114 CLERKS OF COURTS. [ART. 18

qualification of any public officer who has taken and subscribed
the oaths of office before him, or whose oath of office is recorded
in his office.

51. The said clerks shall record all deeds, mortgages, bills of
sale and other instruments required to be recorded in a well-
bound book; which book shall contain an alphabetical index, in
the names of all the parties to such deed, mortgage, bill of sale,
or other instrument of writing.

52. They shall make a full and complete general alphabetical
index (unless the same shall have already been done,) in a book
or books well bound for that purpose, of all deeds, mortgages,
bills of sale, manumission, and other conveyances of record in
their respective offices; which index shall be both in the names
of each and all the grantors, bargainers, donors or mortgagors,
and each and all the grantees, bargainees, donees or mortgagees;
and shall refer to the book and page of the record of the several
conveyances designating the same.

53. They shall continue and keep up the alphabetical indexes
required by the preceding section, by noting at the time of re-
cording any deed, mortgage, bill of sale, or other conveyance,
the names of parties, and the character of the conveyance in
such alphabetical index, in the manner prescribed in the pre-
ceding section.

54. Every clerk, after he records any deed, shall, before he
delivers the original, carefully and with accuracy enter the sub-
stance of such deed—that is to say, the date of the deed, the
Christian names and surnames of the parties, with their addi-
tions, (if any;) the name of the land or estate, (if any,) in such
deed mentioned to be conveyed; the courses, metes and bounds
thereof, if expressed in the deed; and the number of acres, (if
therein stated;) and such other description of the land conveyed
as may be contained in such deed, and the place where the same
may lie; the consideration for making the deed, and the estate
conveyed by such deed, in the very expressions thereof; and
also state and certify immediately after and following such
entry, the day such deed was recorded, and shall sign his name
thereto.

55. The said clerk shall make the entry aforesaid on good
royal writing paper, such as is commonly used in record books,