2624 ARTICLE 81.

against him in such suit, in whosesoever hands or possession the said lands
or tenements may be found; but where the debtor hath granted or may
hereafter grant any road, way or easement in or over any lands liable as
aforesaid, the rights accruing through or by such grant shall not be af-
fected by the preceding provisions of this section; provided, however, that
all existing rights of the State now vested shall not be in any way dimin-
ished or released, except as herein provided.

Under act of 1778, ch. 9, as soon as suit is commenced by state, a lien is created
on lands of debtor which gives state a priority over all other creditors who had not,
prior to commencement of suit by the state, secured a lien by judgment, mortgage
or otherwise. State's prior claim upon proceeds of sale of land. Davidson v. Clay-
land, 1 H. & J. 547. And see Jones v. Jones, 1 Bl. 447; Hodges v. Millikin, 1 Bl. 515.

The lien given the state by this section may, and perhaps can only under any
circumstances, be enforced at common law. Such lien cannot be called into action
to subserve purposes of an individual. Ridgely v. Iglehart, 3 Bl. 544.

As to right of preference of state in payment of debts under common law, see
State v. Bank, 6 G. & J. 205; Smith v. State, 5 Gill, 45; Green's Estate, 4 Md. Ch.
356; State v. Baltimore, 10 Md. 504.

Tax on Official Commissions.

An. Code, sec..146. 1904, sec. 143. 1888, sec. 127. 1862, ch. 282. 1874, ch. 483, sec. 138.

1878, ch. 23.

150. When their commissions are delivered to them, the following
officers shall respectively pay to the clerk from whom they receive the same,
the sums following, to wit: The judges of each of the circuit courts for
the several counties, fifty dollars; the judge of the superior court, of the
court of common pleas, of the circuit court and circuit court No. 2 of Balti-
more city, of the Baltimore city court, and the criminal court of Balti-
more, each fifty dollars; the judges of the court of appeals, each fifty dol-
lars ; the sheriff of Baltimore city, three hundred dollars; the sheriff of Bal-
timore county, Frederick county and Washington county, each one hundred
dollars; the sheriff of Allegany county, seventy-five dollars; the sheriff of .
Carroll county, Harford county, Dorchester county, Anne Arundel county,
Worcester county, Somerset county, Cecil county and Prince George's
county, each forty dollars; the sheriff of Howard county, thirty dollars;
the sheriff of Caroline county, Montgomery county, Talbot county, Charles
county, Queen Anne's county, Calvert county, Garrett county, Kent county,
Wicomico county and St. Mary's county, each twenty dollars; each judge
of the orphans' court of Baltimore city, fifty dollars; each judge of the
orphans' court in the several counties, ten dollars; each justice of the
peace and constable in the State, two dollars; the tobacco inspectors, each
fifty dollars; the weigher of live stock, fifty dollars; the weighers of grain,
hay and straw, each ten dollars; each notary public in the city of Balti-
more, the sum of twenty dollars; the clerk of the circuit court and of the
circuit court No. 2 of Baltimore city, the clerk of the court of common
pleas, the clerk of the city court, and the clerk of the criminal court of
Baltimore, each two hundred dollars; the register of wills of the city of
Baltimore, two hundred dollars; the register of wills of Baltimore county,
one hundred and fifty dollars; the register of wills of Frederick county,
one hundred dollars; the register of wills of Washington county, seventy-