Appendix. 453

To the R^t Hon^hle Char^s L^d Baltimore Absolute Lord &^ca
The humble Petition of John Sharpe of Lincoln's Inn for & on
behalfe of Several of the late practitioners of the Law in the s^d
Province of Maryland

Sheweth

Calvert
Paper
No. 295 1/2}
p. 7

That an Act was pass'd in the s^d Province of Maryland in Oct^r
1725, Entituled an Act to Restrain the ill practices of Attorneys, &
to Prevent their taking Money-Fees, & ascertaining what Fees shall
be Allowed to Practitioners in the Law who shall Attend the Circuit
Courts, & was explained by a Subsequent Act Passed in March
1725/6 which Act continued in Force till July last & by another
Act then Passed is continued 3 years longer
That by these Acts the Profession of the Law is put under so.
many Hardships & Difficttltys that many of the practitioners of the
Law have been necessitated to leave their practice untill they shall
be releived from the many & unjust Oppressions brought on them
thereby, & to that end they have directed your Petitioner for them
& on their behalves humbly to Apply to your Lordship for a Repeal
of all the said Acts as being unjust in themselves, not agreeable to
Reason & repugnant to the Laws of England, therefore not war-
ranted by your Lordship's Charter.
Your petitioner therefore, & on behalf of the s^d Practitioners of
the Law in Maryland humbly pray that your Lordship wou'd be
forthwith pleased to Repeal the said Acts.
And your petitioner shall ever Pray &^ca
Jan^ry 22^d 1729 upon the s^d petition John Sharpe
being presented & read, his Ldsp thereupon
heard the s^d Complaint & Dissented thereto
for the Reasons hereunto mentioned viz.

I^st Because the Oath prescribed by this Act seems not consistent
with it's self.
2^dly The provision made by this Act is unreasonable, Because it
directs one intire Fee to be taken for Prosecuting & Defending any
suit from the beginning to the End of it, whereas the Reward ought
to Differ according to the length & labour of a Suit which frequently
depends upon the Industry & Ability of those who mannage them.
3^dly Every British Subject has a Right to dispose of his own in
what manner he pleases, because if there is any Extortion of Fees,
'tis Subject to the Controul of the Legislature.

p. 8

S^r Phil: Yorke's Att^ney General his Opinion concerning the
Statutes of England Affecting

Maryland
Qu: Whether such General Statutes of England as have been

p. 14