LAND OFFICE 2277

An. Code, 1924, sec. 17. 1912, sec. 18. 1904, sec. 17. 1888, sec. 15. 1874, ch. 66. 1876, ch. 257.
1894, ch. 191. 1900, ch. 318. 1902, ch. 261.

17. He is authorized and empowered to continue the indexing of cer-
tain land records, and extracts of deeds which were transferred to the land
office from the court of appeals under the said act of 1874, chapter 66, and
such extracts of deeds and mortgages and all other extracts of records of
real estate as shall be received by him from the clerks of the circuit courts
for the counties and the clerk of the superior court of Baltimore City. He
is also authorized to purchase, receive and collect books, papers, records,
relics and other memorials connected with the early history of Maryland
prior to the revolution, during and since the revolution. He shall have
charge of the same and preserve, print, re-bind, repair, classify and take
proper care of the same. Any gifts to the State of any such shall be under
his care and protection.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 18. 1912, sec. 19. 1904, sec. 18. 1888, sec. 16. 1874, ch. 66. 1876, ch. 257.

1892, ch. 282. 1902, ch. 261.

18. The comptroller of the treasury is directed to issue his warrant for
such sums as are now necessary and may from time to time hereafter
become necessary to meet the cost of making index books and binding
extracts of deeds, mortgages and other extracts authorized to be made and
continued by the preceding section and for the further costs and expenses
incurred in carrying out and performing the duties required in the pre-
ceding section upon the order of the commissioner of the land office, and the
sum of one thousand dollars, or so much thereof as shall be necessary, is
appropriated annually for such purpose.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 19. 1912, sec. 20. 1904, sec. 19. 1888, sec. 17. 1852, ch. 361, sec. 1.

19. Upon application in writing of any person claiming to be entitled
to any of the British confiscated lands sold by the commissioners appointed
under the authority of this State to preserve and sell British confiscated
property, the title to which still remains in the State, and praying that
title thereto may be granted to him, and upon satisfactory proof submitted
to the commissioner of the land office that such applicant is entitled to
receive title thereto, the said commissioner shall issue a patent for such
land to the person appearing to him to be entitled thereto.

For a case involving proof of qualification of commissioners mentioned in this
section, and the validity of a deed executed by them, see Hutchings v. Talbot, 3 H.
& J. 378.

As to confiscation of British property, see Smith v. State, 2 H. & J. 471; Hall v.
Gittings, 2 H. & J. 112; Owings v. Norwood, 2 H. & J. 96; Ringgold v. Malott, 1 H. &
J. 317; Gassaway v. Dorsey, 4 H. & McH. 405; Smith v. Maryland, 6 Cranch, 289.

An. Code, 1924, sec. 20. 1912, sec. 21. 1904, sec. 20. 1888, sec. 18. 1852, ch. 361, sec. 1.

20. Before issuing any patent under the preceding section the said
commissioner shall order the party applying therefor to cause to be inserted
in one or more newspapers published in the county or city where the land
lies, if there be a newspaper published therein, at least once a week for
three successive weeks, an advertisement setting forth the object of the
application and describing therein by metes and bounds and such other
description of the land for which the patent is sought as he may direct,
so that the land may be known, and also particularly describing the claim
of the applicant for such patent, and containing a notification of the day
and hour on which the applicant will apply to the commissioner to issue