740 Assembly Proceedings, September 23-October 26, 1723.

Bacon

hereafter shall be, bona Fide, made of any of the Choptank
Indians Lands, comprehended within the Metes and Bounds
surveyed and ascertained by the Honourable Philemon Lloyd,
Esq; Colonel Richard Tilghman, and Colonel Matthew Tilgh-
man Ward, Commissioners as aforesaid, and lying to the
Eastward, Southward or Westward of the Lines run by Col-
onel Thomas Smithson, and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas En-
nails aforesaid, be, and are hereby confirmed and made valid
unto the Purchasers or Takers up of the Same, and their
Heirs and Assigns for ever; any thing in this Act to the con-
trary notwithstanding.
VII. Provided likewise, That such Purchases by any Per-
son or Persons of any Land belonging to the Choptank In-
dians aforesaid, be made when those Indians are Sober, and
of sound and perfect Memory; and the Consideration agreed
for paid, or secured to be paid to them, by such Purchasers,
before the Executing of the Deeds of Sale; and that all Deeds
of Sale hereafter made by the Indians aforesaid, shall be ac-
knowledged by them before the Justices of the County in Court
sitting, or before One or more of his Lordship's Council, who
are hereby impowered to take the same, otherwise to be void,
and of no Effect.

Chap. XIX

An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, and erecting
Schools in the several Counties within this Province.

Whereas the preceding Assemblies for some Years past
have had much at Heart the absolute Necessity they have lain
under, in regard both to Duty and Interest, to make the best
Provision in their Power for the liberal and pious Education
of the Youth of this Province, and improving their natural
Abilities and Acuteness, (which seems not to be inferior to
any) so as to be fitted for the Discharge of their Duties in
the several Stations and Employments they may be called to,
and employed in, either in regard to Church or State; and for
that End laid an Imposition on Sundry Commodities exported
out of, and others imported into, this Province, and other
Fines, for the raising a Fund for the erecting and supporting:
a good School in each County within this Province, which has
succeeded with such desired Effect, that it is now thought
necessary, and is prayed that it may be Enacted
II. And be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord
Proprietor, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lord-
ship's Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of As-
sembly, and the Authority of the same, That in some con-
venient Time, after the End of this present Session of Assem-