Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1694 97. 589

    Ordr for a His Exncy is pleased to give Notice to the Justices Lib. H. 1).

    Report to be                             p 431

    given abt of the Provll Court that they be all there prsent upon

    the State the Bench & that what Burgesses were in Town

    House should be Summoned to be there having some thing

    to communicate to them in publick.

     His Exncy accordingly goes Down to the Court House

    attended with the Gentlemen of his Mats honrble Councill,

    wherein Open Court he was pleased to say that he was Come

    to impart a matter to them concerning the Intrest of the whole

    Countrey Vizt

     The New State House building which it was fear'd would

    take damage for want of being covered; the Carpinter at

    work upon the sd House (being there prsent) was asked how

    ffarr he had proceeded and why it is not Cover'd who makes

    Answer that he Can doe no more towards it than he has done

    for want of Stuffe, and as to what work is done and still to

    doe, it is a Rule among Workmen for to Reckon a House but

    halfe done when the Roofe is Raised; he is Asked what

    damage the work will take, if it will not be Cover'd this

    Winter, Who does say that the wooden Work will not Suffer

    very much, but the Brick work will, to which the Brick-layers

    (being prsent and asked their Opinion) did agree, Whereupon

    it is proposed by his Exncy that two of his Mats honrble Councill,

    two of the Justices of the Prov” Court & two of the members

    of the House of Burgesses do goe and Veiw the sd House &

    make Report what Remains still to be done, both as to the

    work and Charge, what damage is like to Ensue if the same

    is not Speedily inclosed and what methods will be best for the

    Speedy preserving thereof from the Weather; and were

    accordingly appointed the honrble Coll: John Courts and

    Thomas Brook Esq of his Mats Councill, Capt Richard Hill, &

    Capt Philip Hoskins two of the Justices of the Prov” Court,

    Majr Edward Dorsey & Mr Wm Hemsley two of the members

    of the House of Burgesses, the Carpinter and Bricklayers

    were Ordered likewise to Attend them, and Mr Wm Bladen

    Clerk of the House of Burgesses to take the sd Report.

              At the Port of Annapolis          p. 447

                   JanrY the 4th 1696.

    Ordr abt a Spll Commis- Maryland: ss

    sion to issue   Came Richard Basse Mastr of the Ship

    for Tryall of the Ship of Charles of Topsham and preferred unto his Exncy

    Charles of the Governr a certain petition (the honrble Sr Thomas

    Topsham &ca Laurence Baront Secryr being the only prson of his

    Mats honrble Councill then prsent, by reason of bad weather,