LAWS OP MARYLAND.— 1790.

963

copy of the laws and resolutions for the register in chancery, and
for the register of wills in each respective county, and for the
clerk of the general court on the western and eastern shore
respectively, and for the respective treasurers, to he retained by
them for the use of their respective offices ; and the same shall
be packed up by the said printer, and directed accordingly; and
the said printer shall completely print and stitch, in the manner
herein before mentioned, the number of the copies of the said
laws and resolutions, and of the said votes and proceedings,
required by this act, and shall deposite the same, carefully
packed up, and sealed and directed, in the council chamber, in
the care of the clerk of the council, within the space of sixty
days after the receipt of the original copies thereof from the
clerks of the respective houses of assembly as aforesaid, and
shall take a receipt from the clerk of the council for the same ;
and if the said printer shall neglect or refuse to print, stitch,
pack up or deposite, the said laws and resolutions, and the said
votes and proceeding, within the time limited by this act as
aforesaid, such printer shall forfeit and pay the sum of fifty
pounds current money for every refusal or neglect, to be recover-
ed and applied as aforesaid, and shall moreover forfeit his allow-
ance or salary as printer of the state.
SEC. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12 and 13, repealed by 1816, ch. 241.

SEC. 10. And be it enacted, That the following, and no other,
shall be deemed public letters and packets ; that is to say, all
packets containing the laws passed at any session of assembly,
the votes and proceedings of the senate and house of delegates,
endorsed for public service, and signed by the clerk of the
council ; all letters sent by the governor for the time being, and
endorsed for public service, and signed by the clerk of the
council ; all letters sent by the president of the senate, and en-
dorsed by the clerk of the senate for public service, and signed
by him ; all letters sent by the speaker of the house of dele-
gates, and endorsed for the public service, and signed by him ;
and all joint letters sent by the president and speaker, endorsed
for the public service, and signed by them ; all certificates of
assessments, and books of proceedings of the commissioners of
the tax, and endorsed by the clerks of the several counties on
public service, and signed by them ; all letters and packets sent
by any judge of the general court, and endorsed on public ser-
vice, and signed by him.

What are
deemed
public
letters.

SEC. 11. And, whereas the pernicious custom of opening let-
ters is loudly complained of, Be it enacted, That if any person
or persons hereafter shall wilfully break the seal of any letter
or package belonging to the public, or directed to private per-
sons, and the same can be proved against him or them by one
credible witness, such person or persons so offending shall, on

Penalty on
opening
letters, &c.