NEALE v. HAGTHROP.— 3 BLAND. 579

purposes of building, which requires their removal. The auditor,
therefore, inclines to think, that he should charge the defendant
John Fitzgerald only with the average ground rent, as estimated
by the aforesaid witnesses. And he has allowed for the value of
certain improvements which appear to have been made by the
defendant. And the auditor is further of opinion, that the value
of the said premises, for the time prior to their alienation, should
not be estimated at a higher rate than for the time subsequent.

The auditor further says, that the complainant has also located
the possession of the defendant Benjamin Rawlings. The plaintiff
has examined three, and the defendant five witnesses, to prove its
value. It is also proved, that in 1797 there was a small two story
frame house on the premises, which, it is inferred from other evi-
dence, might have rented for four or five dollars a month. But
there is no proof of its value, independent of the ground annexed
to it, and it is supposed the ground was chiefly valuable for build-
ing, which would require its removal. The auditor, therefore,
thinks he should charge said defendant only with the average
ground rent, as estimated by the aforesaid witnesses: and that the
value thereof for the time prior to its alienation should not be
estimated at a higher rate than for the time subsequent. The
complainant has also located the possessions of John Weaver,
and proved, that the lots, in 1818, might have been leased at a
rent of two dollars for every foot fronting on Goodman street; and
the auditor has stated the account accordingly. The complainant
has * also located the possessions of John S. King, John 597
Cator, Samuel Moore, and George A. Hughes, and offered 597
similar proofs of their value. And the auditor has stated the
accounts against these defendants accordingly. The complain-
ant has also located the possessions of the defendant William
McMechen, and offered proof, that in 1818, the property might
have been leased at a. rent of two dollars per foot fronting on
Goodman street, and the auditor adopts this evidence of value for
the time since 1818. No further proof has been offered of the
value prior to 1818. The complainant has located several small
houses on the premises; but has offered no proof that they were
erected in 1797. The auditor is not satisfied with his estimate of
the value of this property prior to the first of May, 1818: but
having no data before him by which it might be corrected, he has
adopted it in his present account.

The auditor further says, that the complainant has located the
possessions of Edward Hagthrop and wife, and offered proof, that
the ground fronting on the Ferry road and Goodman street, might
have been leased, in 1818, at a rent of two dollars per foot. This
proof has been adopted by the auditor in his estimate herewith
returned. The auditor excludes any allowance for the rent of the
Mansion House, and the house on Light street since the first of