Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97.  427

   within potomock River, and in Ordr therevnto made an Entry Lib. H. D.

   with the Officer at Williamstadt, who gave your petr a permit

   for Potomock River. That since your petrs Return, his Sloops

   in which the Goods were transported have been Seized, And

   your petr therevpon Applyed himself to yor Exncy And although

   your Petr was informed as well by the Officer as others that

   pretended to know the Laws of this province, that it was law

   ful1 to transport any Goods or Comodities to Virginia in po-

   tomock River without paying the Duty of Ten p Cent impos

   ed by Act &Ca Yet your Petr was rather willing to pay the

   same then any ways in the least displease your Excell by con

   tending the matter &Ca That since that your Petr is informed

   that your Exncy has been pleased to condescend so farr as to

   Assent to an explanatory Law by the Burgesses & Delegates

   of this province prayed for, that the former Act should not be

   construed to Extend to Virginia, but that it should be lawfull

   to transport Goods from this place to Virginia without any

   such Imposition. That your petr is only a servant to Sr John,

   and what he did was in discharge of his trust without the least

   thought or intention of Evading any Act or Law of this pro

   vince, and your petr knowing that many had transported Goods

   out of Maryland to Virginia in Potomock River without paymt

   of the Duty was the easier perswaded therein, neither has any

   other paid it as your Petr can vnderstand, by means whereof p. 319

   your Petr if compelled to pay it must needs come vnder his

   Imployers Reflections, being the only person paying the same

   for transporting to Virginia in potomock River although

   many others have done the like as well as your petr And

   whereas this present Genll Assembly have declared that it was

   never intended such Goods Exported to Virginia should pay

   the sd Impost your Petr humbly prays your Excells favour there

   in and tht your petr by your Excell & Councills goodness be

   remitted of the sd Imposition of Ten p Cent, and his sd Sloops

   seized as aforesd discharged.

                         And as in Duty he shall &ca

     The which being Read, the following Remarkes were made

   thereon, Vizt

      That he make Appear that the Officer at Williamstadt

   informed him it was lawfull to transport any Goods to Virginia

   in Potomock River, without paying the Duty of Ten p Cent.

     2d How he was willing to pay the same, seeing he trans

   ported the Goods without paying the sd Duty.

     3d That he make it appear what persons have transported

   Goods out of Maryland to Virginia without paying the sd

   Duty.