476 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1661-1675.

Liber H. H. Aprill 28o Vid. fol. 167.

Commis" Exiuit prout in Ordine to Councell to Mr John Elzye Mr Stephen Horsey, Mr Willm Thorne, & Capt John Odber. vt supra in Ordine.

		[Overproduction of Tobacco.] Sr Willm Berkeley his Letter to the Leiutt Grall of Maryland. Right Honourable. What necessities the Jnhabitants of these parts of his Maties Dominions groane under by reason of the contemptible ualue of Tobaccoe, The only Comodity wee haue yett fownd to subsist by. J thinke yor owne sufferings as well as ours giue yow such sensible though sad experience of, that J haue noe need to use any other Arguments to euidence the truth of the Demonstraon. And as little to proue That the greate quan- tity made, is the only cause of the inconsiderablenes of the price.
	P. 174	This Sr Comeing to his Maties knowledge, whose gratious Care extends to the remotest parts of his Dominions hee was pleased by his last instructions to mee, to propose to his Coun- cell here, the languishing condicon of this his first & most hopefull Colony. And among Our selues to Consider of some such Expedient, as might giue a stopp to that ruine which wthout it must ineuitably fall uppon us. His sacred Maty being allso sensible that the Plantaon of Maryland is soe incorporated wth this in Jnterest of Trade That noe effectuall remedy can bee applyed to one wthout the complyance of the other. Was pleased therefore to giue us directions to treate wlh yow about it. Jn Obedience to these Royall Comands J and the Councell here haue considered of the meanes of Redresse, & authorized the Gentlemen of the Councell Coll Richard Lee, Coll Robert Smith, Coll John Carter, & Mr Henry Corbin our Commisrs to communicate our Results to yow, & appoynted the Eleuenth day of May next to bee the time, & the County Court howse of Northumberland County the place for Conference. My earnest desyre is tht yor honor would not fayle to appoynt other Commisrs to meete them att that time that J may by this shipping render an account to his Maty of the issue of our Consultaon, who J am sure expects it. And hath commanded mee to giue it. And further to certify him of yor Acceptance or Refusall, Vppon wch his maty himselfe hath promised to apply a suitable remedy. I hope Sr yor owne Concernemts wthout enforceing other Argumts will induce yow to prforme my desyre of this meeting, att wch I question not but such probable meanes of repayring