RULES AND ORDERS

OF THE

SOCIETY

FOR THE DISCHARGE AND RELIEF OF

PERSONS IMPRISONED FOR SMALL DEBTS.

1, NAME OF THE CHARITY.

THAT this institution be called The SOCIETY for the DISCHARGE and RELIEF of Persons imprisoned for SMALL DEBTS.

II. OFFICERS.

That this Charity do consist of a President, four Vice-Presidents, a Treasurer, Secretary, and Committee.

III. COMMITTEE.

I. That the Committee be open to, and consist of, all such persons as are qualified to be Governors.

II. That of the Committee three members constitute a quorum.

IV. MEETINGS.

I. That there be an Annual Meeting, on the first Wednesday in April *.

II. That there be four quarterly general meetings in every year.

III. And also a meeting of the Committee on the first Wednesday in every month, at Twelve o'clock.

IV. Of all which several meetings, due notice shall be given by advertisement in the public newspapers +.

V. That the place for holding all such meetings be in Craven-street §.

V. OF THE TREASURER.

I. That he receive all benefactions, keep an account of all receipts and payments, and adjust the same at the four general quarterly courts, or oftener if required by the rest of the governors.

* Originally it was on the 5th of May.

+ Weekly meetings were necessary in the infancy of this Charity; but such forms have been adopted, from the experience of the Committee, that, in its maturity, their meeting once a month at noon is found to be fully sufficient.

The Advertisements have since been confined to the Quarterly Courts only.

§ The Society, soon after their establishment, took an office, at N° 7, Craven-street, Strand, where the business of the Charity is transacted, but originally were held at the Thatched-houseTavern, St. James's-street.

II. He

II. He is to advance no monies on account of the Charity, unless authorised thereto by writing, under the hand of three of the Committee at their meetings.

VI. OF THE SECRETARY.

He is to be present at all the meetings of the Governors, to take the minutes; receive and prepare all petitions; make the necessary enquiries, and report to the Committee concerning them: To draw up the accounts, and carry on the correspondence and business of the Charity, under the direction of the Committee.

VII. OF GOVERNORS IN GENERAL, AND THEIR

QUALIFICATIONS.

I. That this Charity be supported by annual subscriptions, or other voluntary benefactions.

II. That all annual subscribers of or above the sum of two guineas, are, and shall be esteemed Governors, and of the Committee.

III. That if any annual subscriber shall be more than two years in arrear, his power as a Governor shall cease, until such arrears are paid.

IV. That all benefactors of, or above the sum of twenty guineas, now are, and shall be esteemed perpetual Governors.

V. That the nomination of Officers be in the Governors, and determined by a majority.

VIII. OF THE OBJECTS TO BE RELIEVED.

I. They shall be persons actually imprisoned, whose respective debts, or the composition for whose debts, shall not exceed the sum of TEN

POUNDS.

II. That women shall be equally entitled to the benefit of this Charity as men.

III. That such debtors shall have the preference, as are most aged or infirm; have the largest families unprovided for; are the most likely to be useful to the community; and appear to have lost their liberty by unavoidable misfortunes; at least, not by fraud, vice, or extravagance.

IV. That as to such imprisoned debtors as have helpless families, who suffer by the faults of their principal, and are undeservedly reduced to poverty, the Committee shall be at liberty to give the families some assistance in proportion to their distress, and agreeable to the intentions of the charity.

V. That no person be delivered a second time; unless it shall appear to the Committee, that their second misfortune cannot be imputed to their own fault.

VI. That an account be annually published, of the number of persons discharged and relieved, but their names not mentioned; together with an account of the sums paid for them, and of the

prisons

prisons from whence they were respectively discharged.

IX. OF PETITIONS AND PETITIONERS.

That, at their respective meetings, the Committee refer all the petitions then received to the Secretary, for his examination and enquiry, during the current month. That the report he shall make on them, with the vouchers for their respective characters, be considered at the next Committee meeting; and that they be proceeded on accordingly, in preference to any other applications.