Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85. 385

and generally reputed and knowne place of thirty seaven
degrees and five minutes and thence with a direct line to forty
what falls then within his bounds much good may it doe him I
am contented and doubt not but he is soe worthy and soe much
a Gentleman as not to endeavor to deprive me of anything shall
appeare to be within my Grant, This I say I offer onely to lett
the Baltemore know that altho' I am sensible the King's letter
is grounded upon strong presumption and sound circumstance
yet I am willing to wave that and accornodate the business
between us a more equal way as I conceive viz. to comence at
the common, generall and soe long reputed know place before
either the Lord Baltemore or myselfe could challenge any
interest in these parts of the world.
Lord B. It is other discourse that I expected to have heard
from you at this time and well hoped I should have bin soe far
favored by you as to have received some small advice from you
before you had soe far proceeded upon that part of the Countrey
which has bin always reputed and knowne to be justly claimed
by me but to wave that 1 desire to be informed by you whither
you have purchased the Dukes pretentions to Delaware.
W^m Pen. Upon tearmes of the moiety of halfe the revenues
thereof to be reserved for himselfe I hold it of his gift but this
leads to other discourse I would willingly proceed first to the
ascertaineing the bounds between us
Lord B. The certaine bounds betwixt us must be the
fortieth degree of northern latitude as I have already shewn
you by my grant.
W^m Pen And to find out that I propose in my judgement
the most equall way that can be which is to begin at the Capes
a place soe generally and soe long knowne and reputed to lye
within the latitude of thirty seaven and five minutes, and has
not for the space of soe many years bin knowne to vary foure
or five minutes by any observacon yet taken and soe from
thence to measure two degrees fifty five minutes which will just
make the fortieth degree.
Lord B. My southern bounds being Watkins Point was soe
determined by Comissioners from His Majesty and others from
my father, now had they sett out Watkins Point higher up the
Bay my Father must have bin contented therewith and the
Northern bounds being the fortieth degree of northern latitude
beyond which I am not to runn.
W^m Pen. Possibly the Lord Baltemore's southern bounds
might be layd out by Comissioners who may be could or did
not see what they did the uncertainty of an observacon I appre-
hend and conceive it dangerous to confide in for by the shake-
ing of a hand the error in the instrument or the unskillfullness
or ignorance of the observator great inconveniences may incurr

P. R. O.

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