should thereupon have an estate in fee simple in the lot or lots so drawn and endorsed, without any patent, deed, or grant, to be issued for that purpose.     In order to shew in one view all the provisions of this act relative to the military claims, (in virtue of which provisions it is proper here to observe that the distribution of lands, as directed, shortly after took place) I have postponed noticing those which regard the families reported by Mr. Deakins to be settled on a part of the lots laid off as aforesaid, as well as some important general directions which will presently be brought into view. By the first enacting clauses following the recital which has been mentioned, it was directed that a preference should be given to those settlers to purchase the six hundred and thirty six lots by them respectively settled, not exceeding the quantities registered and noted by the surveyor in the books aforesaid, and at not less than five nor more than twenty shillings per acre, to be discharged in three equal payments, on the first of September in the years 1789, 1790, and 1791: in default of any of which payments the land in respect to which such default occurred should be liable to proclamation, in the usual manner, by any citizen of the state of Maryland, and that for the ease and convenience of the people, a proper person or persons, not exceeding three, should be appointed by the governor and council, who should go into the neighborhood, and have power to decide all disputes which might arise concerning preemption, and should value the said lands, those of the best quality at not more than twenty shillings per acre, those of the worst at not less than five shillings, and those of an intermediate kind according to their quality, having regard to the extreme prices aforesaid:¾by other sections it was provided that, on payment of the valuation by any person admitted by the commissioners to be entitled to a preemption, patent should issue to such settler, or his representatives, he or they paying the usual fees of office; that, after satisfying the claims aforesaid, as well of settlers as of officers and soldiers, the remainder of the said lots westward of Fort Cumberland should be sold for any kind of specie certificates of the state, and that the purchasers, after payment of the purchase money, should be entitled to patents from the register of the land office, on paying the usual fees; that the aforesaid general plot and books of certificates should be lodged in the land office, and that the said books of certificates of the four thousand one hundred and sixty five lots aforesaid should be considered to all intents and purposes as record books of the land office; and it was further directed that the commissioner or commissioners before mentioned should make a record of all valuations by T t