THE house met.  Present the same members as on yesterday.  The proceedings of yesterday
were read.
    A petition from Robert Long, of Baltimore county, praying compensation for damages and costs
recovered against the Principio company, whose property was confiscated, was preferred, read, and 
referred to Mr. Winchester, Mr. Jones, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Key and Mr. Ridgely, to consider and
report thereon.
    Mr. Driver, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker the following report:
    THE committee to whom was referred the petition of Philip Casson, of Caroline county, a
maimed and disabled officer of this state, have taken the same into consideration, and believe the
facts therein stated to be true, and from the peculiar hardship of this case, your committee are of
opinion that the prayer of his petition is founded upon policy and justice, inasmuch as the legislature
of this state have, at different times, made provision for its disabled officers; your committee therefore
submit the following resolution:
    RESOLVED, That the treasurer of the western shore be and he is hereby directed to pay unto 
Philip Casson, of Caroline county, his executors or administrators, the sum of four hundred and
eighty-six pounds, for half pay due to him as a disabled officer in the service of this state from the
twenty-second day of December, seventeen hundred and eighty-eight, to the twenty-second day of
December, seventeen hundred and ninety-six; and that the treasurer of the western shore for the
time being is hereby authorised and directed to pay unto the said Philip Casson, for and during his
life, the annual sum of sixth pounds sixteen shillings, to be computed from the said twenty-second
day of December, seventeen hundred and ninety-six, for his half pay as a disabled officer; provided,
if the said Philip Casson should at any time hereafter be put on the pension list of the United States,
that from and after the same time he may be entered on the said list, his half pay from this state
shall cease to be paid by the treasurer as aforesaid.
    All which is submitted to the house.
                                                            By order,                                    J. W.  KING, clk.
Which was read.
   Mr. Ridgley, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker the following report:
    THE committee to whom was referred the petition of sundry inhabitants of Baltimore county,
praying that the judicial business of said county might be separated from that of Baltimore-town,
beg leave to report, that they have taken the said petition into their consideration, and as the number
of subscribers thereto are small, when compared to the amount of population in said county, your
committee think it most advisable to refer the consideration of the said petition to the next general
assembly.  All which is submitted to the house.
                                                            By order,                                    Z.  HUGHES, clk.
Which was read.
    Mr. Driver, from the committee, brings in and delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to
increase the allowance of the justices of the orphans courts, the commissioners of the tax, and the
clerk to the commissioners, in the several counties of this state; which was read teh 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 empower the levy court of Anne-Arundel county to assess a sum of money for the purpose
therein mentioned; which was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.
     A petition from sundry inhabitants of Baltimore county, praying they may be authorised by lottery
to raise a sum of money for the purpose of paving Bridge-street, in Baltimore-town, was preferred,
read, and referred to the next session of assembly.
    The speaker laid before the house an address from the chancellor, respecting the testamentary code
referred to his consideration; which was read.
    RESOLVED, That the treasurer of the western shore pay to Alexander Contee Hanson one
thousand dollars, as compensation for the system of testamentary laws by him prepared and laid
before this session of assembly.
    Sent to the senate by the clerk.
    The clerk of the senate delivers the bill respecting two tracts of land lying in Allegany county,
the one called Grassy Cabbin, the other called The Desert, endorsed; " By the senate, December
" 17, 1796:  Read teh first time and ordered to lie on the table.
                                                            " By order,                                  A.  VAN-HORN, clk.
" By the senate, December 10, 1796:  Read the second time and will pass.
                                                            " By order,                                  A.  VAN-HORN, clk."
The bill to lay out a road from Deep Point, in Cornwallis's Neck, in Charles county, until
it shall intersect the public road at teh New House, on the head of Mattawoman creek, in said