VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS, NOVEMBER SESSION, 1805. 109

RESOLVED, That the state's right in and to the following tracts of land, viz. Chance, containing one hun-
dred and forty acres; Choice, containing seventy-six acres; Property, containing one hundred and sixty-eight
acres; Tit for Tat, containing seventy-three acres, situate in Charles county; Blooming Plains, containing
nine hundred and seventy-seven acres; Durham, containing three hundred and eighty-four acres; Rising Sun,
containing two hundred and twenty-five acres; Tom's Venture, containing ninety-two acres; and Homony
Isle, containing one hundred and one acres; be and the same is hereby relinquished to Ariana French, Thomas,
George, Catharine, Charles and Robert French, and John Weems, and Elizabeth his wife, and their heirs and
assigns for ever, reserving to all persons concerned their legal and equitable interests.

By order, J. GOLDER, clk.

Which was read.

The supplement to an act to reduce into one the several acts of assembly respecting elections, and to regulate
laid elections, was read the second time, passed, and sent to the senate by the clerk.

The house proceeded to the second reading of the bill relative to sheriffs and constables; on motion, the.
question was put, That the following be added to the said bill ? viz. " provided, that nothing contained in this
act shall prevent, or be construed to prevent, any sheriff or coroner of this state from receiving an assignment
ef, and bringing suit on, any cause of action assigned to such sheriff or coroner under and in virtue of an act
which passed in the year 1768, entitled, An act for the recovery of certain amerciaments, and also upon de-
faults and executions, and recovering the money due thereon, agreeably to the provisions of said act; and pro-
vided, that any sheriff or coroner of this state shall also be entitled to all the benefits and advantages reserved
to such sheriff or coroner under and in virtue of the act which passed in the year 1794, entitled. An act for
the amendment of the law in certain cases, any thing in this act contained to the contrary notwithstanding. "
Resolved in the affirmative.

The question was then put, Shall the said bill pass ? Resolved in the affirmative. Which bill was sent to the
senate by the clerk.

Mr. Cox, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee to whom was referred the petition of Peregrine Briscoe, of Caecil county, report, that they
have investigated the facts therein stated, and although they have not such evidence before them us to enable
them to state to the house that the payment as alleged has been actually made, yet they are so far satisfied of
the truth of the petitioner's statement as to induce them to suggest the propriety of giving further time to the
petitioner to produce such testimony as they are persuaded may be had, or such as they think would satisfy the
house of the justice of his claim; they therefore recommend a reference of the subject to the consideration of
the next general assembly, in order that the petitioner may in the mean-time have an opportunity of producing
satisfactory and legal evidence in support of his allegation.

By order, J. GOLDER, clk.
Which was read the first and second time by especial order and concurred with.

Mr. Montgomery, from the committee, delivers to the speaker the following report:

THE committee to whom was referred the petition of sundry inhabitants of Harford county, praying that a
law may pass whereby the levy court and the trustees of the poor may be elected by the people, and the number
thereof reduced, report, that they have taken the same into consideration, and are of opinion that the decision
of the house on the first subject determines the principle for this session.

With respect to the latter subject, they are of opinion that as the office of a trustee of the poor is not profita-
ble, but considered so burthensome as that by law the person appointed is compelled to accept under a penalty,
the electing them in the manner prayed would be considered by the people unimportant, and by their indiffe-
rence improper characters, who might squander the money of the people instead of applying it to the benevolent
and humane purposes intended, might thereby become the trustees of the poor; besides, in filling up vacancies
occasioned by death, resignation or refusal to act, the elections might become so frequent as to be burthensome,
and of course increase the chances of unfit characters being appointed. Yet the committee are of opinion that
the mode now prescribed by law for the trustees filling up their own vacancies is not right, but that this power,
ought to be lodged elsewhere, and they consider it may be safely delegated to the orphans court of the county;
they consider too, that the number of the trustees ought to be lessened, and that the time of service ought to be
reduced, and that leave ought to be given to bring in a bill conformable to this latter part of the report.
All which is submitted.

By order, L. GASSAWAY, clk.

Which was read the first and second time by especial order, and the question put, Will the house concur
with the said report as far as the word " session?" Resolved in the affirmative.

The question was then put, Will the house concur with the residue of said report ? Determined in the negative.
Mr. Montgomery, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to continue the acts of
assembly which would expire after the present session o!' assembly; which was read the first time and ordered
to lie on the table.

Mr. Bruce, from the committee, delivers to the speaker a bill, entitled, An act to open, improve and turn-
pike, the road leading from William's Port, in Washington county, to Cumberland, in Allegany county; which
was read the first time and ordered to lie on the table.