purpose of entering the rights in a short form in succession as they were exhibited, with the subsequent transfers, until they were sunk in Warrants of survey, and these in the consequent certificates and grants. Books of this nature however, serving only as an immediate convenience and check of office, have not, like the records at large, been kept alive by transcription; and although such abstract entries were, without much doubt, in use, all assignments were, so far as can be judged from appearances, placed on record before they were allowed their intended operation.     We have noticed, among entries preparatory to the issue of Warrants, those of claims not founded on the Conditions of Plantation, but flowing from the special favour of the Proprietary. Of these some were, themselves, denominated special Warrants; others were called Gifts, Grants, Orders, &c. They were, in short, directions, sometimes by Letter to the Governor; on other occasions by more formal precepts, to cause a certain quantity of land not already granted or reserved, to be laid off for the person therein named, and a Patent to be thereupon granted to such person upon Conditions particularly described in the order; for it is to be observed that although the Proprietary frequently bestowed land for very trifling, and sometimes for mere nominal considerations, he never made a grant without some reservation of rent or service. The following selections will shew the nature of these special Grants, and of what may be called extraordinary or irregular Warrants, in which nothing seems to be consulted but the pleasure of the Proprietary or his Lieutenant, and no form observed in the manner of expressing it. ¾     6th May 1640.¾" Mary Throughton Widow demandeth " fifty acres of land due by special Warrant from his Lordship " for transporting herself and 6 servants into the Colony in " the year 1638."                  " DEAR BROTHER, (L.S.)     " I would have you to pass to Mrs. Mary               " Throughton and her heirs for and in respect of four persons " men women and children besides herself which she " transports this year to plant in the Province of Maryland, a " Grant of as much land in and about the town of St. " Marys and elsewhere in that province in as ample manner and " with as large privileges as any of the first adventurers have " for and in respect of the transportation thither of five men " in the first year of that plantation, reserving only to me and " my heirs the like quit rents also which are reserved from the " said adventurers, and for so doing this shall be your Warrant. Source: John Kilty. Land Holder's Assistant and Land Office Guide. Baltimore: G. Dobbin & Murphy, 1808. MSA L 25529.