Land-Holder's Assistant; And Land-Office Guide

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. This examination consists in several detached sketches of those parts of the early poUtical history of Maryland which have relation with the establishment and the progressive operations of the Land-Office ;in the exhibition of original documents relative to the same subject, and in a selection of exumpies of the various modes and forms of proceedingin land affairs; accompanied by such recitals, illustrations, and remarks, ushve appeared the bestcal. culated to convey a kind of knowledge very rare among the citizens of Marylau l.That I ha eexecuted this task in the best manner that my talents and opportunities would permit will, 1 presume, be readily believed ;for, in a production admitting so little of embellishment, I must ne1cessarily have depended for am degree of approbation and success upon its. real utility. I have known, as well from tle nature of this work as from -the countenance which the;; have given to it by anticipation, tliat it is to. undergo the scrutiny of professional gentlemen, capable of detecting errors in statement or in reasoning. I have also been persuaded that it Jwould attract the notice of an enlightened legislature, or, at least, of in. dividuals of that legislature, and other public functionaries, more or less i; acquainted with the subject of which I have been treating; and I have believed that it would not fail to engage the perusal of that respectable de- scription of citizens for whose use it is professedly designed. From the testimony and suifrage of such readers, and not trom any pretensions of 3 my own, I have been aware that the book must take its character, and i stand or fall in the public estimation. Although, therefore, the kindness of a large and respectable list of subscribers may have secured me from absolute loss, it is certain that my prospect of recompense for tlie time and labour devoted to this arduous enquiry must depend on the degree of sanction and approbation that my work may receive from those who are the best qu