Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 253

                October the 15th 1697.        Lib. H. D.

    Produced by his Exncy to the Board Copy of an authority

  by him given to Mr Thomas Addison for seizing any Syder

  or other Liquors imported into this Province at the head of

  Potomock and not makeing due report and entry according

  to Act of Assembly &ca

    Information being given that severall quantities of Liquor

  are Generally brought over from Virgina into those parts &

  sold to the Rangers at the Garrison, and to the Inhabitants

  of the upper parts thereabouts.

    Ordered that Major Willm Dent Navall Officer of that

  district give a Deputation to the sa W Thorns Addison to

  officiate as his Deputy in those parts, and tht the Honoble Coll

  Inb Addison administer to him the Oath of Trade & Navi

  gation, who is hereby accordingly Empowered to administer

  such Oath.

                Octobcr the 19th 1697.       p. 578

          The Councill Sate and were present.

   His Exncy ffrancis Nicholson Esqr Capt Genrll &ca

      Coll: Henry Jowles Coll: Charls: Hutchins

      Coll: George Robotham     Coll: John Addison

      Coll: Nicho Greenberry    Thorns Brook Esqr

      Thoms Tench Esqr   lames ifrisbey Esqr

    The Honoble Sr Thorns Laurence Barontt Secry being sick

  sends and desires to be excused.

    The Justices & Lawyers of the Provinciall Court being

  summoned to appear at this Board, came accordingly.

    His Excellency is pleased to tell them that he has observed

  in the Courts of this Province that they commonly proceed to

  Judge upon matters, according to conscience & equity and

  not according to the Rules of Law; and that as the King has

  a Court of Equity here, the Courts of Law ought not to take

  upon them matters properly tryable in Chancery.

    He is also please to tell the Chife Justice that in giving his

  charge to the Iuries, he should direct them to find the matter

  of fact according to evidence and not (as usually they do) to

  consider the poverty of the Person, by thinking the party will

  be ruin'd if he looses the cause; and tht such a direction be

  given tht where there is matter of Law, they should then

  bring in a special verdict, and leave it to the Court.

    Produced again & read the Report of the Kings Lawyers,

  in the case of James Cranford Attorney at Law, about dis

  missing him from his practice &ca