JOHN FRANCIS MERCER, ESQUIRE, GOVERNOR. NOVEMBER.

1801.

drain through that part of the marsh and branch in the said original act mentioned, in which no
ditch has already been cut, and to apportion the said estimate or estimates of charges and expences
among the proprietors of that part of the said marsh and branch through which no ditch hath yet
been cut in the manner as in the said original act is directed, and to demand and receive such pro-
portions from the said proprietors respectively, and in case of refusal to pay by the said proprie-
tors, or any of them, to compel and enforce payment thereof according to the manner prescribed
by the said original act.

CHAP.

XXIX,

II. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the said directors, or any two of them, may, at their discretion,
order and direct the proportions of the said estimate or estimates aforesaid to be paid in not less
than three equal annual instalments, to commence from the first day of August next ensuing, and
upon failure of payment by the proprietors, or any of them, at the time limitted by such instal-
ment, the said payment may be compelled and enforced in the manner as in the original act is pro-
vided and prescribed.

Direct the pro-
portions, &c.

III. AND BE IT ENACTED, That the directors, or any two of them, may, and they are hereby
authorised, at their discretion, to cause an actual survey to be made of the said ditch or drain and
of the land through which the same is cut, or to be cut, for the purpose of making a more correct
estimate or estimates of the expences of cutting, and of repairing and cleansing said ditch or
drain, and the expence of such survey shall be paid by the proprietors of the said marsh through
which the said ditch has been or is to be cut, in proportion to the quantities of marsh land they
respectively hold, and may be levied and collected from the said proprietors by the directors for
the time being in the manner prescribed by the sixth section of the original act.

Cause a survey
to be made, &c.

IV, AND BE IT ENACTED, That the said directors for the time being shall have power and au-
thority to assess and levy annually hereafter, in the manner above mentioned, upon the proprietors
of the aforesaid tract of marsh, in proportion to the quantity they respectively hold, such sum or
sums of money as shall be necessary for cleaning out the said ditch, and keeping the same in good
repair,

CHAP. XXX.

And assess
money, &c.

An ACT to authorise the levy court of Saint-Mary's county to levy
a sum of money for the rent of a clerk's office.

Passed 31 st of
Dec, 1801.

WHEREAS the clerk of Saint-Mary's county hath stated, by his petition to this general as-
sembly, that for the want of a public office at the seat of justice in the said county he
hath been obliged to rent a house for that purpose at his own expence, and praying that the levy
court of the said county may be authorised to levy on the county such a sum of money as they may
think necessary; and the same appearing reasonable and proper,

Preamble.

II. BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the levy court of Saint-Mary's
County be and they are hereby authorised to levy annually on the said county such a sum of
money, for the purpose of paying the rent of a house to be used as a clerk's office, as they in their
discretion may think sufficient therefor, not exceeding fifty dollars for each year,

CHAP. XXXI.

Court to levy
money, &c.

An ACT to authorise the levy court of Harford county to assess
and levy a sum of money for the purposes therein mentioned.

Passed 31st of
Dec. 1801.

WHEREAS Frances Donovan, of Harford county, by her petition to this general assembly,
hath represented, that she hath had the misfortune to lose her husband, who was drowned,
leaving her with several children, one of whom, Ezekiel Donovan, almost arrived to years of man-
hood, is afflicted with convulsion fits, so as to deprive him of his reason, and that he could not be
kept in the poor house without continual confinement, and praying that a law may pass to provide
for the support of the said Ezekiel Donovan out of the poor-house ; and the prayer of the said peti-
tioner appearing reasonable, therefore,

Preamble.

II. BE IT ENACTED, by the General Assembly of Maryland, That the justices of the levy court of
Harford county be and they are hereby directed and empowered, at their levy courts annually, so
long as they may see cause, to assess and levy on said county a sum of money, not exceeding
forty

Justices to as-
sess money,
&c.