152          Assembly Proceedings, May 8-22, 1695.

Original	Robert Stephenson	Francis Fisher
Journal.	John Harris	Nath. Hynson
	Daniel Bradly	Buskill
	Francis Harbin	Hump' Hygginson
	Joseph Scotting	Abraham Wild
	Jeremiah Deable	George Phillips

Afterwards his Ex^ncy was pleased to Order, that if there
were any Ma^rs attending who had any thing to Object against
the said Petition they would come in and give the Board to
Understand what they had to say upon which appeared
Severall Masters who do say that they are ready to sayle with
the Comandore, by the last of May, and that if they should
stay till the last of June their Vessells would lay lyable to the
Worm; Whereupon it was Replyed by the Other Masters
that the Maj^r part of those Masters who oppose the stay of
the ffleet till the Last of June, came in a long time before the
Commandore, and are off and belonging to the out Ports.

Ordered to be again Read the afore mentioned Petition,
the which was by Directions of his Ex^ncy given to the said
Masters to put in Writing what Objections they had to Make
against the Same who accordingly withdrew.

Then were called in what Merchants were attending
severall thereupon appearing; most of which do say, that
they believe the Whole body of the ffleet cannot be ready to
sayle before the last of June.

His Ex^ncy is pleased to Represent, to the Board and the
Rest of the Gentl, Ma^rs and Merch^ts present this Sentim^t &
opinion and in Relation to the Tob: Trade of this Countrey
(namely) that According to the Observation his Ex^ncy had
made he finds there is commonly a month or six Weeks dif-
ference betwixt the first and Last Ships of any ffleets coming
into the Capes, 2^dly that after they are got in, they are some
times a week or a fortnight a geting to their Port and sending
their goods some fifty some a hundred miles, 3^dly When they
are got to their Port, they are vsually as long before they can
fit out their sloops in Order to bring their Tobacco on Board
which they fetch some ffifty some a hundred miles, and lastly
when they are loaded & Cleared for Sayling they may be
hindred again by Contrary Winds before they can quit the
Capes.

To all which the Gentl of the Councill & others p^rsent
said to their knowledge affirm that the same was True.

Proposed by his Ex^ncy to Cap^t Daniell if he had any thing
to Offer in this Affaire signifying to him, that as he had heard
the Debate of the whole matter he would be pleased to
Acquaint the Comandore & Lords of the Admiralty (when he