402 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1692-1694.

P. R. O.

Maryland
B. I. Vol. 2,
B. G.

went to wait upon the hon^ble Sir Thomas Lawrence Baronet
their Maj^s Secretary of this Province of Maryland to know his
honor's pleasure whether he should continue in his Office as
clerk of Charles County his honour Sir Thomas did demand
of him what the place was worth yearly and this depon^t replyed
that the said place was worth about 12. or 14. thousand pounds
of tobacco p ann: and his honor replyed that it was worth
thirty thousand pounds of tobacco p ann: as he was informed
and this deponent replyed to his honor that since he had the
said place he could not yet make twenty thousand pounds of
tobacco p annum of it and that yearly he lost 4. or 5. thousand
pounds of tobacco in bad debts and his honor Sir Thomas
further told this deponent that a tenth part of the Fees were
yearly due unto him and that a tenth part of the Fees from
the date of his Commission was due unto him and that he
expected to have it and that if this deponent would officiate
for half profitts he would continue him in his place Whereupon
this deponent replyed to his honor that he had formerly
officiated a long time as Deputy clerk in the said County and
was now very unwilling to officiate for half profitts under any
person for he knew how to get a great deal more by practising
as an Atturney and when he was put into the said place after
the Revolution here, the former clerke refusing to issue out
writts in their Maj^ts names when scarce any one would under-
take to officiate in the said Office & place as clerke this de-
ponent was willing to forgoe his interest as practising as an
Atturney which he supposed at that time might have been
more beneficial unto him than the Clerks place meerely to
serve their Majesties and the Country the s^d place then being
vacant and that his undertaking to officiate in the said place
did hinder him from undertaking to doe any other business,
Whereupon M^r W^m Dent coming through the Councill Room
where his honor Sir Thomas and this Deponent was then dis-
coursing his honor Sir Tho^s went out and discoursed a little
while with the said Dent but what their discourse was this
Deponent knows not, his honor Sir Thomas comeing in
again told this deponent that he might continue in his place if
he would give him a bill under his hand for three thousand
pounds of tobacco for the tenth part of the Fees of the said
place from the date of his Commission to that time and that if
his tenth part came not to so much upon perusall and view of
the accounts he would deduct out of the same what was over
and above his tenth part and his honor Sir Thomas alsoe told
this deponent that he must give him bond with two sufficient
securities for the due execution of his office in the said place
and yearly to pay unto him a tenth part of the Fees and
Profits accruing and growing due thereby, whereupon this