£. 10,206 1 0; the residue of the installed debt consists principally of a loan of £. 75,000 to the
commissioners of the federal city, and bonds, with security, to the amount of £. 10,590 1 11,
taken in virtue of an act of the last session, authorising a purchase and sale of the Choptank Indian
lands in Dorchester county.  Another part of the installed debt arises on composition money for
vacant lands in Allegany county, which is secured to the state by the bonds of the parties proclamating
or taking up the land, with good and ample security, payable in the manner prescribed
by law.  The committee find, that the whole of the uninstalled debt, and the following items
of the installed debt, exhibited by the agent in his annual report to the legislature, to wit:
 

On account of the emissions of 1769 and 1773,     Interest due thereon, On account of specifics,     Interest due thereon, On account of balances due on the auditor's books,     Interest due thereon, On account of taxes,     Interest due thereon, On account of money loaned,     Interest due thereon,   Amounting in the whole to

728 80 ------ 19 4 ------ 170 20 ------ 7495 850 ------ 1545 370 ------

0 0 --- 1 15 --- 2 0 --- 13 0 --- 19 0 ---

2 0 --- 11 0 --- 9 0 --- 6 0 --- 0 0 ---

808   23   190   8345   1915 -------- £.  11283 --------

0   16   2   13   19 --- 12 ---

2   11   9   6   0 --- 4 ---

Have, since the agent's report of the last year, remained nearly in the same state; not much diminished
by any collections that have been made; but in fact some of the items have increased,
in consequence of the annual accumulation of interest, and the inconsiderable collections which
have been hitherto made; whilst the committee believe that no neglect or inattention to the duties 
of the office can be imputed to the agent from this circumstance, they think an inference
may fairly be drawn, that a source of revenue, so uncertain and precarious, cannot demand the expence
or superintendence of such an officer.  The committee state, that the installed debt due and
secured to the state, as mentioned above, is liquidated and bonded for, and as the collection
of it involves no difficulty, and requires no greater attention or care than what is necessary in
the regular course of legal proceedings, they think it would not suffer any material defalcation
from the discontinuance of the officer.
    The contingent annual revenue of the state arising from fines, forfeitures, marriage licenses,
&c. from the nature and manner of its collection, was, never, in the opinion of your committee,
the inducement of the legislature in appointing an agent; this has been placed, with other debts
and branches of revenue, under the control of the agent generally, with a small per centum on
its collection, but the obvious reasons which moved originally to this appointment, must have
been the sales of confiscated property, the debts die from the citizens in consequence of such
sales, and the numerous balances due on open accounts, which have been since, by the exertions
and industry of the several agents, nearly closed; besides, this fund being annual and permanent,
the idea of an agent to superintend its collection leads to a permanent establishment of such an
officer, which the committee are of opinion is not necessary, and that it would be more eligible
to vest competent powers in the treasurer, or some other department of the government which
the wisdom of the house may suggest.  The committee submit the foregoing statement and observations
to the consideration of the house, which they hope are correct, and will be found sufficient
to enable the house to judge on the order of reference under which the committee have acted.
The subject is difficult and extensive, but from all the attention and consideration which the committee
have been able to bestow, and from teh best and only practicable sources of information
within their power, they are of opinion that the present situation of the revenue of the state
does not require the appointment of an agent; which is respectively submitted to the house.
                                                        By order,                                        J. F.  HARRIS, clk.
Which was read.
    ORDERED, That the same have a second reading on Monday next.
    Mr. Key, from the committee delivers to the speaker the following report:
    THE committee to whom was referred the petition of Gabriel Duvall, and others, report,
that they have taken the same into their consideration, and are of opinion the same is just, and
ought to be granted, and beg leave to report the following resolution to the consideration of the
house of delegates.
    Whereas it appears to this general assembly, by a certificate from teh treasurer of the western
shore, that there was due to William Hindman, Gabriel Duvall, and the representatives of William
Perry, late of Talbot county, deceased, on the twenty-third of March, seventeen hundred
and ninety-nine, the sum of three hundred and one pounds ten shillings and three-pence, being
an over payment made by them for confiscated property purchased of the state, arising from a deficiency
of one hundred and forty-three acres in the land purchased, as appears by the certificate
of survey returned by John Brown Hackett, appointed to make the survey;  RESOLVED, That