448                           THE COUNTIES OF MARYLAND

line defined in the former as N 20° E. The discrepancy between the
two descriptions may be explained by a difference in variation of the
needle between the two dates, or more exactly by the fact that the ear-
lier line was doubtless run by magnetic variation of 2° 55' west, which
would have made the line very nearly 17° E of the true meridian.

The erection of Carroll County took from Baltimore County a por-
tion of its northwestern territory including all of the land north of the
Patapsco River lying west of the following boundary, which was defined
as the eastern boundary of Carroll County:

" from thence [the intersection of the north and main branches of the
Patapsco River] running up with the said North branch of said river, but
excluding the same, until it reaches the stone bridge where the Baltimore and
Reisterstown turnpike road crosses said branch of said river, generally known
as the Falls bridge, and thence running north, seventeen degrees east, parallel
with the last line, dividing Baltimore and Frederick counties, to the Penn-
sylvania line,"

The only other modifications of the territory of Baltimore County
have arisen from the erection of Baltimore City into a separate political
unit and the subsequent additions to it.

BALTIMORE COUNTY ELECTION DISTRICTS.

1798  Ch. 115. County divided into 7 election districts.

1799  Ch. 48. Confirms Acts of 1798 Ch. 115.

1799 Ch. 50. Commission appointed to divide county into 7 election dis-
tricts.

1811 Ch. 6. Polling place of 5th election district changed from old tavern
of N. Merryman to new tavern of N. Merryman.

1821  Ch. 38. County divided into 12 districts exclusive of Baltimore City.

1822  Ch. 14. Confirms Acts of 1821 Ch. 38.

1823  Ch. 65. Lines of 4th election district changed to be as follows:

" beginning at Cockey's mill and running with the public
road to the Deer Park road, then down the Deer Park road
to the top of the Fall's hill, then with the road through
Edmund H. Stockdale's meadow by the widow Beasmans
to Morgan's Run, at Thomas Beasman's, then up said
run to Jordan's mill, thence with said run to the head of
Banhart's meadow, then up Hawkin's branch to captain
Gorsuch's meadow, then up John Murray's spring branch
to its source, then with a straight line to the Frederick
County line, near Symon Kylers, to intersect the present
line of the fourth election district, thence with the present
location of the said district to the beginning."