of Virginia passed an act authorising the appointment of a com-
missioner by the Governor of that State to co-operate with the
commissioner to be appointed by the Governor of Maryland to
retrace and mark the boundary line between the said two
States beginning at the Fairfax stone, and running thence due
north to the line of the State of Pennsylvania.

That commissioners were duly appointed by the Governor of
Maryland and Virginia respectively to carry into effect the provi-
sions of the aforesaid acts of the Legislatures of the two States, but
no efficient progress was made by the two commissioners towards
the objects of their appointment, for the reasons as your com-
mittee understand; first, that the State of Maryland had made
no appropriation to defray her portion of the expenses of the
commission, and secondly, that the commissioner on the part of
Maryland, doubted his power and was unwilling to enter upon

the establishment of the western boundary alone, and before the
Virginia commissioner was authorised also to cooperate with
him in the retracing and marking the boundary line from Smith's
Point to the Atlantic ocean.

The first of these two obstacles to the progress of the corn-

mission, has been removed by the act of the General Assembly

of Maryland of 1856, chapter 226, which appropriates the sum
of three thousand dollars, to defray the expenses of the surveys
necessary under the acts passed January session, 1852, chapters
60 and 275, which said sum is made subject to the order of the
Governor, to be applied at his discretion, in defraying the ex-
penses of the work required to be done under said acts, "or to
such part or parts thereof, as can be completed with the concur-
rent authority of the State of Virginia."

Your Committee further state their reliable information that a
bill is now pending in the lower House of the Virginia Legisla-

ture, (having passed the Senate at its present session,) authoris-
ing the commissioner on the part of Virginia, to co-operate with
the Maryland commissioner in retracing and marking the boun-
dary line from Smith's Point to the Atlantic ocean, as well as
the Western boundary line of this State; but lest some further
impediments may interfere with the execution of this most im-
portant work, or some other doubts as to the powers of the
Maryland commissioner, under existing laws, interpose to delay
its commencement, your Committee with a view to provide
against such impediments and resolve such doubts, and deeming
it desirable at once to have ascertained and established the true
location of so much of the disputed or uncertain dividing line,
as the concurrent authority of Virginia will admit, do herewith
report a bill for that purpose.

CHARLES B. THRUSTON, Chairman.