county, LA. B.] who, being duly sworn, deposes that a cer is reqested. No, of township.. No. of section..... No. of range........ In testimony whereof, [I] have hereunto set [my]] hand and seal this day of 1821. G. H. [signed] In the presence of E. F. A. B. $38. All persons who shall, on or before the 34th day of September next, have availed themselves of the relief by further credit, will be entitled to the benefit of the deduction of thirty-seven and a haf per centum upon their paying, between the 3 day § 30. The declaration contains an abstract, in September, 1821, and the 1st day of Octob., 1822, which are to be entered, in their respective co-the whole amount which may be due, or to become lumns, the date of purchase, the number and date due, on any tract of land on which a further credit of the register's certificate, and a description of shall have been given. each and every tract heid by the purchaser. § 31. The tract or tracts, on such declaration be- or is the legal holder of a certificate of any town $39. Any person, who purchased any town lot, ing filed, are to be classed by the register, accord-lot purchased from the United States, prior to the ing to the amount of the orginal price paid on them, 1st day of July, 1820, is entitled to the benefits of respectively, in the manner following, viz: all the provisions of the act, except that of relin. The first class is to include all tracts on which quishment, and may pay the amount due, or to beone fourth, or more than one fourth, and less than one come due, on such lot, either by a further credit, or half, of the original price has been paid. by cash at the deduction of thirty seven and a half per centum, on his complying with the requisitions hereinbefore laid down under the relief by further credit, and by cash, at a deduction of thirty-seven und a half per centum. As he is not entitled to relief under the first section of the act, he can neither relinquish any town lot, so purchased or held by him, nor have the payments made on land relinquished transferred and applied towards the pay. ment of such lot. The second class is to include all tracts on which one-half, or more than one-half, and less than three fourths, of the original price has been paid. The third class is to include all tracts on which three fourths, or more than three-fourths, and less than the whole, of the original price has been paid. $32. After determining to what class each tract is to belong, the whole amount due, or to become due on it, is to be divided into eight, six, or four, equal annual instalments, according as it belongs to the first, second, or third class. If the tract belong to the third class, the first instalment will be payable on the 30th day of September, 1821. If the tract belong to the second class, the first instalment will be payable on the 31st day of December, 1821. If the tract belong to the first class, the first instalment will be payable on the 31st day of March, 1822. Each instalment is to bear an annual interest at the rate of six per centum, from the 30th day of September, 1821, which interest is to be remitted if the instalment be punctually paid when it shall become payable. § 40. Any person, or company, that has laid off on any lands purchased of the United States any town, lots whereof have been sold, shall, in order to be entitled to relief under the act, besides declaring bis or their consent to the provisions of the act, as required, (§ 1,) further declare that he or such company accept of the terms and conditions of the fifth section of the said act, and will, in all respects, comply with the provisions thereof. of The form of this declaration is as follows: I, (or we,) that I (or we,) accept the terms and conditions of do hereby declare, the fifth section of the act of congress, passed the $33. The register of the land office shall issue a 2d day of March, 1821, entitled, "An act for the "a certificate of further credit," in lieu of the ori-relief of the purchasers of the public lands, prior ginal certificate surrendered, for each tract on which a further credit shall have been thus allowed. $34. The register's certificate for each and every tract of land, held by the party filing the declara. tion, must be surrendered at the time such déclaration is presented; the declaration is filed. If a certificate be lost, proof of its loss, as before, must be filed in its stead. $35. The register is entitled to receive fifty cents from the purchaser, for receiving, recording, and filing his declaration. Of relief by cash, at a reduction of thirty-seven and a half per centum. 36. Any person entitled to relief by the act, who shall, on or before the 30th day of September next, pay the whole amount due, or to become due, for any tract of land purchased or held by him, shall be allowed a deduction of thirty-seven and an half per centum on said amount, without being required to file a declaration expressive of his consent to the provisions of the act, as required, (§ 1.) to the 1st day of July, 1820," in consequence of my having applied for the benefit of the provisions of said act, in relation to the following described half quarter, quarter section, or section, (as the case may be,) on which I have laid out the town called viz: and that, having sold lots, [or parts of lots of said town, or land in and adjoining the same,] to the following named persons, I will allow to each of them, all the benefits of the provi sions of the fifth section of said act, on the amount now remaining due, on account of the purchase money of such lot, (or part of a lot or land,) so purchased, to which benefits they are entitled in conse quence of my having applied for relief as aforesaid. (Hore the names of the debtors are to be inserted. ) In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed my seal, this day of of The relinquishment and declaration may be made by the original parties, their assignees, heirs, or guardians of such heirs, or executors, or adminis trators, or by attorney authorized by such persons. Form of a general power of attorney. § 37. Those persons who may intend to pay the Know all men by these presents that amount due, or to become due, on any tract of land have made, ordained, constituted, and appurchased or held by them, at the deduction of pointed, of true and lawful atthirty-seven and a half per centum, between the torney for and in -name, to sign and 30th day of September next and the 1st day of Oc-file with the register of the land office at tober, 1822, must