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Walter Dulany, Esq; from the Upper House, delivers to M.r
Speaker, the Bill, entitled, An Act for the Relief of certain languish-
ing Prisoners in the several Jails therein mentioned ; thus indorsed:
"By the Upper House of Assembly, November 10.th 1770 Read the
first and second Time, by an especial Order, and will pass, with the
Amendment hereunto annexed.
Signed by Order U Scott Cl. Up. Ho."
At the End of the last Page, add the following Clause, Viz.t
"And be it further enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That if
any of the Persons intended to be relieved by this Act, and who
shall choose to take the Benefit thereof, are, and, shall in the Opinion
of two Justices of the Peace of the County where the Party is a Pris-
oner, be of sufficient Ability of Body to labour, such Person or
Persons, not having a Wife or Child, or Children under 12 Years
of Age, shall be, and are hereby obliged to serve for a Time, not
exceeding five Years, to any Person or Persons, who are or shall
be inclined to purchase the Time of Servitude of such Debtor or
Debtors, and that the respective Sheriffs, in whose Custody, the
aforesaid Debtor, or any of them are, be and are hereby authorized
and obliged to summon two Justices of the Peace in the respective
Counties, at the Request of the said Prisoners, as soon as con-
veniently may be, after the End of this Session of Assembly; and
after giving five Days Notice, at the Court House of the respective
Counties, of the intended Sale of such Debtor or Debtors, expose
to Sale, in the Presence of the said Justices, such Debtor or Debtors,
and the Time of his or their Servitude to the highest Bidder; and
the Money arising from such Sale, shall be as Effects of such Debtor
or Debtors, in the Hands of the respective Sheriffs, subject as afore-
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p. 161
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said, to a Distribution in Manner aforesaid; and the Sale and Ser-
vice of such Debtor or Debtors, as aforesaid, is hereby directed to
be taken as full and sufficient Acquital and Discharge against all
Debts due from such Debtor or Debtors before such Sale. Provided,
That in Case it shall appear to the Satisfaction of the said Justices,
that any of the said Debtors have offered, since their Confinement,
to make Satisfaction to their Creditors, by Servitude, and that their
Creditors have refused to accept the same, that the Time such
Debtors have been confined in Prison shall be deemed and taken as
Part of the aforesaid five Years, and that they shall be obliged to
serve only for such Time as will complete five Years from the Day
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