At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the town of Boston, held by adjournment on the 25th day of March, A.D. 1816--

The committee ... to whom was committed the petition of a number of the inhabitants, "that the sense of the town may be taken, whether the business and duties of the Board of Health cannot be as fully and more economically carried into effect by three or more suitable men, to be appointed by the selectmen and amenable to them;" have, at several meetings, taken the said petition, and the subject committed to them, into consideration. ...