it is not to be supposed that those acts would never have been renewed, so as to appear, at least by name, at this day; instead of which we find, even by title, only those bills which were confessedly never passed into laws. But that this enquiry may not appear altogether frivolous I must observe that, in whatever way they were settled, substantial privileges did unquestionably attach in the early times of the Province to all Manors, the annual rent of which, reserved by the Proprietary, was, therefore, at a certain period, two shillings while that of freehold grants was but one shilling for every fifty acres. At what time the exercise of those privileges began to decline it cannot well be ascertained. The act of Charles II. which abolished the military tenures must probably have given a shock to feudal customs in general, and the several suspensions of the Proprietary's political authorities in Maryland furnished good opportunity for inroads upon a system which must always have had fewer friends than enemies. By these or other means, the privileges and customs of Manors seem to have been gradually lost or disused. I shall aid this imperfect account by the insertion of a grant of a Manor at large and by such extracts and references as may tend to throw light on the subject, referring at the same time to what has been said on the article of tenure, from which, if we cannot ascertain with certainty what actually occurred in practice, we may at least obtain a sufficient idea of what was contemplated by the Charter, and pursued by the original Proprietary, as far as the temper and habits of his tenants would permit. That his theories and pretensions were frequently disputed, independent of the serious attacks made, in the mother country, and by rival governments in America, upon the very foundaton of his rights, is demonstrated by various propositions and proceedings on record. The interruptions given to his authority by the events already noticed must also have effected the course of his designs, which it is fair, therefore, to conclude were never perfectly executed. The Charter authorised the creation of titles of dignity, but none were actually instituted, although, from some curious passages on record, it would appear that certain personal (a) distinctions were in view, but probably evaded by those, who being on the spot, knew better than the first Proprietary, who never visited the Province, how such things would be there received. With     (a) In a lengthy set of instructions from the Proprietary, Cecilius, to the Governor (his son) and Council, is the following article. " Item. " That you seriously take into your consideration to finde and speedily " propose unto us some convenient way of and for the making of some " visible distinction and distinctions between you our Lieutenant General, " our Chancellor, principal Secretary, General Officers, Councellors, " Judges and Justices, and the rest of the people of the said Province, " either by the wearing of habits, medals, or otherwise." Source: John Kilty. Land Holder's Assistant and Land Office Guide. Baltimore: G. Dobbin & Murphy, 1808. MSA L 25529.