Correspondence of Governor Sharpe. 129

produce of the Province for Great Britain, by Law are obliged
to give a pecuniary Bond within Eighteen months for safe
delivery of the Effects; that on Non Compliance of return'd
Certificate produced to the Provincial Officer by the Party in
the Province, of the Effects being deliver'd into Great Britain,
the Bond Party is subject to the pecuniary forfeit, by Virtue of
the Bond given. The Compl^t aledges M^r Bordley has in this
matter put the Le^l of the Law into excecution ag^t the Party in
the Province, allowing no time from accident, as may happen
by Provincial ships being taken by the Enemy & retaken, w^ch
in either case may be the Occasion to impede the Intelligence
& consequence of such ship's Vouage, sail'd for the British
Ports; & aledges, that M^r Bordley has excused Certificates
not comply 'd by return, upon paym^t of his ffees by the Bond
Party, But on non Compliance of the ffees to him, he has put
the Let^r of the Law severly into execution & level'd the Pen-
alty of the Bond on the Party in the Province. With relation
to this matter, I am inform'd the Custom of ships loaded here
with British Effects for the Colonies, the party concern'd Bonds
for the delivery of Effects to the Colony within a limit'd time.
But on Accident that may happen to the Non return of Certi-
ficate transmitted to the Party here from the Colony; the
Party here apply for further time for the return of Certificate,
making a deposit of the forfeiture by Bond in case no return
of certificate is sent. This indulgence I am told is aquiesed,
arising on Consideration by Accident the Certificate may be
subject & impeded by War, or destruction at Sea; It seems
very reasonable as no fraud can happen ag^t a real deposit or
Colateral sure surety given either at Home or Broard. The
Compl^t sayes, M^r Bordley has dealt hard usage to one M^r Dal-
ham of the Province, whose ship has been taken by the Enemy
on her Vouage to England, that prevent'd early intelligence
off Accident from hence to the Party in the Province, as the
Law prescribes. The Gomplainat Alligations appear to me
rediculous & malign, regarding M^r Bordley of solid sense &
not void of Humanity on no Acco^t Especially where the Law
is secure, of the Compl^t I sho^d have write him, but the short-
ness of time for the New York's Packet, does not allow, there-
fore pray my excuse to him, desiring y^or Pardon for troubling
you & desiring his early intelligence ab^t the Contents & clear-
ance to my Lord ag^t unreasonable Aspersion.
The Complainant is M^r Westenholme, he desired no men-
tion of him; But as he has thought fitting to Note the Con-
cern on the Royal Exchange to gain Popular Character, I
think him no Secreet, for me to you.
Here is want'd much, an Extract of the proceed^gs of the
Maryland Commiss^rs on runing the East & West Line from