LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1785.

109

CHAPTER 46.

AN ACT directing what shall be good evidence to prove foreign and other
debts, and deeds and wills, and instruments of writing executed in any
of the United States, or in any foreign country, for allowing discounts,
and for repealing an act of assembly therein mentioned.
See index, word 'Evidence,' for the rules of evidence, on other sub-
jects, required by the laws of this state; see ante page 73, as to debts
not exceeding ten pounds.

Be it enacted j by the General Assembly of Maryland^ That
an exemplification of the record under the hand of the keeper
of the same, and the seal of the court or office where such
record may be made, shall be good and sufficient evidence in
any court of this state to prove any debt of record made or
entered in any other of the United States, or in any foreign
country whatever.

Exemplifi-
cation
good evi-
dence, &c.

SEC. 2. And be it enacted, That a copy of the record or
register of any deed, will, or other instrument of writing,
which the laws of the state or country where the same may be
executed require to be recorded or registered, and which have
been or shall be recorded or registered agreeably to such laws,
under the hand of the keeper of such record or register, and
the seal of the court or office in which such record or register
lias been or may be made, or a copy of any deed, will, or other
instrument of writing lodged for safe keeping in any office or
court, agreeably to the laws of the state or country as aforesaid,
and certified as aforesaid, shall be good and sufficient evidence
in any court of this state to prove such deed, will, or instru-
ment of writing.
See ch. 9, sec. 7, ante page 192, by which certain record entries or
transcripts are in certain cases to be admitted as evidence.
By November, 1798, ch. 101, sub ch. 1, sec. 4, an attested copy, under
the seal of office, of any will, testament, or codicil, recorded in any office
authorized to record the same, shall be admitted as evidence in any court of
law or equity, provided that the execution of the original will or codicil be
subject to be contested until a probat hath been had according to the said act.

What shall
be good
evidence
to prove
deeds, &c.

SEC. 3. And be it enacted, That where any deed, will, bond,
bill, note, or other instrument of writing, hath been or shall be
executed in any other of the United States, or in any foreign
country, and to give validity to which recording or registering
is not or shall not be made necessary, proof to the execution of
such deed, will, bond, bill, note, or other instrument of writing,
by the oath or affirmation, as the case may be, of the subscrib-
ing witnesses to the same, or any of them, taken before any
court, judge or justice, or other officer of the state or country
where such deed, will, bond, bill or instrument, hath been
or may be executed, having authority by law to administer
an oath or affirmation, as the case may be, and a certificate
under seal from the governor, chief magistrate, or a notary

Oath of
witnesses,
&c. good
evidence,
&c.