380 Assembly Proceedings, June 29-July 22, 1699.

Original
Journal.

M^r W^m Harris M^r Elisha Hall & M^r Walter Smith appoint'd
a Comittee of Agreivances & went out to Consult thereof

By the house of Delegates Iune the 30^th 1699.

Takeing againe into Consideration the Coppy of some of
his Maj^tys Instructions Laid before vs wee find some paragraphs
having Relation to the Assembly and Inhabitants of this Prov-
ince pticularly the ninth wherein his Ex^cy is Instructed to Cause
a Survey to be made of the most Considerable Landings
places and harbours &c To Erect fortifications &c not doubting
of the Cheerfull Complyance of the Inhabitants.
To which wee humbly answer that this Province from one Side

p. 14

to the other being soe Luxuriant in Navigable Rivers & Creeks
and Those Rivers & Creeks having soe many Branches Navi-
gable and soe many Capacious harbours and faire Landings
the province being Generally Lowe Levell Land next the
Water & noe Rocks or Barrs to prohibitt Landings the Trade
of the Province and Shipping disperssing it Self soe Equally
& Generally all over the Province by the Convenience of those
Creeks Rivers & harbours that it does not seem to vs a thing
practicable to Erect any such fortifications nor to restraine
Shipping from there vsuall places of Trade and Confine them
to any particular harbour & wee are Confident that if their
L^dps the Lords Com^rs of Trade and Plantations did visibly
Know this Province they would Concurr w^th us and further
adjudge that all the Revenues of this Province were insignifi-
cant to the Erecting of such Durable ffortifications as would
Deffend themselfs & would be any considerable security to
Shipping in any Case.
And whereas it is required that a Competent Maintenance
be assigned to Ministers of Each Church and Convenient
houses &c.
We humbly Conceive that wee have allready made such a
Competent Maintenance as is proportionable to the Countrys
Capacity but where as the dayly Growth and Increase of this
Infant Country may Like anough in a few years cause an alter-
ation of Parishes & for the few Ministers comeing here bring
familys nor would an house alone w^thout Land and a plantation
or Glebe be any Considerable vse to the Minister therefore
wee Desire to be Excused from any further p^rsent Charge yet
we will be allwayes ready to provide for the Cleargye by as-
signing them Land or other waise as the wealth or Strength
of the Province Increases if they themselfs be neglect of their
Duty (having now to Look into their Conversations) be not
there owne hendrance & by their Couldness Stiffen our Zeale