LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1781.

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son who shall apply for the same ; and the governor and coun-
cil, from time to time, may make and establish such rules and
orders for the direction of the treasurers in issuing their tidings
or orders for warrants, and for the conduct of the examiner-
general and the registers in their respective offices, and for the
behaviour of surveyors, as they shall think proper, and such
rules and orders shall be observed by the said officers respec-
tively ; and if any dispute shall arise concerning the validity of
surveys or the grant of lands, the same shall be heard and de-
termined by the chancellor, as to all warrants or surveys here-
tofore granted or made, agreeable to the former rules of the land
office, and as to all warrants and surveys hereafter to be issued
or executed, according to such rules and orders as shall be
established by the governor and the council.
The time has been further extended by several acts.

By 1795, ch. 61, the governor and council shall cause to he transmitted
to the register of the land office, and to the examiner for the eastern shore,
certified copies of such rules and orders as are or may be established for
the direction and government of land offices, and for the conduct of the
treasurer, &c. to be recorded by the said officers, and to be subject to
inspection.

By 1795, ch. 61, sec. 5, the governor and council were directed to appoint
a judge of the land office for the eastern shore, to hear and determine all
disputes concerning the grant of lands, &c. in the same manner as the chan-
cellor on the western shore ; and by sec. 6, of the same act, an appeal is
given from his determination to the chancellor, or judge of the land office.

SEC. 7. And be it enacted, That the governor, with the ad-
vice of the council, be authorized to appoint and commission
one fit and proper person, (who shall reside at Annapolis,) to be
examiner-general, who shall examine, and pass or reject, any
certificate delivered to him, agreeable to the former or future
rules and directions, as the case may be ; and in case of refusal,
death, resignation or disqualification, of any person appointed
examiner-general, the governor and council may appoint an-
other in his place; and any person appointed shall, before he
acts in his office, take the oath to the government, and an oath
to execute his office diligently and faithfully, without favour,
affection, partiality or prejudice.
By 1795, ch. 61, sec. 3, the governor and council were directed to appoint
an examiner for the eastern shore.

Governor to
appoint an
examiner,
&c.

SEC. 8. And be it enacted. That a preference shall be given
to those who have, before the first day of December, seventeen
hundred and eighty-one, made, or may, after the first day of
February, seventeen hundred and eighty-two, make the first
application for warrants, (in proper hours for the transaction of
public business ;) provided, on application heretofore made, war-
rants shall be obtained on or before the first day of July next ;
and no warrant of escheat shall be good, unless where the
owner hath died or shall die intestate, seized in fee simple, and

To whom
preference
is to be
given. &c.