The Lower House. 661

A Bill to try all Facts in the Countys where they have
or shall arise was read the second time and past which was so
Endorst and sent to the Upper House by M^r Stoddert and
nine Others.
They return and Say they delivered it.
The Petition of Rachell Freeborn and Major Sewalls Affairs
About Darby are both Referred till next Sessions.
The House Adjourns till to Morrow Morning nine of the
Clock.

Friday Octob^r 18^th
The House Meets According to Adjournment.
Yesterdays proceedings are read.
On a motion being made the Question was put whether a
Generall or Conditionall Bill shall be brought in for the relief
of severall poor prisoners.

Carried by the Majority of Votes that it be Generall.
M^r Hill from the Committee of Accounts Delivers M^r
Speaker the Journall of that Committee which was read and
assented to and was so Endorst and sent to the Upper House
by the Gent of that Committee
They Return and say they Delivered it.
James Stoddert Esq^r from the Committee appointed to In-
spect into the Ancient Records of this province returns the fol-
lowing report which was read and Approved of and ordered
to be Entred as follows viz :

The Report of the Committee Appointed to Inspect the
Ancient Records of this province and Examine how farr the
Laws and Generall Statutes of England have been received
in the Courts of Judicature here.

Your Committee haveing informed themselves as well as
the time and a Carefull Examination of the Antient Records
and other Writeings would Admitt how farr the Laws and
Generall Statutes of England have been received as Laws
within this province since its first Settlement, find that in the
Earlyest times there were as many instances of Decisions

L.H. J.

by the Generall Statutes of England (without any Objections
or Opposition) As there were Cases that would be Affected
by them and a Continuation of such Dicisions untill the Gov-
ernment was taken into the Hands of King William and
Queen Mary (of Glorious memory,) and that all the time the
Government Continued Immediately under the Crown as
many Cases both Criminall and Civill as Came within the
purview of the Statutes (which Could not be many in Com-

p. 62