Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 157

    Certain Peticon which was Read, and the Matter therein Lib. H. D.

    Contained being fully Considered by this Board, they have

    thought fit to Ordr thereon as it is hereby Ordered that all

    the Justices of the New Commission of Peace lately sent to

    the sd County be timely Summon'd to be at the Court in

    August next respectively without ffaile and that a Grand Jury

    of the most Substantiall ffreeholders of the County, be like

    wise Surnoned then and there to appear (but that none of the

    persons Subscribing the aforemention'd Representacon be

    admitted of that Jury) before whom it is to be laid as well the

    Sd Representacon and former Petition of Mr Dixon and Mr

    Layfield also a Copy of the Petition of the sd Majr Whittington

    who is to be there likewise with his Bookes of Accots in Ordr

    to be likewise laid before the Justices and Grand Jury aforesd

    for their Inspection, and that after a full View and hearing of

    the whole matter before them they Return their Sentimts

    and Opinion thereon under their hands Respectively whether P. 536

    the complaint and objections made against the sd Majr Whit

    tington be with Reason and Ground Sufficient to displace

    him, and whether the Allegations in their peticon Set fforth

    be truth, and lastly whether the persons now recommended

    for Sherriff are by them Esteemed fit and Rightly Qualified

    for Such Office. The Peticon of Majt Whittington followes

    in these words Vizt

      To his Exncy ffrancis Nicholson Esq Capt Genll &ca

      The humble Peticon of Wm Whittington Sherriff of Somer

    set County.

    Humbly Sheweth.

      That with your Speciall Grace and Signall ffavour yor Exncy

    hath Constituted Ordained and appointed me to be Sherriff

    of the County aforesd dureing pleasure, which I the more

    readily accepted in Hont to yor Exncys ffavour, as to any pri

    vate Intrest that I could discern at that Juncture, and whereas

    all the Sherriffs of this Province, have made their Severall and

    Respective Returns and that yor Peticonr hath Complyed with

    all and every the Suni or Sums of Tobo relateing to the Pub-

    lick &ca or his Mats Publick Officers ffees, which Came to his

    hand to Collect altho: out of his own private Estate (Except-

    ing Some Ballances wch when the Truth Comes to be dis

    closed will appear insignificant to trouble Yor EXnCY more Im

    portant Affaires.

      Yor Peticonr therefore humbly Prays that Mr Tho: Dixon

    who he is inform'd hath been the Only person to Kindle these

    distructive fflames may with yor Exncys permission have a day

    assigned to prove what he hath set fforth, in his Petition