at this reſult, we will add the following record—evidence afterwards diſcovered—which it will puzzle the moſt aſtute critic to make "void and of none effect."
In May, 1670, on the laſt day of the month, a committee was appointed by the General Court "to pervſe all our lawes now in force, to collect & drawe vp any literall errors or miſplacing of words or ſentences therein, or any libertjes infringed, and to make a convenient table for the ready finding of all things therein, that ſo they may be fitted ffor the preſſe, & the ſame to preſent to the next ſeſſion of this Court, to be further conſidered off & approved by the Court." Maſs. Records, iv., ii., 453.
At the following ſeſſion of the Court, the committee preſented their report accordingly, and on the 12th October, 1670, the following order was made:
"The Court, having pervſed & conſidered of the returne of the comittee, to whom the revejw of the lawes was referred, &c., by the Generall Court in May laſt, as to the lieorall erratars, &c., do order that in * * * * *
"Page 5, lj: 3, tit. Bondſauery, read 'or ſuch as ſhall willingly,' &c." Maſs. Records, iv., ii, 467.
As the circumſtances under which all theſe laws and liberties were originally compoſed and after long diſcuſſion, minute examination, and repeated reviſions, finally ſettled and eſtabliſhed, forbid the ſuppofition that ſlavery came in an unbidden or unwelcome gueſt—ſo is it equally impoſſible to admit that this alteration of the ſpecial law of ſlavery by the omiſſion of so important and ſignificant a word could have been accidental or without motive.
