146 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6.

Calvert
Papers.

[Penn's Answer to Talbott's Demand.]

An Answer to a Demand made to Nicholas Moore, as my
Deputy, by Coll George Talbott the 24^th September 1683, in
pursuance of a Comission from the Lord Baltemore Proprie-
tary of Maryland and Avalon, dated the 17^th of the same
month.
The demand being grounded upon the Comission, I will
take things in theire order, and beginn with the Commission.
The Lord Baltemore doth Commissionate Coll Talbott to
goe to the West Side of the Skullkill to demand of William
Penn Esq^r or his Deputy all that part of Land on the West
side of the River, that Lyeth to the South of the 40^th Degree
of Northerly Lattitude.
1. I answer, It seemes very Slight, abrupt and Vnpresi-
dented for any person, that is in the quality of a Proprietary of
a Countrey, to send to another in the same Circumstance any
Extraordinary Messenger, Agent, or Commissioner without
some letter or Memoriall to State the demand with the reasons
of it. The Practice of the greatest Princes; and might there-
fore (I conceive) be the Condescention of lesser Seigniories.
2. In the next place, William Penn Esq^r, and the said Penn
(the Language of the Comission) is not my American Stile,
nor that, which belongs to me in the matter in question, for as
such I keepe noe Deputys.
3. I Live not on the West Side of Skullkill nor any
Deputy of mine, and I conceive Coll Talbott could not by that
Commission come to the East side, to make his demand,
which yet he did.
4. I was absent and at New York, when this Comissioner
came, and I never did nor never will Comissionate any Deputy
to treate, and conclude away mine Inheritance, without my
particular direction, and Comand; though if I were to goe for
England, I would not disowne the Laws, he should make in
my absence for publick good, when I came back.
5. Coll Talbott is directed in the Comission to make the
Demand according to a Line said to be runn in obedience to
his Maiesties Comands in his letter of the 2^d of Aprill 1681 :
But I say that noe Line is yet runn in obedience to his
Maiestys Comands; for the Letter expressely saith, That the
Lord Baltemore, or his Agent shall together with my Agent
agree the Lattitude, and then runn the Line, and bound the
Provinces accordingly, which is not yet done; for those obser-
vations, and the Line runn by them are performed by the
Lord Baltemore, and his Agents only, and therefore not
according to his Majesties Comand in his Letter of the 2^d of
April 1681; nor, in my opinion, common Equity; for I knew
nothing of them.