LAWS OF MARYLAND.— 1797.

355

deed mentioned, acknowledged the lands and tenements, or
other property in the same, to be the right or estate of the
donee, grantee or bargainee, or shall certify, by endorsement,
any acknowledgment tantamount thereto, or shall endorse on
any deed any certificate in any words declaratory of the inten-
tion of the grantor, bargainer or vendor, to pass and convey the
property therein mentioned to the donee, grantee or bargainee,
such acknowledgment shall be as good and available in law
against all persons whatever, as if the persons receiving such
acknowledgment shall certify that the donor, grantor or bar-
gainer, had expressly acknowledged the said instrument of
writing to be his, her or their act and deed, any law, usage or
custom to the contrary notwithstanding ; provided, that nothing
herein contained shall alter or change the mode prescribed of
taking the acknowledgments of feme coverts and feme covert
grantors.

CHAPTER 110.
An ACT to prevent excessive Gaming.

WHEREAS it hath been represented to this general assembly,
that certain persons, as well citizens of this as of other states,
and foreigners, carry about with them from one public place
to another in this state certain gambling machines or inven-
tions, calculated to deceive and defraud the innocent and
unguarded, to the prejudice of society, and the corruption of
morals ; and this assembly being desirous to put a stop to such
pernicious and baneful effects, therefore,
SEC. 2, 3, 4. Merged in 1803, ch. 75.
Sec. 5. Merged in 1826, ch. 80, which was afterwards modified bf
1829, ch. 136.

Preamble.

SEC. 6. Provided nevertheless, That nothing in this act shall,
in any manner, affect any of the chartered rights or privileges
of the cities of Annapolis and Baltimore, or of Georgetown.

CHAPTER 113.

AN ACT relative to lands devised where there are no known heirs, or the
heirs are aliens.

Proviso.

WHEREAS, by the British statute, entitled, an act for the relief
of creditors against fraudulent devises, which hath been extended
to and practised under in this state, it is provided, that in all
actions brought by certain creditors for the recovery of debts
due by persons dying seized of lands and tenements, and de
vising the same by their wills and testaments, the devisees and
heirs at law shall be joined by virtue of the said statute ; and
there being no provision therein for cases where there are no

Preamble.