274 Proceedings of the council of Maryland, 1694 97.

       Lib. H. D.     & will be very chargable & detrimentall to the peoples Crops

             of Tobacco wch will much diminish his Mats Revenues & lessen

             the Trade & Navigation of England which are Endeavoured

             to be promoted, (though but weakly) by

                                         Yor humble Servt

                                             Fr:    Nicholson

             Governr of New Yorke

               Instructions for Mr Thomas Tasker one of the house of

             Burgesses and Treasurer for his Mats Province of Maryland

             Mr Taskers You are with all Expedition possible to go to New

              Yorke & when please God you shall come there you

             Relating to are to deliver my Lettr to his Exncy Coll Beniamin

             New Yorke

            &ca     Fletcher his Mats Capt Genll & Governr in Chief of

                    the Province of New York And likewise to

             deliver unto him all the Bills raised upon the AddicOnall Duty

             of 3d hhd payable to you, provided he don't expect the men,

             wch Act was with much difficulty got to pass the house, And

             after it was passed, what murmuring it made amongst the

             Merchants & Masters of Ships, wch I feare may cause some of

             them to Leave off coming here, And if they must have men,

             (the very report whereof has already occasioned sevrall Free

             men to goe a way) it is to be feared when they come to be

             actually raised it will occasion severall more to desert the

             province and so lessen his Mats revenue considerably by

             meanes of the less quantity of Tobacco wch will be made, for

             every mans labour pays to his Maty 10d sterl: a year or more.

             That the Lord Baltemore has aboue halfe the Revenue arising

             and becoming guc wthin this Province.

               And if the Men Rised should be Maintained by this Coun

             trey, wch must be Leavyed by a yearly tax of so much p poll

             the same (together wth the Annuall Charge the Countrey is

         p. 193  already at) will amount to nigh a quarter part of the Estates

             of the severall Taxables within this Province; And this year is

             likely to prove a had year for tobacco.

               That I understand his Maty is graciously pleased to keepe

             in pay four hundred Men for the defence of Albany.

               That there is an Accot of Strange Indians in Virga wch have

             done some mischief there and how that Wee are frequently

             alarm'd with strang Indians likewise wch puts the inhabitants

             to charge and trouble to goe and looke after them & to secure

             their habitations.

               That the last year by the Severity of the winter, most peo

             ple have lost the better part of all their Stocks of Cattle & hogs

             That the Councill & house of Burgesses have humbly