ART. 18.] CLERKS OF COURTS. 115

each sheet measuring in length nineteen inches, and in breadth
twelve inches, with a margin in blank of about half an inch at
the sides, top and bottom of each page, and shall transmit the
same, on or before the first day of June in each year, to the
clerk of the Court of Appeals.

56. Every clerk who receives a deed, or instrument of writing
which is required to be recorded within a specific time, shall
endorse thereon the time when he receives the same.

57. If a free negro applies to the clerk of the court where the
manumission is recorded, under which he claims his freedom, the
clerk, on being satisfied that such negro is entitled to his freedom
under such manumission, shall grant him a certificate thereof
under the seal of his office, and shall set forth therein the height,
age, complexion of such negro, when such negro became free,
the place where he was raised, and such marks as may appear
to such clerk to be notable in such negro.

58. If any negro, born free, shall apply to the clerk of the
Circuit Court of the county where he resides, or if he resides in
the city of Baltimore, to the Superior Court of Baltimore city,
the clerk shall, upon sufficient evidence of such negro being
born free, grant to such negro a certificate thereof, setting forth
the manner in which such negro became entitled to his freedom,
and shall describe such negro therein in the manner prescribed
in the preceding section; and the clerk shall keep a registry of
every certificate of freedom he may grant under this or the pre-
ceding section.

59. No clerk shall grant a certificate of freedom to any negro
who has before obtained one, unless such negro shall make oath
that he has lost the former certificate of his freedom; and the
clerk shall describe the negro applying for the same in the
second certificate, in the same manner he is directed herein to
describe him in the first, and shall register the same in the same
manner.

60. He shall apply before the first of May in each year, to the
Comptroller for such number of blank licenses of every sort as
may probably be required for the use of his county for one year,
or the fractional part of the year, terminating on the thirtieth
day of April then next ensuing.