An ACT for providing a maintenance for people of Free condition confined for debt, and Slaves confined in the county gaols of this Island.

WHEREAS the Acts granting allowances to debtors of free condition and slaves confined in the gaols of this Island require amendment: May it please Your majesty that it may be enacted; be it therefore enacted by the Lieutenant-governor, Council, and Assembly of this Your Majesty’s Island of Jamaica, and it is hereby enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the passing of this Act, there shall be allowed to every person of free condition confined for debt in any gaol of this Island, the sum of two shillings and sixpence per diem for maintenance; and That there shall be allowed and paid by the week for subsistence to every negro and other slave confined in any of the county-gaols of this island, the sum of five shillings, by the keeper of the said respective gaols, under the penalty, on every such gaol-keeper, for every neglect or refusal, of ten pounds, to be recovered in a summary manner before any two magistrates of the parish or precinct wherein such deputy-marshal shall neglect or refuse to pay such allowance as aforesaid: Provided nevertheless, And the said gaol-keeper is hereby required, under the like penalty, to be recovered in manner aforesaid, to furnish and supply every such debtor or slave as aforesaid, being sick, with such necessaries as the physician or surgeon having the medical superintendence of such gaol shall direct in writing to be provided: and, in order to make compensation to the said gaol-keepers for such sums as they shall advance under and in pursuance of this act, it shall and may be lawful for the said gaol-keepers to charge in their accounts at and after the rate of six pounds per centum per annum on all sums actually advanced by them from the time of their respective advances, and which shall be allowed and paid the said gaol-keepers.