the debts of the said deceased, and also that Mary Spear, by her guardian, may join the petitioners
in such deed as may be necessary to convey to the heirs at law of said William Spear, equally among
them, the parcel of land conveyed to the petitioners by the said deceased, was preferred, read, and
referred to Mr. McMechen, Mr. Key and Mr. Wilson, to consider and report thereon.
    Mr. Duckett, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, A supplement
to the act, entitled, An act for the establishment and regulation of the levy courts in the
several counties of this state; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
    Mr. Bourne, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to
enable the vestry of Christ Church parish, in Calvert county, to sell and dispose of certain lands
therein mentioned; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
    Mr. Robins, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker the following report:
    THE committee to whom was referred the petition of Samuel Smylie, of Somerset county, report,
that they have examined into the facts stated in the said petition, and are of opinion they are
true, and that the case of the petitioner merits the attention of the legislature.  All which is submitted.
                                                        By order,                                    J.  HARWOOD, clk.
Which was read the first and second time and concurred with.
    Mr. Johnson, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker the following report:
    THE committee to whom was referred the petition of John Erskine and John Thomas, administrators
of Richard Johns, late sheriff of Talbot county, deceased, report, that the prayer of the
petitioner is reasonable and just, and that a law ought to pass in their favour.
                                                        By order,                                    J.  HARWOOD, clk.
    Which was read the first and second time, concurred with, and leave given to bring in a bill
pursuant thereto.  ORDERED, That Mr. Whittington, Mr. Johnson and Mr. Hopewell, be a
committee to prepare and bring in the same.
    Mr. Whittington, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, A
supplement to an act, entitled, An act to regulate and discipline the militia of this state; which was
read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
    Mr. Montgomery, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An
act relating to sheriffs deeds, and to provide for the relief of the securities of sheriffs and collectors
who may be deceased before the expiration of their offices and the completing of their collections;
which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
    Mr. Key, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker the following report:
    THE committee to whom was referred the petition of David Smith, register of wills of Cæcil
county, and of sundry sheriffs of this state, relative to their fees, report it as their opinion, that the
petitioners fees of office, together with the other officers fees as established by law, ought to be
revised, correctly ascertained, and in some instances moderately increased; and they further report,
that there are some duties of considerable importance and trouble for which there are no fees allowed
by law.  The committee think it would be advisable, as it is very practicable, that all officers fees
should be extended in current money, that is, dollars and cents instead of tobacco; but as this
whose subject is interesting to the community at large, they recommend a committee to be appointed,
consisting of a member from each county, from Baltimore-town and the city of Annapolis, to
take the subject into consideration, and bring in a bill for the purposes contemplated.
                                                        By order,                                    Z.  HUGHES, clk.
Which was read the first and second time and concurred with.
    ORDERED, That Mr. W. Thomas, Mr. Barroll. Mr. Ridout, Mr. Brome, Mr. Digges, Mr.
Ridgely, Mr. Sherwood, Mr. Handy, Mr. Campbell, Mr. Miller, Mr. Baker, Mr. Key, Mr.
Nicholson, Mr. Whittington, Mr. Brother, Mr. Jarrett, Mr. Boone, Mr. McMechen, Mr. Douglass,
Mr. Reintzel and Mr. Clarke, be a committee to bring in a bill respecting officers fees.
    Mr. Nicholson, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An
additional supplement to the act, entitled, An act relating to the standard of English weights and
measures; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
    Mr. J. C. Thomas, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled,
An act to lay out and establish a turnpike road from the city of Washington to Baltimore-town;
which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
    ORDERED, That the said bill have a second reading on Friday next.
    Mr. Barroll, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker the following report:
    THE committee to whom was referred the petition of John Patterson, James Steele, James
Nesbitt, Daniel Norris, Hugh Lyon and John Sterett, all of North Susquehanna Hundred, in
Cæcil county, beg leave to report, that they have examined into the allegations set forth in the said
petition, and find, that the tract of land called the Widow's Lot, containing eight hundred acres,
lying in Cæcil county, was granted to a certain Hester Gough, in fee-simple, prior to the grant
made to George Talbot, Esquire, of Susquehanna Manor, and that the said tract of land called the
Widow's Lot is included within the lines of Susquehanna Manor, but as the grant to George Talbot
contains a proviso, that all grants of land before made within the bounds of the said manor
should remain valid, your committee are of opinion that the right to said tract called Widow's
Lot was legally vested in the said Hester Gough, who died without issue; it appears to your committee,
that since the death of Hester Gough, the petitioners, or those under whom they claim,
were put in possession of the said tract of land called Widow's Lot, and had leases granted to
them by a certain Richard Bennett, attorney in fact for Samuel Hyde, of the kingdom of Great-Britain,