138 



less we were named in them, said the judges and other 

 partisans of the crown, hut named or not named, said 

 thosse who reflected freely. It will l)e unnecessary to 

 attempt a description of the laws of England, as that 

 may be found in English j)uhlications. To those which 

 were estahlislied here, hy the adoption of the legisla- 

 ture, have heen since athled a number of acts of assem- 

 bly passed during liie monarchy, and ordinances of 

 convention and acts of assend)ly enacted since the es- 

 tablishment of the repid)lic. The following variations 

 from the British model are perhaps worthy of being 

 specified. 



Debtors unable to pay their debts, and making faith- 

 ful delivery of their whole effects, {^re released from 

 confinement, and their persotis forever discharged from 

 restraint for such previous debts: but any [)roperty 

 they may afterwards acquire will be subject to their 

 creditors. 



The poor, unable to support themselves, are main- 

 tained by an assessment on the tytheable persons in 

 their parish. This assessment is levied and adminis- 

 tered by twelve persons in each parish, called vestry- 

 men, originally chosen by the housekeepers of the pa- 

 rish, but afterwards filling vacancies in their own body 

 by their own choice, Tliese are usually the most <lis- 

 creet farmers, so distributed through their parish, that 

 every part of it may be under the immediate eye of 

 some one of them. They are well acquainted with the 

 details and econofny of [wivate lite, and they find sufii- 

 cient inducements to execute their charge well, in their 

 philanthropy, in the approbation of their neighbours, 

 and the distinction which that gives them. The poor 

 who have neither [)roperty, friends, nor strength to la- 

 bour, are boarded in the houses of good farmers, to 

 whom a stipulated sum is annually paid. To those 

 who are able to help themselves a little, or have friends 

 from whom they derive some succours, inade(piate how- 

 ever to their full mamtenance, supplementary aids are 

 given which enable them to live comfortably in their 

 own houses, or in the houses of their friends. Vaga- 



