28 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

the high Court of Appeals & errors consisting of the Governor
& Council, the Court of Chancery, the Court of Vice Ad-
miralty (which scarcely ever sitts) the Supreme Court of
Law called the Provincial Court which is held twice every
year at Annapolis, the Judges thereof being seven in Number
are impowered by Commission under the great Seal to hear &
determine concerning Pleas whether real Personal or mixed
& all manner of Crimes Capital or not Capital; In Civil Ac-
tions where the matter in dispute exceeds the value of £50
Sterling Appeals are allowed to the Governor & Council.
There are four County Courts or inferior Courts of common
Pleas held every year in each County by the Justices of Peace.
No Original Action exceeding the Value of £100 Sterling can
be brought in these Courts but must be commenced in the
Provincial Court as must all real and mixt Actions. The

p. 325

Justices at these Courts can try and determine all Criminal
Matters not affecting Life or member, and even Capital offen-
ces when Committed by Negroes. Both the Provincial or Su-
preme and the County Courts have been held almost ever
since the Province was settled by Virtue of Acts of Assembly,
the Rules of Proceeding in these Courts are conformable to
the Rules observed in the Courts at Westminster, the Judges
and Justices are appointed by Commission from the Lord
Proprietary under the Great Seal.

The following Addresses being drawn were read approved
of and ordered to be Entered.

To The King's most Excellent Majesty
The humble Address of the Lieutenant Governor and Coun-
cil of the Province of Maryland.
Permit most Gracious Sovereign Your dutiful and faithful
Servants the Lieutenant Governor and Council of the Prov-
ince of Maryland with all humility to offer Your Majesty our
most sincere and hearty Congratulations on that important
Event, the Celebration of your auspicious Nuptials.
Impressed with the most grateful Sense of your Majesty's
tender Care and Concern for the Interest Welfare and se-
curity of all your People, our Hearts are filled with Joy on
your Conjugal Union with a Princess eminently endowed with
every Royal Virtue and amiable qualification that can render
your Majesty's Domestick Felicity compleat.
May the Divine Providence long preserve your Majesty and
your Royal Consort in the full Enjoyment of mutual Happi-
ness, and Bless you with an Offspring inheriting the Virtues
of their illustrious Parents, Virtues which add Splendour and
Dignity to the Crowns they wear.