lvi Introduction.

dispute then in process of settlement; nor is he to approve bills that will in any
way restrict the Governor's control over the militia; and he is to enforce his
right to use the county militia where, and in any way, he may see fit. The
duties and authority of the keeper of the rent rolls for the Eastern Shore are
denned. The Proprietary also asked the Governor to report to the Assembly
that he had presented to the King the petition of the Assembly requesting
that the embargo on provisions be lifted.

In Appendix IV are printed various contemporary papers relating to the-
disputed legality of the Maryland Act of 1754 which provided for an impost
duty on convicts from Great Britain. The dispute as to the collection of
these duties has already been discussed in considerable detail in this intro-
duction, and repetition here is unnecessary (pp. xlv-xlvii, 760-771).

In Appendix V will be found a legal opinion by the Attorney-General of
Maryland, Stephen Bordley, to the effect that under certain earlier acts of
the Assembly the sureties of former trustees of the Loan Office could not
now be held legally liable for alleged derelictions in the duties of the trustees.
This opinion was doubtless sought by the Governor because he was being
hounded by the Lower House to bring suit against the sureties on the bonds
of the trustees of the Loan Office.

Appendix VI exhibits an account showing the disbursements for Maryland
troops made by Governor Sharpe in 1758-1759, in connection with the western
expedition begun under General Forbes, which resulted, not long after the
death of Forbes, in the capture of Fort Duquesne (pp. 773-776).

Appendix VII relates to funds raised by popular subscription to pay the
expenses, for which the Lower House refused to make an appropriation, of
the Queen Anne's County militia, when early in 1758 it was sent by the
Governor to garrison Fort Frederick (p. 777).

THE EDITOR.