Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1684-89. 437

all threatenings and difficulties I shall proceed to the best of
my knowledge and Endeavours to execute the Duties of my
Place and Commission especially in what I see may most conduce
to .His Majesty's Interest and service in the present circum-
stances and exigence of Affairs here, wherein I hope your
Honor will approve and make it known that His Maj^tys officer
shall be owned and supported in that legal and indubitable
authority derived from your Honors against all opposers and
adversaries of his Majesty's Sovereignty which by those prac-
tices & present methods used is endeavoured to be excluded
this Province as to which I humbly beg your Honors mediation
for his Majesty's true information that a course may be taken to
repel and remedy those growing and intolerable insolences and
illegal doings under which His Majesties officers heretofore have
ever been sufferers and now after them I expect the same or as
bad usuage to complete the hard measure I met with already
unless speedy care be had for prevention of the Dangers and
mischiefs that certainly impend me in prosecution of His
Majesty's Service in this Country. I am confident his Majesty
is prejudiced several thousand Pounds by the obstruction and
confusion that's caused in His Majesty's Affairs and concerns
here and I doubt his Revenue from the duties of the penny per
pound for Tobacco will prove but small this year by reason
many Masters and Merchants bound for other of His Majesties
Plantacons would have carried Tobacco but have been
threatened by the aforesaid Coll. to seize their Ships and be
sued if they paid any Duties but to themselves Whereupon
they being discouraged & frightened have declined carrying
any Tobacco. I know as yet but of two Entries made with me
or my Deputies for Tobacco to pay the Duties in the whole
Province and for those and what else comes in shall transmit
Bill of Exchange payable according to the Directions formerly
given by your Honors Instructions to M^r Christopher Rousby
which measures I humbly conceive is most proper form to take
till furthur order. I hear some of the said Collectors have
lately clandestinely cleared and received His Majesties Duties
of some Tobacco and as to that I shall make through Inspec-
tion and Endeavour your Honor's speedy Information Major
Nicholas Sewall one of the aforesaid Council and Collectors at
Puttuxan entered some Irish and some other Ships which
upon my suspicion of their being Transgressors of the Laws of
Trade I told him of the irregularity of such Proceedings in
giving Entryes & permits of Trade without the knowledge and
assent of the Chief Officer of His Majesty's Customs for the
time being and demanded the Cocq^ts and certificates (if any)
brought in by the Masters of those Ships but the said Sewall

deferred delivery thereof and suspecting that either I or Cap-

P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.