Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1687/8-89. 43

you will find by the Comission I now send that you all or any

three of you (M^r William Joseph and my kinsman Coll: Henry
Darnall always to be two of the three) are to act as you have
done by that Comission I left with you:—M^r Joseph will fully
informe and satisfy you why I have thought good to dispence
with the penalties menconed in the Act Entituled an Act for
Advancement of Trade and will likewise let you understand
what leave and liberty I have given to the Comanders of shipps
and vessells belonging to the port of London, the like you
must give and graunt there to such as shall come from other
ports of England to trade in my Province; For being satisfied
that the planters there are not in a condicon as yet to bring
their Tobaccoes to Townes and were they provided with boats
convenient for that purpose, Yet the greate want I under-
stand there is of a sufficient number of store houses at the
severall places appoynted for Townes to shelter all such goods
wares and merchandizes as were intended by that Act to be
disposed of there makes me at present thinke it matter of
prudence to accept of the offer made me here by the traders
and dealers to my Country, what they frankely offered being
this that if I would dispence with the said penalties and permit

Liber B.
P. R. O.

them to employ their own men and boates to bring the Tobac-
coes they would be very well satisfied their sloopes and boates
should first touch at some one of the places for Townes and
there give a just and true accompt of each Sloopes and boates
ladeing to the Collector or other Officer that shall be ordered
there to take the same before the Tobacco should be carried
on board, adding that they were very much for Townes them-
selves, but the want of those conveniencies above menconed
rendred the way prescribed by the Act as yet utterly unprac-
ticable and indeed being somewhat of their opinions in this
matter have therefore dispensed as by the Proclamation M^r
Joseph carryes with him you will find I have done: Besides
the like designs not haveing met with any successe in Virginia
makes me apprehend that should this Act be pressed too hard
upon the Traders it might prove a fit Subject of Complaint
for my Enemies to the King against me and my Government
there This being all that I have now time to signify I will
add more in my next I rest
To my Deputyes of Gentlemen
Maryland p M^r Your loving freind
William Joseph C: Baltemore
D:C:

The hon^ble Coll: Henry Darnall and Coll: William Digges
administered the usuall oathes of one of the Deputy's Leiu^ts of
this Province and of one of his Lord^sps Council to the hono^ble

p. 176