1856.] OF THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES.               23

Which was referred to the Anne Arundel delegation.

Mr. Stewart presented the petition of Mary Wilson, colored,
praying the passage of a law, authorizing the Clerk of the Circuit
Court for Howard county to issue certificates of manumission to
her and her four children.

Which was referred to the Committee on colored population.

Mr. Sudler presented the petition of 98 voters of Kent coun-
ty to repeal an act repealing a tax on dogs, to protect the raising
of sheep in said county.

Which was referred to the Kent county Delegation.               

The Speaker laid before the House the following communica-
tion :                                                                               

To the Speaker of the House of Delegates of Maryland :

The Commissioners to simplify the Pleadings and Practice, &c,
in the Courts of the State, herewith present their respective Re-
ports to the General Assembly of Maryland.

William Price,

Samuel Tyler,

          Frederick Stone;

Commissioners.

Mr. Partridge offered the following order:

Ordered, That so much of the Report of the Commissioners
appointed to revise, simplify, and abridge the rules of practice,
forms of pleading, and other modes of proceeding in the Courts
of Record of this State be referred to a select committee of five;
who, if the Senate shall appoint a joint committee upon that sub-
ject, shall be members of such joint committee on the part of this
House: and that said committee be instructed to report to this
House from time to time the progress they shall make in the con-
sideration of such Report.

Mr. Daniel offered the following Message to the Senate, as a
substitute for said order:

            By the House of Delegates,

January 8th, 1856.
Gentlemen of the Senate:

The Commissioners, appointed under Article 3, Section 17th,
of the Constitution "to revise simplify and abridge the rules of
practice, pleadings, forms of conveyancing and proceedings of
the courts of record in this State," have submitted their reports to
the House of Delegates. We respectfully propose with the con-
currence of your Honorable Body to appoint a joint Committee
to examine these works, and report the same to our respective
bodies, at as early a day as practicable. We have appointed