Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 371

[Extract of letter of Calvert to Sharpe.]

M^r Lloyd has sent three Books as Rent Rolls of Ann
Arundel Coty Charles County & Calvert County for the year
1753 certified from the Land Office but no way answering to
the Form sent M^r Tasker by me & enforced by a special In-
struction from the Lord Proprietor's Guardians in May 1752
which Form was intended to satisfy the Lord Proprietor of the
particulars of his several Landed Incomes in Maryland & the
several Tenures they are held under, whether in fee or on
Leases for Lives & for what Lives or for Terms & for what
Terms of years so respectively held, to which M^r Lloyd has
been referred to each of these Books after the Certificate of
them from the Land Office being signed a Memorandum is
inserted of Rents of Lands paid for but could not find them
because the Original Takers up were not known. This ought
therefore to be particularly enquired into that the present
possessors who pay for them may shew by what Title they
hold them which will make the Original Takers of them up to
be found in the Land Office as no Lands can be legally held
but by Grants from that Office this I have noted to M^r Lloyd
as also other Observations arising which want Explanation.
I herewith send you Instructions from My Lord with a Copy
thereto annexed of the Form sent in May 1752 for stating His
Lordship's Landed Revenues by, in order to have proper Re-
turns perfected agreeable to His Lordship's Expectation. In
which Instructions you are to require not only the Officer or
Officers of the Land Office but also the Rent-Roll Keepers
who are paid for being Controlls on the Collectors to examine
& sign the several Rolls, & to be so signed in your presence
that the Seal of the Province may be affixed thereto in testi-
mony of such their Signatures before you. These Rent Rolls
when once compleated & return'd the Additions or Altera-
tions in them which may happen in subsequent years will be
only necessary to be annually made appear under the like
Authenticity for proving the Rectitude of the Agent & Re-
ceiver General's Yearly Accompts to be transmitted. As the
Rent Rolls of the Western Shore may be forthwith made out
as required to give my Lord the Satisfaction he has so long
expected. Let them be immediately proceeded upon by the
proper Directions to be given by you under My Lord's
Authority for that purpose; & in their Progress let them be
brought before you to see that they are in a right Method to
give My Lord the knowledge of his several Reserved Rents
& how they have arisen & do arise & are held. And the Rent-
Rolls of the Eastern Shore you are to direct to be made out in
like manner with all possible Dispatch under your Inspection
for the Rectitude of their method in making them out to