Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97. 377

     The Bills drawn by Coll Copley for £: 362 : 8s: being pro- Lib. H. D.

    tested were not only a disappointmt but a Charge to this

    province. There is reason & Argumt enough for supporting

    the Indians of the ffive Nations from the conveniency & safety

    they bring to Us and the neighbouring provinces if it were

    decent to offer any after the Royall Command; It costs this

    Province in presents & the Charge of treating & Cajolling

    these Indians at least 2000 lbs p Annum besides the constant

    Charges of the Garrisons, I have advice of Seaven hundred

    ffrench come to Canida last fall with Seaventeen Saile of Ships

    and Stores. Count ifrontiniack is now again busy to debauch

    our Indians.

     I have met with many disappointmts from the Neighbouring

    Provinces yet must not suffer the ffrontiers to be neglected. I

    have done and shall not Cease to do all I can with so small a

    handfull of Men & less Money. This province lyes vnder

    heavier Burthens than this paper can express I must confess

    it is vtterly impossible for me to put the ifrontiers in such

    security as I desire & they ought to be without help. There-

    fore I further apply my self to yor Exce!l for assistance, accord

    ing to her late Mats Letter, I do not question but that you may

    influence the next Assembly to a further consideration of the

    heavy Burthens that lye vpon this province and the great

    necessity of granting a suitable assistance & am Sr

                           Yor Excells humble Servt

                                Ben:   ffletcher

             Answer to the sd Letters follows, Vizt   p. 284

                  Port of Annapolis, March the 3d 1695/6

    His Excells Sr

    Governr of Yours of the 19th of ffebry past I received, the

    New Yorks which I have communicated to his Mats honobte Coun

    Letter cill together with your     former Letter of the

     .of December & my answer thereto of the 4th of ffebry past

    Having not Received his Mats Royall Commands from Eng

    land by reason none of the fleet is yet come in our Assembly

    is not to meet till the last of Aprill, but then God willing your Whitehall

    Excells Letters shall be communicated to the House of Bur

    gesses, and I shall not be wanting according to my Duty to

    have her late Mats Royall Commands complyed with. Your

    Excell not letting of me know, according to my former desire

    how much Money hath been sent to your Governmt from that

    o. Virginia I fear may be a hindrance of not having any thing

    more done about the late Governr Copleys three hundred &

    odd pounds. I am very sorry to hear that the Governr of

    Canida is still endeavouring to debauch your Indians, But I