1831.

LAWS OF MARYLAND.

lished in Queen Anne's and Talbot counties, for the mutual
benefit and advantage of different owners or possessors of
adjoining lands, it shall be the duty of each party to keep
up in good repair his, her, or their just and respective pro-
portion thereof; in the manner following, that is to say, ail
post and rail or plank fences, shall be at least four and a

Height regulated

half feet High, and ail worm or other fences shall be at least
five feet high, the distance in every case to be computed
from the ground or base of any embankment upon which
said fence may be placed.

Case of neglect.

Sec. 2. And be it enacted, That if either of the parties
so making or keeping a joint fence, shall not comply with
the foregoing provision, and shall refuse or delay, to repair
the said fence within twenty days after notice in writing,
shall be given to the said party, his agent or overseer, then
upon proof thereof, before a justice of the peace, it shall
be lawful for the said justice, under his hand and seal, to
authorise the party aggrieved, and suffering by such refusal
or delay, to repair the said fence, as above required, and for
so doing shall be reimbursed,all costs and reasonable ex pen-
ses necessarily incurred, to be recovered from the party so
refusing or delaying, in the same manner, as debts of a like
amount are now recoverable.

Discontinuance.

Sec. 3. And be it enacted, That in case joint fences are
not made and" kept in repair according to the provisions of
this act; it shall also be lawful for the party aggrieved, or
likely to be injured, instead of pursuing the remedy above
allowed, to discontinue the said fence, upon giving three
months notice in manner aforesaid, and in all other cases, (un-
less by mutual consent.) twelve months notice shall be re-
quired to discontinue any joint fence.

CHAPTER 138.

Passed Feb.27,1832

An ad for the regulation aud improvement of the Village of
Denton, in Caroline county, and for other purposes.

Preamble

WHEREAS, the commissioners of the village of Denton,
have erected on the public ground in said village a market
house; And whereas, the members of the Washington
Lodge No. fifty-nine, of free and accepted masons, have
erected over said market house a room or rooms, to.be oc-
cupied as a lodge room or rooms: And whereas, also, it is
represented to this General Assembly, that it would greatly
contribute to the advantage of the said village of Dentod,