7he Upper House. 387

ernm^t in exacting ffees not legally due, Altho we think the
Law has already Sufficiently provided against such Abuses
Signed p Order W Bladen Cl Coun.

M^r Vanderheyden and three other members bring from the
House the following Message viz.

By the House of Delegates 2^d Novemb^r 1709

This House desire the Treasurers and Naval Officers Ac-
compts may be laid before them for Inspection that they may
prepare a Bill to lay the Levy and make a Speedy End of this
Session Signed p Order W Taylard Cl Ho Del.

Ordered the said Accounts be laid before this House Sent
to the House the following Message

By the Council in Assembly Nov^r 2^d 1709

Upon Enquiry after some Certificates of Lands in the Sec-
retarys Office. It is said a Book of Returns about the year
1689 is missing and we observing an open Chest Standing
in the free school porch exposed to the weather so that several
Certificates & other Instruments therein relating to Lands are
damnifyed & spoiled amongst which we find several Certifi-
cates of Lands returned near about that Time which are En-
dorsed Entered upon Record 'tho no such record to be found
recommend it to the Consideration of your house whither it
may not be proper to appoint some fitt Person to inspect and
take an Account of these papers and Books if any in that

U. H. J.

Chest & that such Certificates as are not entered on Record
may be so done by the next Session of Assembly and the said
Chest and papers better secured in the Land Office, And
whereas It is said a Book concerning Lands in Ann Arundel &
Prince Georges Countys was burnt in the late fire of the Court
House, & that M^r James Heath has acquainted some of the
members of this Board that he had a Book wherein are the
Copys of the Certificates recorded in the af^d Book so burnt
taken by M^r Tho^s Evans and M^r Thomas Jones now living and
who will make oath thereto, We desire your opinion whither
it may not be proper to have the said Record renewed by
transcribing Signed p Order W Bladen Cl Coun.

L^t Col. Walter Smith and five other Members from the
House of Delegates bring the following representation Viz.

p. 626