876 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 293

as may be necessary for payment of taxes due and in arrears,
and expenses, of such delinquent taxpayers, at public sale, to
the highest bidder, on giving previous notice, of twenty days
in the case of real and leasehold property, by advertisement in-
serted in some newspaper published in Dorchester County,
Maryland, of the time, place and terms of sale of said real
and leasehold property, with a brief description describing the
nature and location of said property, or, of ten days in the
case of personal property, by handbills posted in not less than
four conspicuous places in the town of Vienna, of the time,
place and terms of sale of said personal property. On the day
appointed for the sale, the Clerk shall attend and offer for sale
and sell so much of said property as may be necessary to pay
taxes, interest and expenses. In the case of sale of personal
property, the sale shall at once vest the title thereto in the
purchaser. In the case of sale of real or leasehold property
upon ratification of the sale as herein provided, it shall vest
the title in fee in the purchaser absolutely. In the case of the
sale of real estate, the purchaser shall at the time pay an
amount of the purchase money sufficient to pay taxes, interest,
costs and expenses and no more, and shall execute to the Clerk.
a bond or obligation, with approved security, to pay the balance
of such purchase money upon ratification of the sale.

At any time before the ratification of the sale of real or lease-
hold property, the person charged with the taxes under which
sale was made, or such person's heirs, personal representatives
or assigns, or his, her or their agent or attorneys, or any mort-
gagees or other lien holders, may pay to the purchaser, his
heirs or assigns, the amount paid to the Clerk for taxes, inter-
est, costs and expenses as aforesaid, with interest thereon from
the day of sale at the rate of fifteen per cent. (15%), and
such payment shall render the sale null and void, and such
payment shall be an absolute bar to the ratification of the sale,
upon payment as aforesaid, the purchaser, his executors, ad-
ministrators or assigns, shall execute a deed or release, which,
shall be recorded as a deed of real estate.

Twelve months after the date of sale, or as soon thereafter
as may be reasonably convenient, the Clerk shall, under oath,
report the said sale, together with all the proceedings had in
relation thereto, to the Circuit Court for Dorchester County.
The Court shall examine the said proceedings and, if the same
appear to be regular and the provisions of the law in relation
thereto have been substantially complied with, the Court shall
order notice to be given, by advertisement, published in such