ART. 20. ] NOTARIES PUBLIC. 199

ARTICLE XX.
NOTARIES PUBLIC.

1 Appointment of notaries. 6 In case of death register to be deposited

2 Bond with clerk of court

3 Power to administer oaths, certificate 7 Seal

4 Acknowledgments before, protests 8 Special acts

5 Register to be kept 9 Issuing unstamped protests, penalty, evi-
dence

1. The governor, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint and commission a competent number of per- sons of known good character, integrity, and abilities, citizens of the United States, and who have resided in this State two years previous to their appointment, as notaries public for the State of Maryland, to reside within such place or places within the State as the governor shall in and by their respective commissions desig- nate; but there shall not be at any time more than five notaries, one of which shall be conversant with the German language, appointed and commissioned to reside within the city of Baltimore.	1872, c 191 Appointment of notaries 25 Md 402
2. Each notary public shall, within thirty days from the time of his appointment, and before he is commissioned or authorized to discharge the duties of his office, give bond to the State of Mary- land, with security to be approved by the governor, in the penalty of six thousand dollars, if appointed for the city of Baltimore, and in the penalty of two thousand dollars, if appointed for any county, conditioned for the payment into the treasury of that portion of the notarial fees received by him, for the use of the State; and if any person appointed a notary public shall neglect or refuse to give such bond within thirty days from the date of his appointment, the gov- ernor shall appoint some other person in his place.	Art 67, s 2 1845, c 133, 1862, c 113 Bond
3. Each notary public shall have the power of administering oaths according to law in all matters belonging or incident to the exercise of his notarial office, and in all matters and cases of a civil nature in which a justice of the peace may administer an oath, and with	Id B 3 1801, c 86, s 3, 1832, c 286 Power to ad- minister oaths
the same effect; and a certificate under the notarial seal of a notary public shall be sufficient evidence of his having administered such oath in his character as notary public.	Certificate
4. A notary shall have power to receive the proof or acknowledg- ment of all instruments of writing relating to commerce or naviga- tion, and such other writings as have been usually proved and	Id s 4 1801, c 86, s 4 Acknowledg- ments before
acknowledged before notaries public; and to make protests and declarations, and testify the truth thereof under his seal of office	Protests
concerning all matters done by him in virtue of his office. 5. Each notary shall keep a fair register of all protests and other official acts by him done in virtue of his office, and shall, when re-	Id s 5 1601, c 86, s, 5 Register to be kept