these cases is, or is not, a curable case. Besides, the Committee are not aware that any serious evil has arisen from the residence of the curable with the incurable, in the same Hospital, nor, indeed, in the same apartment. Experience has shown that the incurable monomaniac is, oftentimes, intelligent, gentlemanly, and, in various ways, useful to the violent and the convalescent, in an Asylum. Every Insane Hospital, to flourish and become popular, must contain individuals of sufficient interest to enlist the attention and the sympathies of the community. This, it would not do, if only hopelessly incurable patients were to occupy it. Moreover, every such Institution should secure for its Head and General Superintendent, a respectable Physician;-a man well acquainted with the science of his profession, and thoroughly experienced in the forms of diseases which affect the mind, and that such a man may be interested and serviceable, cases must be committed to his care that will awaken his energies, and call forth his skill for their cure. This would not, -could not be done, if only the incurable were placed in his custody. Hence, the Committee are clear and unanimous, that no new classification of the insane, in our asylums, can be made with the prospect of beneficial results. 7. AN ALTERATION OR AMENDMENT OF THE PRESENT LAWS APPLYING TO INSANITY. The Committee have examined the present laws of the Commonwealth, applying to the subject of insanity, and the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester; and they are satisfied that these laws are susceptible of improvement. But it will be obvious to all, that, if the Legislature receive favorably the recommendation of the Committee herein contained, and take final measures for the erection of another Insane Hospital,-important alterations in our laws will become necessary, which can more properly be made after such final action shall have taken place. The Committee, therefore, deem it premature to recommend any definite change. Should the Legislature refuse to adopt our recommendation, 1 the Committee would propose that the 6th section of the 48th chapter of the Revised Statutes be so amended, as to give the Judges, therein named, power to commit, as therein specified, all persons so insane as to render it unsafe to themselves, or the peace and quietness of the community, that they should be at large. They would further propose, that the 15th section of the same chapter be so amended, that the Trustees, therein named, be directed, in the removals referred to, to select such as are most harmlessly insane, and belonging to those cities and counties which have the best accommodations therefor; and if, after said removal of any such insane person, it should be made to appear, to either of the Judges mentioned in said 6th section, that such insane person has become again so insane, as to render it necessary for his benefit, and the peace and quiet of the community, that such person should be again placed at said Hospital, said Judges shall have power to recommit him. In conclusion: -The Committee unanimously recommend, that a new Insane Asylum, for the State, be erected, in such section of the Commonwealth as the Legislature shall elect;that it be of sufficient capacity to accommodate, at least, two hundred and fifty patients, and their attendants; that it be constructed upon the PLAN of the New Jersey State Lunatic Asylum, at Trenton; that the necessary appropriations be made; and that Commissioners be appointed, and clothed with necessary and competent powers, to select the site, purchase the land, erect the buildings, provide the equipments, and complete the work, of preparing the Asylum for the reception of patients. All which is respectfully submitted. BOSTON, January 15th, 1849. ORIN FOWLER, LEVI TAYLOR, SENATE.... No. 10. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In the year One Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty Nine. AN ACT To restrain Printing or Circulating Shop Bills of the similitude of Bank Bills. BE it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows 1 If any person shall print, issue, utter, or circulate, 2 any shop bill, or advertisement, in similitude, form, 3 or appearance, like a bank bill, on paper similar to 4 paper used for bank bills, and with vignettes, figures, 5 or decorations used on bank bills, or having the gen6 eral appearance of a bank bill, every such person, so 7 offending, shall forfeit the sum of fifty dollars for 8 every such offence, to be recovered by indictment, or 9 he shall be imprisoned in the common jail for a term 10 not exceeding ninety days, at the discretion of the 11 court. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, January 20, 1849. Ordered to be engrossed. Sent up for concurrence, CHARLES W. STOREY, Clerk. SENATE.... No. 11. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled: The Commissioners, appointed under a Resolve of the Legislature of Massachusetts, of the tenth of May, 1848, to ascertain what is the true and accurate boundary line between the towns of Williamsburg and Whately, and to make report to the next Legislature, having first notified the counties of Hampshire and Franklin, and also the towns of Williamsburg and Whately, and, pursuant to said notice, having met them in Williamsburg on the twenty-fourth day of October, 1848, and having heard all corporations and persons interested, who desired to be heard in the premises, -in discharge of the duty assigned to them, under their commission, respectfully submit their REPORT as follows: The Commissioners found, upon investigation, that the only doubt or controversy which had ever existed, as to the true line between the towns of Williamsburg and Whately, had arisen from the adverse claims of said towns to a tract of land on the north and south line between said towns; that said town of Williamsburg had formerly some well founded claim |