372 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.

      Lib. H. D.     that the ffort there galls & harasses them, and that your Excell

            is not able to give your Indians assistance to beat the ffrench

            from thence; But Mr Tasker who waited on your Exncy lately

            from this Governmt did by your Order bring vs a Copy of his

            Excell the Governr of Virginia's Letter to your Excell concern

            ing sending their Quota of Men to Albany to be there by the

            ffrst of May next, so then your Excell will be 240 men stronger.

              I design (God willing) that our Assembly shall meet in the

            Spring, for there is no doing of it in the Winter, in this Coun

            trey, and then I shall lay before them your Exncies Letter in the

            mean time hope that our three hundred & odd pounds may be

            some ways vsefull to his Mats service in your Exncies Governmt

            And I hope my very good friends William Nichols & Chidley

            Brook Esqrs whom I hear your Exncy hath sent to England will

            be able to do his Majesty good service, which to hear of will

            be very acceptable to

                Yor Excell most humble Servant

            Governr ffletcher.       fir: Nicholson

                   Sr

            Governr of I have received yours of the 29th of November

            New Yorks Letter to his but have no further Accot of Admirall Russells

            Excell Action at Marselles than the Report from New-found

            Land, which yet wants confirmation, I am big with expectation

            of the good success of his Mats forces both by Sea & Land

         p. 278 this last year and do always pray & wish that he may be suc

            cessfull against his Enemies and the Enemies of our Religion

            & Nation.

      Whitehall His Majesties Councill of this province are no less sensible

            of your Endeavours to strengthen Vs than I am and the 300

            & odd pounds transmitted to Us from Maryland vnder your

            care is Received with thanks & applyed to the proper vse and

            a fair Representation thereof made to the Lords of the Com

            mittee. Mr Brooks & Mr Nicholls sent from hence have

            Instructions to make a fair & true Representation of the cir

            cumstances his Mats Subjects of this province are vnder in

            relation to our present Warr with the ifrench of Canida & the

            asssistance We have from the adjacent Colonies which I hope

            may be of good Effect, not only to Us but to our Neighbours.

              As to the Quota of Men from Virginia, I cannot depend

            vpon them, Sr Edmund Andros having the same Reason from

            his part as you from yours that he dare not go so farr as to

            hazard the peace & quiet of that his Mats province.

              The Copy of Sr Edmunds Letter was desired by Mr Tasker

            & sent at his instance, not a particular Ordr of my own.

              That the ifrench are endeavouring to debauch our Indians

            is apparent, it is their intrest and I am doubtfull by their