ART. 21. ] COMMISSIONERS TO TAKE ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF DEEDS. 201

2. The said commissioners shall hold their office as other civil officers of this State appointed in pursuance of the thirteenth sec- tion of article second of the Constitution.	Id s 2 1852, c 106, s. 1. Tenure.
3. Every commissioner so appointed shall take and subscribe an oath before a justice of the peace in the city or county in which he shall reside, well and faithfully to execute and perform all the duties of such commissioner, under and by virtue of the laws of this State,	Id s 3 1837, c 97, s 3, 1852, c 106. s 3 Oath of office
and shall also procure an official seal, a distinct impression of which, taken upon wax, or some other substance capable of receiving and retaining a clear impression, together with his signature, in his own proper handwriting, thereto attached, shall, with the oath of office aforesaid, be transmitted to and filed in the office of the sec- retary of state	Official seal.
4. Every commissioner so appointed and qualified shall have authority to administer an oath to any person desirous to make such oath before him, and such oath shall be as good and effectual as if made before a justice of the peace in this State.	Id s 4 1837, c 97, s 2 Authority to administer oaths
5. Any acknowledgment made or proof taken before any such commissioner in the manner directed by the laws of this State, and certified to under his seal, and indorsed on or annexed to the deed or instrument of writing, shall have the same effect as if the same had been made or taken before a judge of a court of record of another State.	Id s 5 1837, c 97, s 1 Effect of ac- knowledgment or proof taken before commis- sioner.
6. The secretary of state, immediately upon the receipt of the evidence of qualification of any such commissioner, shall make a short entry of the same upon the record of appointments or civil list, and a certificate of the governor, under the great seal of the State, to the appointment and qualification of any such commis- sioner as appearing from the said record of appointments or civil list, shall be sufficient evidence of the appointment and qualifica- tion of such commissioner.	Id s 6 1852, c 106, ss Secretary of state to certify to qualification.
7. The governor may also, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, appoint one or more commissioners in any foreign country, who shall continue in office during the pleasure of the gov- ernor, and shall have authority to take the acknowledgment and proof of the execution of any deed or other conveyance or lease of any lands lying in this State, or any contract, letters of attorney or any other writing, under seal or not, to be used and recorded in this State.	Id s 7 1856, c 151, s 1 Governor may appoint com- missioners in any foreign country.
8. Every commissioner appointed under the last preceding sec- tion, before performing any duty or exercising any power in virtue of his appointment, shall take and subscribe an oath before a judge or clerk of one of the courts of record of the kingdom or country in which such commissioner shall reside, well and faithfully to exe- cute and perform all the duties of such commissioner under and by virtue of the laws of this State; which oath, with a description of	Id s 8 1836, c 151, s 2 Oath.
his seal of office, together with his signature thereto, shall be filed in the executive office of this State.	Official seal, etc