THE CHANCELLOR'S CASE. 635

On the 23d of December, 1777, the Senate sent to the House
of Delegates a message expressed in these words: " Gentlemen,

(2 Ram. His. U. S. cha. 18; Jour. Cong. 25th February, and 26th August, 1780.)
And that for what relates to Maryland in particular has been derived from the public
acts of her government; (February 1777, ch. 3, 9 & 21; October 1777, ch. 18; Octo-
ber 1773, ch. 18; March 1779, ch. 16; July 1779, ch. 22; November 1779, ch. 42;
March 1780, ch. 25 and 31; June 1780, ch. 29; November 1781, ch. 29 and 30; and
November 1782, ch. 33; and the Votes and Proceedings of the House of Delegates of
the 12th of November 1777; of the 21st and 25th of March, the 12th August, and the
11th and 2lst December of the year 1779; of the 24th & 25th April, 16th May, 1st &
7th November, and 16th December of the year 1780; of the 26th of January, and 3d
June 1781; of the 14th December 1782; and of the 15th December 1784.) The sala-
ries of the governor and council, of the year 1780, were directed to be paid in wheat
at £22 10s. Od., per bushel; and the salaries of all other civil officers at a rate of
exchange varying from forty for one to sixty-five for one.— (Votes & Pro. H. Del.
29th January, 1781.)

On the recommendation of Congress, the General Assembly, in order to sustain
the credit of the then circulating paper currency of the country, proposed, by their
act of June 1780, ch. 18, to reduce the quantity by taking up the State's quota of
the bills then in circulation by a new emission of bills; for the redemption of which
certain funds of the Stale should be pledged; and, in case those new bills should
depreciate, it was provided, that such depreciation should be adjusted by the chan-
cellor and judges, who should publish their determination in the Annapolis and Bal-
timore newspapers for the information and government of all concerned. After
which, at the next session, the subject having been brought before the House of
Delegates, they appointed a committee to inquire into, and report the state and cre-
dit of the paper money, particularly of the new bills emitted in pursuance of the law
made at the then last session of the Assembly; who thereupon reported, on the 7th
of November 1780, that they had inquired into the credit of the continental, conven-
tion, and state money; and had found, that the continental and convention money
had depreciated to eighty for one; and that the circulation of the state money issued
under the late act of Assembly had at that time totally stopped.—( Votes & Pro. H.
Del. 7th November, 1780.)

It was soon after enacted and declared, that the commissioner appointed to adjust
the pay due to the officers and soldiers of the troops of this State should be governed
by the following scale of depreciation; that is to say, in 1777 for January and Feb-
ruary, one and a half; March, two; April, May, and June, two and a half; July, August,
September, October and November three; and December four; in 1778 for January
four, February and March five, April six, May five, June and July four, August,
September, and October five, November and December six; in 1779 for January
eight, February ten, March ten and a half, April seventeen, May twenty-four, June
twenty, July nineteen, August twenty, September twenty-four, October thirty,
November thirty-eight and a half, December forty-one and a half; in 1780 for January
forty and a half, February forty-seven and a half, March and April sixty-one and a half.
May fifty-nine, June and July sixty-one and a half, August and September seventy,
October seventy-five, November eighty, and December ninety; in 1781 for January one
hundred and ten, February one hundred and twenty, March one hundred and thirty;
and of the State emissions of June 1780, compared with specie, April to the 20th
day three and one half, to the 30th day four, May to the 10th day five, to the 20th
day six, to the 30th day six and one-half, and in June six and one half. ( October
17Sa, ch. 38, s. 9; May 1781, ch. 17, s. 2; and ch. 85, t. 2.)