ART. 54] BRITISH CONFISCATED LANDS. 1407

to cause to be inserted in one or more newspapers published
in the county or city where the land lies, if there be a news-
paper published therein, at least once a week for three succes-
sive 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
such patent, which day shall be at least sixty days from the
day of filing the application, and warning all parties interested.
to appear before said commissioner on the day and hour therein
designated to show cause, if any they have, why such patent
should not be issued.

1888, art. 54, sec. 19. 1860, art. 54, sec. 12. 1852, ch. 361, sec. 1.

21. If no person appears to contest the said application on
the day so appointed, a patent shall issue to the applicant;
but if opposition be made to the issue of such patent, the
party making such opposition shall, by a day to be designated
by the commissioner of the land office, not exceeding thirty
days, file in the land office his objections in writing to the issue
of said patent.

Ibid. sec. 20. 1860, art. 54, sec. 13. 1852, ch. 361, sec. 1.

22. The said commissioner shall fix some day, not less than
ten nor more than twenty days after the objections are filed,
to hear such application and shall then hear the respective
parties, if they appear before him, and if not, he shall proceed
to determine ex parte the rights of the parties claiming to be
interested and shall, within thirty days after such hearing,
decide in favor of or reject the application as to him shall
seem right and proper, filing his reasons therefor in writing.

Ibid, sec 21. 1860, art. 54, sec 14. 1781, ch. 20, sec. 6. 1789, ch. 35, sec. 4.

23. The said commissioner shall have full power and
authority to hear and determine all disputes which may arise
concerning the validity of surveys made under warrants or
orders issued by him; and also all disputes concerning the
issuing of patents; and in all disputes that come before him,
he shall have full power to decree thereon according to equity
and good conscience and the principles established in courts
of equity.

Armstrong v. Bittinger, 47 Md 111. Jay v. VanBibber, 94 Md 693