ART. 66.] NEGROES. 457

SELIING TURBULENT SLAVES OR RUNAWAYS FOR A TERM.

38. If any slave for a term of years shall run away from his

owner, the Circuit Court, or the Orphans' Court of the county or

city where the owner resides, upon the apprehension of such

slave, may extend his term of service to a longer term, so as

fairly to indemnify his owner for all expenses and loss occasioned

by the absconding of such slave; and the said courts, on the

application of the owner, may grant an order for the sale of all

the right of said owner to said slave, to any person within or

without this State; Provided, such court shall be of opinion that

the absconding of such slave was not occasioned by the improper

|j conduct of the owner or his agent.

39. Such order for sale shall express the term of service of
such slave, and the purchaser may remove him out of this
State, and hold him to service during the term set forth in said
order.

40. On the passage of such order, or on the passage of an
order under the following section, the clerk or register of the
court granting the same shall furnish said slave with a copy,
under seal, of the deed of manumission, if he be entitled to
freedom by manumission; or if he be entitled to freedom by
will, then a copy under seal of so much of the will as may be
necessary to show when and on what terms such slave is entitled
to freedom, together with a copy under seal of the order of the
court directing the sale, the expense whereof shall be paid by
the owner.

41. The Circuit Courts for the several counties and the
Criminal Court of Baltimore, may authorize the owner of any
slave for a term of years, to sell the unexpired time of said

slave, when his conduct is notoriously vicious and turbulent,
to any person who will transport such slave beyond the limits
of this State; Provided, said courts shall require and be satisfied
by the testimony of a disinterested witness that the party
applying for such grant has distinctly and particularly notified
such slave of the existence and effect of this law, and that this
information has failed to correct his habits, before they proceed
to issue any such grant of authority.