586 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

        Lib. H. D.     Ordr to be Ordered that it be Consulted by the Kings Law-

              the Kings yers what is to be done abt the Nonests Return'd

              Lawyers abt and whether the Returns should not be according

                 Nonests to the Laws of England within a small Compass of

              time, that Speedy Justice may be done.

                     The Same Came Reported as followes, Vizt

         p. 429To his Exncy the Governr & Councill &ca

                December the 14th 1696.

              The Lawyers In Obedience to yor Exncys Commands of the

                     1 1th instant for us to consult what is to be done abt

              &ca    the Nonests returned and whether the Returns

              should not be according to the Laws of England within a

              small Compass of time &Ca We humbly Offer that if any

              Sherriff hath made Returnes of Non est Inventus without

              doing his utmost Endeavour to take the party Deft at the

              Kings Suit such Sherriff may be ffined at the Kings suit

              upon the matter proved against him but in some cases

              such return's cannot be Avoyded; And as to the Making

              Shorter day's of Returnes We conceive that it cannot be

              reduced to the practice of England without great charge and

              inconveniencye this Countrey under its prsent Circumstances

              being not Capable of such a Course of Practice for want of a

              Publick Post Office to givP Speedy convcyancc of Froses into

              Every County and Return the same and without such Office

              or Speciall messinger for that purpose appointed we cannot

              see how this Countrey can comply with the practice of

              England.

                       Vpon Reprsentacon Ordered that Mr John Wight

              Wight constituted be Constituted and appointed one of the Coroners

              Coroner in for Prince Georges County in the Room and stead

              the Room of                     d

              Mr Bradley.   of Mr Dan Bradley and that the s Bradleys Name

                     be Razed out of the Comission granted him (being

              here prsented) and the sd Wight's name inserted therein,

              which was according done at the Board and given to the

              honrble Esq Brook's for to deliver to him.

              Motion made Vpon motion made by the honrble Sr Thomas

              Thomas abt Laurence Baront Secretary whether process had and

        Whitehall process & taken out of the Secretary's Office in behalfe of the

              Ordr thereon .

                     King should be done ex Officio or not, and if to be

              paid how ffees for such process shall be paid and by whom;

              Reprsenting likewise that there were Several Sorts of process