1775. ] OF THE PROVINCE OF MARYLAND. 33

"You, A. H. do swear, that any matter or thing which shall come
to your knowledge as a member of the council of safety, and which
you shall know is by a majority of (he council ordered to be kept se-
cret, you will not divulge, unless in a convention of delegates, or to
the members of the council of safety, or with the leave of the con-
vention, or of a majority of the council of safety. So help you
GOD. " And that the clerk of the council of safety, or of either
of the said branches thereof, shall before he enters on execution
of his office, before some justice of the peace, take an oath in the
same form, except, instead of the words "as a member of the council
of safety, " inserting, "as clerk of the council of safety, " or "as
clerk of the eastern or western shore branch of the council of safe-
ty, " as the case may be.

Resolved, That the resolution made by the convention of this
province, held at the city of Annapolis in December last, "That
no person ought to kill any lamb dropt before the first day of May
yearly, or other sheep after the first day of January then next, un-
der four years of age, " be repealed, so Car as it relates to the killing
of lamb; but it is earnestly recommended, that the continental re-
sove respecting the killing of sheep be most strictly observed.

Resolved, That in all suits and actions now depending or com-
menced within this province, where there is no real dispute, the
suitors and attornies proceed, with all convenient speed, to settle
the same by judgment, reference, or other amicable way; and
that all suits and actions now depending or commenced (where
there arc real disputes, and which cannot be settled in an amicable
manner, or tried with justice to the parties) ought to stand and
remain, during these times of public calamity, in their present state
and condition, or be continued until otherwise ordered by act of
assembly, or some future convention; save and except only that
bail may surrender their principals in their own discharge, and for
want of other bail, that the principal may be committed; and that
hereafter proper provision ought to be made, by act assembly, for
reinstating, re-establishing, and prosecuting the business of the
courts, and for barring the act for the limitation of suits.

Resolved, That in all suits and actions now depending or com-
menced, the depositions of any witness or witnesses, taken before
two justices of any county court, or one of the justices of the provin-
cial court of this province, in presence of the adverse party to him
that requires such depositions to be taken, if upon due notice he
thinks fit to be present, or upon notice doth refuse to be present, (the
notice being proved) ought to be received as good evidence in any
of the courts of this province, as if such evidence were personally
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