REPORT.

To the Honorable

The House of Delegates of Maryland.

The special committee to whom was referred the subject of re-
tracing and marking the southern and western boundary lines of
this State, with instructions to ascertain if any further legislation
is necessary to effect the adjustment of said lines, with the State
of Virginia, beg leave to submit the following report:             

Your committee, fully sensible of the importance of the matter,
and of the frequent and vain efforts hitherto, for its adjustment,
and satisfied that the delay already suffered in this behalf, has in-
volved many citizens of both States, in tedious and expensive liti-
gation, and may if longer continued, endanger that harmony be-
tween the people of Maryland and Virginia, which the memory
of their Revolutionary co-operation, the similarity of their insti-
tutions, and the integrity of the Union require, should be mutually
encouraged and cultivated, have given to the subject of the refer-
ence, the most diligent and careful attention, and now submit to
your Honorable body, the result of their labors.

Your committee state that by the act of the General Assembly,
passed at January session, 1852, chapter 50., the Governor of this
State, was requested to open a correspondence with the Govern-
or of Virginia, relating to retracing and marking the boundary
line, dividing the State of Maryland from the State of Virginia,
between Smith's point and the Atlantic ocean, and the Governor
of Maryland, was by the said act, authorised to appoint a com-
missioner on the part of this State, to unite with any commis-
sioner who might be appointed on the part of Virginia, for that
purpose.                                                                   

That by the act of the General Assembly, of the same session,
chapter 275, the Governor was in like manner, requested and au-
thorised, in respect to the western boundary line of this State, be-
ginning at the Fairfax stone, and running thence due north to the
line of the State of Pennsylvania. That in pursuance of the re-
quest and authority contained in the two aforesaid acts of Assem-
bly, the late Governor of Maryland, did open a correspondence
with the Governor of Virginia in relation to the retracing and
marking the said boundary line.

That on the 3d day of March 1854 the Legislature of the State