428 Assembly Proceedings, Oct. 25-Nov. 10, 1709.

L. H. J.

Lib. 41.

Col^{o
Greenberry and Mr Hall enter the House and deliver
Mr Speaker the following Message}

By the Council in Assembly November 2^nd 1709

Gent. We having already communicated to you her
Majesty's Royal Instructions restricting us to pass Laws upon
the Death or Absence of her Governor are not willing to alter
any Officers Fees, yet to shew how ready Inclinations to do
what in us lies for the Good and Benefit of the Country, We
are willing to join with you in any proper Measures to redress
any Abuses committed by any of the Officers within this
Government in exacting Fees not legally due tho' we think
the Law has already sufficiently provided against such Abuses
Signed p Order W Bladen Cl. Co.
Read and laid by.
Col^{o
Coursey and Colo Whittington enter the House and
and deliver Mr Speaker the following Message from the
Honble Council. Ordered to be entered here Viz.}

p. 228

By the Council in Assembly November 2^nd 1709.

Upon Enquiry after some Certificates of Lands in the
Secretary's 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 of Land and other Instruments therein
relating to Lands are damnified and spoiled Amongst which
we find several Certificates of Land returned near about that
Time which are indorsed, Entered upon Record tho' no such
Record to be found. Recommended it to the Consideration
of your House whether it may not be proper to appoint some
fit Person to inspect and take an Account of the Papers and
Books (if any) in that Chest and 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 and Prince George's County was burnt in the late
Fire of the Court House and that M^r James Heath has
acquainted some of the Members of this Board that he had a
Book wherein are the Copies of the Certificates recorded in
the aforesaid Book so burnt taken by M^r Evan Thomas and
M^r Thomas Jones now living and will make Oath thereto We
desire your whether it may not be proper to have the said
Record renewed by transcribing
Signed p Order W Bladen Cl. Co.