Assembly Proceedings, April 30-May 14, 1696. 365

With the aforegoing Message came down to this house the
petition of Capt James Smith Sherriff of Talbott County thus
endorsed

By his Ex^cy the Gov^r & Councill &c May the 11^th 1696.

This Board have considered the within petition and are apt
to believe the Matters therein conteyned are true but consider-
ing the Representative Body (now met together) are more
capable of adjudging thereon is left to their Result; but his
Ex^cy is pleased to recofnend again to the house a certain pro-
posall layd before them relating to the appointing Severall
persons to mannage that Office & bringing tob: to certain
places &c And that they would inquire ag^t next year if any
persons will undertake the Same there being a whole year
now before hand for people to make their proposalls there
about
Signd p Ord^r
Hen: Denton Cl. Concil

Mr. John Freeman Reg^r in Chancery appears in the house
and is ordered to go up to his Ma^tys hon^ble Councill to demand
the Returne of the Indenture of Election of Mr James Crau-
ford elected a Burgess for Calvert County.

Original
Journal.

Mr William Parker high Sherrif of Calvert County appears
in the house and say's that he made returne of the s^d Indenture
to the Chancellor
Mr John [Freeman returns] to the house and brings with
him the af^d [Indenture from his] Ma^tys hon^ble Councill.

Mr Jo[hn Terry sent to call in all] the Comittees.

Major Willi [am Barton, Col. Ninian] Beale & Mr William
Hatton enter [the house and say] they are sent as rep^rsen-
tati[ves from Prince Georges Co]unty

Ordered that [they withdraw for] a while.

Major Willm Dent [sent up] to his Ex^cy to desire he would
be pleased to send downe some of his Ma^tys hon^ble Councill to
Administer the usuall Oaths unto the new Members
Whereas Major John Thompson Navall Officer at the head
of the Bay having received 30^s impost duty for three negroes
imported by Mr John Moll, which negroes are not intended
to be exposed for Sale according to Act therefore.
Tis the Opinion of this house that Major Thompson ought
to refund Mr Moll the s^d Sume of 30^s

p. 20