The Lower House. 347

Oath of Abjuration and Test. The Petition of John Dabran, Pray-
ing an Allowance for the duties of Negroes paid, he having moved
himself and family, into this Province with Intent to Settle, and
therefore Prays an Exemption from the duty Imposed on Negroes,
on giving Security not to sell or Dispose of the said Negroes, Read
and referred to the Committee of Accounts to Examine the facts,
a bill entituled, an Explanatory Act to the Act Bntituled for the
speedy Trial of Criminals, and ascertaining their punishment in the
County Courts when pro[se]cuted there, and for payment of fees
when due from Criminal persons: Read the first time and ordered
to lie on the Table.
The House adjourned to 2 of the Clock in the afternoon.

Post Meridiem, the House met according to adjournment
The bill Entituled an Act for Limitation of officers fees, read
the second time and will Pass Sent to the upper House by M^r Dulany
and Twelve more, the bill, Entituled, an act empowering the
Justices of Calvert County to repair the Court House of that County,
by an assessment on the Inhabitants thereof, and the bill Entituled,
an Act to vest an Estate of fee Simple of and in a Tract of Land
called Roper's neck in Benjamin Howard, and for seling other lands
of equal value in lieu thereof, Severally read the first time and
ordered to lie on the Table, the Report from the Committee of
Aggrievances &c: relateing to the Collection of the duties on To-
bacco, referred on Monday last for Consideration this day, is fur-
ther referred for Consideration on the morrow morning, an In-
grossed bill, Entituled, an Act reviving and Continuing the several
Acts therein mentioned, also an Ingrossed bill, Entituled an Act
reviving an Act, entituled an Act for the advancement of Justice,
also, an Ingrossed bill Entituled, a Supplementary Act to the Act
for the advancement of Justice, also, an Ingrossed bill, Entituled,
an Act for Continuing an Act of Assembly of this province, En-
tituled, an Act to prevent Cutting up Tobacco Plants destroying of
Tobacco and Tobacco Houses, and for ascertaining the punishment
of Criminals guilty of the said offences Severally read and assented
to, and sent to the upper House, with the paper bills, by M^r Wootton
and M^r Harris. An Ingrossed bill, entituled, an Act for Continuing
an Act of Assembly of this province, Entituled, an Act ascertaining
the gauge and Tare of Tobacco Hogsheads, and to prevent the
Cutting, Cropping and defacing Tobacco taken on board ships or
Vessels upon freight, an Ingrossed bill, entituled, an Act reviving
an Act, entituled an Act for Naturalization, Severally read and
assented to, and sent to the upper House, with the paper bills, by
M^r Robert Loyd and M^r Ennalls. an Ingrossed bill entituled, an Act
empowering the Justices of Prince Georges County to levy on the
Taxable Inhabitants of Queen Anns Parish in the said County the

L. H. J.
Lib. No. 45
p. 834