entered in a book kept for that purpose. As to any irregularity, except their being absolutely out of date, the register does not undertake to judge of it, so as to refuse or send back the certificate, but notices such irregularity by endorsement in form of a query, by way of caution to himself and his successors not to issue a patent until the objection is removed. When a certificate has lain in the office six months after being compounded on, and patent is demanded on it, he then sees that it is in all respects regular, and free from material defect, that is, in the case of a simple survey, that the warrant on which it was founded is on record, that it was in force, as to date, when the survey was made, and was not expended by previous applications. In case of a resurvey, he satisfies himself further, that no original tracts are included which were not mentioned in the warrant, and that the originals so mentioned and resurveyed are patented lands; besides which, he notices any thing on the face of the certificate or plot evidencing a violation of the established rules of the office, as, the including in a resurvey lands not contiguous to each other, &c. If all is right in the particulars first mentioned; if no irregularity or violation of principles, is apparent, and if the party in whose name the certificate stands in the office, either originally or by a sufficient assignment, be living, the register prepares a patent, which is completed as a matter of course. Otherwise, he points out the objection to the party applying: If it rest merely on the death of the owner of the certificate, and the person applying is furnished with the necessary documents to shew who is entitled to the land, the register receives and files a petition, prepared in the office, for the fee annexed by law to that service, if desired; which is laid before the chancellor, with the necessary papers to support the facts therein stated, and on his order, patent is issued to the party or parties owning or having the chief interest in the land. If the certificate itself appears defective, he points out the particulars in which he finds it so, and the party may endeavour, by petition and explanation, to obtain an order for patent, or may obtain an order for correcting the certificate, which is thereupon delivered to him for that purpose. The register receives the taxes imposed by law on petitions, orders, and final adjudications, in the land office, of which he makes quarterly payments to the treasurer. By the 36th section of the act of 1803, ch. 92," for the valuation of real and personal property," &c. each of the registers makes an annual return between the first day of March and the first of May, to the commissioners of the tax for the several counties of his shore, of all certificates which have become ready for patent within the preceding year, expressing the name of the land, the quantity it contains, and the person who is entitled to patent; and in case of a resurvey,