132 CONVEYANCING. [ART. 24,

ARTICLE XXIV.
Conveyances.

SEC. 1. No estate of inheritance or freehold, or any declaration
or limitation of use, or any estate for above seven years, shall
pass or take effect unless the deed conveying the same shall be
executed, acknowledged and recorded as herein provided, and
all such deeds shall be acknowledged before some one of the
following officers.

2. If acknowledged in the county or city within which the
real estate or any part of it lies, the acknowledgment may be
made before:

1st. Some one justice of the peace for said county or city.
2d. A judge of the Orphans' Court for said county or city.
3d. The judge of the Circuit Court for the county.
4th. The judge of the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas,
or Circuit Court for Baltimore city.

3. If acknowledged within the State, but out of the county or
city in which the real estate or any part of it lies, the acknow-
ledgment may be made before:

1st. Any justice of the peace for the county or city where the
grantor may be at the time of the acknowledgment: the official
character of the justice being certified by the clerk of the Circuit
or Superior Court under his official seal.

2d. Any judge of the Circuit Court for the circuit in which the
grantor may be.

3d. The judge of the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas,
or Circuit Court, if the grantor be in Baltimore city.

4. If acknowledged without this State, but within the United
States, the acknowledgment may be made before :

1st. A notary public.

2d. A judge of any court of the United States.

3d. A judge of any court of any State or Territory having a
seal.

4th, A commissioner of this State to take acknowledgment
of deeds.