258 Assembly Proceedings, March 12-March 29, 1745/6.

L. H. J.

Liber No. 46

great Part of the Land they at first took up from the Indians, as well
as from the Lord Proprietary, and have ever since continued in an
amicable Course of Trade with them, except some partial Outrages
and Skirmishes, which never amounted to a general War, much less
to a general Conquest; the Indians yet enjoying their Rights and
Privileges of Treaties and Trade with the English, of whom we yet
frequently purchase their Rights of such Lands as we take up, as
well as of the Lord Proprietary.
Resolved further, That this Province hath always hitherto had
the Common Law, and such general Statutes of England as are
securitative of the Rights and Liberties of the Subject; and such
Acts of Assembly as were made in the Province to suit it's particular
Constitution, as the Rule and standard of it's Government and ludi-
cature; such Statutes and Acts of Assembly being subject to the like
Rules of Common Law or equitable Construction, as are used by the
Iudges in construing Statutes in England: Which happy Rules
have, by his Majesty, and his Royal Ancestors, and also by his Lord-
ship and his noble Ancestors, or some of them, been hitherto ap-
proved, by having the Commissions of ludicature to include Direc-
tions of that Nature to the several Iudicial Magistrates; unless those
Words have at any Time been casually or carelessly omitted by the
officers in this Province, that drew such Commissions.
M^r John Courts and M^r William Wilkinson, two returned mem-
bers for Charles County, appear in the House.
On motion of a member for Leave to bring in a Bill for the Tryal
of all matters of Fact in the several Counties where they have arisen
or shall arise; Leave is given, and Ordered, that the Committee of
Laws prepare and bring in a Bill accordingly
M^r Philip Hammond, from the Committee of Laws, delivers M^r
Speaker the following Lists of Laws which are to expire at the End
of this present Session, viz.

p. 551

An Act for the speedy Recovery of small Debts, out of Court,
before a single lustice of the Peace.
An Act reviving An Act entituled, An Act for relieving the In-
habitants of this Province from some Aggrievances, in the Prosecu-
tion of Suits at Law, and for reviving and continuing the supple-
mentary Act thereto.
An Act for the Advancement of lustice.
An Act reviving an Act entituled, An Act for the better Relief
of poor Debtors.
An Act to prevent the ill Practices of Sheriffs, in the collecting
and Payment of the publick and County Levies.