The Rhode Island Republican

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PROVIDENCE, NOV. 6. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY Closed their fall session at South Kingstown on Saturday last, and adjourned to meet in this town on the third Monday in February next. The following is a summary of the business transacted during the session. An act passed to prevent the receipt of illegal toll. This act imposes a penalty of not less than two dollars, nor more than five, on any keeper of a Toll Gate who shall demand or receive any greater toll than is allowed by law. An act passed, providing that the wearing apparel (excepting jewelry and watches) of any deceased person, not exceeding $50 in value, shall not hereafter be considered as assets in the hands of Executors, or Administrators: but that the same, if not bequeathed, may go to the legal heirs of the deceased. The Peace Insurance Company in Providence were empowered to reduce their capital to $40,000, and the number of directors from 13 to 7. By a joint resolution, Thursday, the 2d of December next, was set apart to be observed throughout the State as a Day of Thanksgiving and Praise. Acts passed, appending the Charter of Field's Fountain Society in Providence; and to revive the Charter of Greene Academy in Smithfield, which had been forfeited in consequence of some trivial informality. Benjamin Hazard, Nathaniel Searle, Elisha R. Potter, Albert C. Greene, and James T. D'Wolf, were appointed a committee to frame, and report, as soon as may be, an estimate of all the rateable estates and property within this State. -- The last estimate, agreeably to which the taxes are now apportioned, was made more than twenty years since, and is very unequal. A committee appointed at a previous session, reported that the aggregate amount of the registered State Debt, was $64,255 11--exclusive of interest. A resolution passed both Houses, appointing the Attorney General, General Treasurer, N. F. Dixon, and Robinson Potter, a committee to devise the most expedient means for liquidating the State Debt--and to make report at the next session. Acts passed, amending the Charters of the Union Bank in Providence, the Bank of Kent in Coventry, and the Landholders' Bank in South-Kingstown. These amendments provide, that the stock of each stockholder shall be liable for the payment of any debt he may owe the bank; and that no transfers of stock shall be made without permission of the directors. The committee who were appointed several years since to take into their possession the effects, books, &c. of the defunct Farmer's Exchange Bank in Gloucester, and to collect the debts due said bank, were required to exhibit a statement of their proceedings to the Assembly. The Assembly granted the petitions of several convicts, for liberation from prison. Among the number of these applicants for legislative clemency was James Billington, on whom sentence of death was passed, for burglary, in October, 1815. This punishment was commuted by the General Assembly for imprisonment for life-and the prisoner has remained in close confinement, without fire or candle-light, subsisting on scanty food, for more than four years. In consequence of the severity of his punishment and the impoverished and dependent situation of his family, the Assembly have at last consented to his release. Nothing was said or done in relation to the establishment of Public Schools, or the enactment of a Free Suffrage Bill. The committee on the subject of Insolvency made no report-and no petitions for the benefit of the Insolvent Act were tried--the same being continued to the next session of the Assembly, with a stay of proceedings against the persons of the petitioners. Charters were granted for Savings Institutions in Providence and Bristol. A resolution was passed, that the members of the Assembly will wear crape on their left arms thirty days, as a mourning for Com. Perry, and Benjamin Hazard was appointed to write his biography. The Editor of the Gazette in this town has announced his intention of issuing that paper semi-weekly in January next, on Monday and Thursday. This arrangement will produce a paper every morning in the week: Miller & Hutchens have also issued proposals for publishing a semi-weekly paper in this town, on the same days.

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