file, on or before the 30th day of [a relinquishment or declaration, as the case may be,] September next, a declaration, requesting to have in due form, of any section, half-section, quarterfurther credit on such debt, similar in all respects to that required where further credit is to be given, and must at the same time surrender the register's certificate-(§ 29.) section, half-quarter section, fractional section, or fice, and to make and execute all acts of relinquish | 1. That the parliamentary standard yard, made ment, or declaration thereof, which may be re-by Bird in 1760, be hence forward considered as quired of to make and execute, to entitle the authentic legal standard of the British empire; to the benefit of the provisions of the act and that it be identified, by declaring that 39.1393 of congress passed the 2d day of March, 1821, en-inches of this standard, at the temperature of 60° titled "an act for the relief of the purchases of the of Fahrenheit, have been found equal to the length public lands prior to the first day of July, 1820," of a pendulum supposed to vibrate seconds in Louwith power to the said attorney to substitute an at-don, on the level of the sea, and in a vacuum. torney, or attorneys under 2. That the parliamentary standard troy pound, ses aforesaid, and to do all the lawful acts for ef-according to the two pound weight made in 1758, fecting the premises: hereby ratifying and con- remain unaltered; and that 7,000 troy grains be defirming whatever. the said attorney, substi-clared to constitute an avoirdupois pound; the cutute or substitutes shall, or may lawfully do or bic inch of distilled water being found to weigh, cause to be done therein, by virtue of these pre-at 62° in a vacuum, 252.72 parliamentary grains. sents. for the purpos 3. That the ale and carn gallon be restored to their original equality, by taking, for the statutable common gallon of the British empire, a mean valuc, such that a gallon of common water may weigh 10 pounds avoirdupois in ordinary circumstances, its contents being nearly 277.3 cubic inches; and that correct standards of this imperial gallon, and of the bushel, peck, quart, and pint, derived from it, and of their parts, be procured, without delay for the exchequer, and for such other offices in your ma jesty's dominions, as may be judged most convenient for the ready use of your majesty's subjects. 41. The benefit of the provisions of the act, is not to extend to any person, claiming title to land 4. Whether any further legislative enactments under the provisions of the act passed the 3d day are required, for enforcing a uniformity of practice of March, 1817, entitled “an act to set apart and throughout the British empire, we do not feel ourdispose of certain public lands, for the encourage-selves competent to determine; but it appears to us ment of the cultivation of the vine and olive." that nothing would be more conducive to the at$42. If any tract, legal division, or subdivision of tainment of this end, than to increase, as far as pos a tract, for the payment of which further credit sible, the facility of a ready recurrence to the legal shall have been allowed, in the manner laid down, standards, which we apprehend to be in a great [$29] be not paid for, both as to principal and the measure attainable by the means that we have reinterest, which may accrue after the 30th day of commended. It would also, in all probability, be of September, 1821, within the term of three months, advantage to give a greater degree of publicity to after the day appointed for the payment of the last the appendix of the last report, containing a comequal annual instalment, it is to be returned as for-parison of the customary measures employed feited to the United States. TREASURY DEPARTMENT, General land office, 15th June, 1821. JOSIAH MEIGS, commissioner. N. B.-Blank declarations and relinquishments will be furnished to purchasers, on their application, by the registers of the different land offices, for the districts wherein the act takes effect! They will be also furnished on application at the general land office. Weights and Measures. BRITISH PARLIAMENTARY PAPER. throughout the country. 5. We are not aware that any further services remain for us to perform, in the execution of the com. mands laid upon us by your majesty's commission; but if any superintendence of the regulations to be adopted, were thought necessary, we should still be ready to undertake such inspections and examina tions as might be required for the complete attain. ment of the objects in question. London, March 31, 1821. Foreign Articles. GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. London papers of the 20th May. Third report of the commissioners appointed to consider the subject, of weights and measures. We, the commissioners appointed, &c. have now The king's birth day was celebrated by a magnicompleted the examination of the standards which ficent drawing room-upwards of 2000 ladies and we have thought it necessary to compare. The gentlemen were present. After which there was measurements which we have lately performed, | a ball, which did not break up until after day-light upon the apparatus employed by the late Sir George-and so forth. Shuckburgh Evelyn, have enabled us to determine, The Englishman, a Sunday paper, states, that with sufficient precision,the weight of a given bulk of water, with a view to the fixing the magnitude of the standard of weight; that of length being alrea. dy determined by the experiments related in our former reports; and we have found, by computa tions, that the weight of a cubic inch of distilled water, at 62 deg. of Fahrenheit, is 252,72 grains of the parliamentary standard pound of 1758, supposing it to be weighed in a vacuum. We beg leave, therefore, finally to recommend, with all humanity, to your majesty, the adoption of the regulations and modifications suggested in our former reports, which are principally these: loans were contracting in England, by the govern ment of Russia, Prussia, Austria, Spain and Naples; and it was supposed, that both Sardinia and Portugal would require pecuniary assistance in the same manser. The whole annual expense, of detaining Napoleon, amounts to 1,777,000 dollars, per annum. The most costly prisoner ever kept since the be ginning of the world. It is calculated by good judges, in England, that the gold which was withdrawn from circulation, by being hoarded in that country, during the suspension of cash payments, and which may be now ex |