218 WILLIAMS' CASE.—3 BLAND.

sufficient to discharge the annual assessment; and leaving four
infant daughters, who were greatly distressed, and who could not
be educated, or maintained, unless by a sale of their inheritance;
it was directed, that the land should be sold; that the interest of
the purchase money should be applied to their education and main-
tenance; and that the principal should be divided and paid to
them as they respectively arrived at the age of sixteen. Novem-
ber, 1781, ch. 14; 1804, ch. 10. By another special Act, it was
stated, that Joseph Walker died intestate, seised of an improved
lot of ground in Pig Point, which would have then sold for one
thousand pounds; but, from a decay of the improvements, since
that time, had been so reduced in value, that its rents were wholly
unequal to the necessary lepairs; that the son and heir-at-law of
the deceased, being then but four years old, before he arrived at
full age the lot would be of no value. Whereupon it was directed,
that the lot should be sold, and that the money arising from the
sale should be put out at interest for the benefit of the heir. 1784,
ch. 28.

In another special Act it was set forth, that several lots of ground
in Baltimore Town, winch had descended to, and been made over
to three infants, were then useless to them, and very heavily bur-
thened with taxes; but would be of great advantage to the said
children if leased out on ground rents for ninety-nine years renew-
able forever. Whereupon it was directed, that the lots should be
leased with the approbation of the Orphans' Court. 1784, ch. 31;
1794, ch. 5; Erroy v. Nicholas, 2 Eg. Ca. Abr. 488; P— v. Bell, 6
Ves. 419; In the matter of Starkie, 3 Cond. Chan. Rep. 79. It was
stated in the special Act passed on the petition of Sarah Parran.
that her husband Richard Parran died seised of two tracts of land,
one in Calvert, and another in Charles County, and personal estate
to a considerable amount; that at the time of his death he was
much indebted, and left the petitioner his widow, and three daugh-
ters; and that it would be for the benefit of the children to sell the
land in Charles County, to save a part of the personal estate; where-
202 upon *it was enacted, that the land in Charles County cou-
taining two hundred and fourteen acres, should be sold, and
the proceeds applied towards the payment of the debts due from
Richard Parran, deceased; but that no part thereof should be paid
to Sarah Parran, nor should she be entitled to anymore of the per-
sonalty than if this Act had not been passed. 1784, ch. 51; 1801.
ch. 82; 1802. ch. 07; 1803, ch. 91; 1810, ch. 58 and 71; 1811, ch. 88;
Waring v. Waring, 2 Bland, 673.

Since the alteration of the common law by the Act to Direct
Descents, on its being represented to the General Assembly, by
the petition of William Wirt, a minor, that he was entitled to the
moiety of a house and lot in Bladensburg, that he had received a
classical education, and was then engaged m the study of the law;