Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 267

   Clerk of the Provincial Court, dated 24th of August last past, Lib. H. D.

   signifying that Coll Willm Pearce Sherriff of that County has

   utterly refused to give Bond for his place according to the

   late Act of Assembly. And it being referred to the Kings

   Lawyers whether he ought to be continued in his Office,

   without giving such Bond, Who being of opinion he

   ought not.

    Ordered thereupon that the Comissrs of Coecill County

   aforesaid do upon sight hereof demand of him (at their next

   County Court to be held in November) Bond and security

   according to the directions of the sd Act. And that if in case

   he refuse to give such security there be a blanck Commission

   Wth the other Instruments sent up, ready for the Honoble Iames

   ffrisbey Esqr to putt in some other person, to be Sherriff,

   whom he thinks fitt.

                 October the 22nd 1697.

        The Councill again sate and were present

    His Exncy ffrans Nicholson Esqr Captn Genrll &ca

             Sr Thomas Laurence Barontt Secry

             Coll George Robotham

             Thomas Tench Esqr

             Coll Charles Hutchins

             Thomas Brooke Esqr

             James ffrisbey Esqr

     Produced and read a certain representation from the Justices

   & Grand Iury of the Provincial Court as follows, Vizt

     We of the Jury, having advice from all parts of this Pro

   vince of his Exncy's late Proclamation prohibitting any Provi

   sions being exported to any place from this Province without

   calling at New England or Newfound Land &ca do humbly

   represent that a!tho we believe his Exncy sett forth the same p. 589

   upon just Grounds and for his Majtes service, yet that the same

   if continued in force will redound to the great prejudice of his

   Majtes good Subjects of this Province & to the aparent decay

   of Trade thereof in these particulars.

     1st It will discourage and prevent those that are inclin'd to

   prossecute a Trade to Barbados or the Islands because Provi

   sions is the only Coniodity they can carry from hence, and

   unless they can carry them to the place design'd it will be in

   vain to attempt the Trade.

     2 It will discourage those Traders that would come here

   to purchase Provissions for necessary & usefull manufactures

   who generally carry them from hence to the Islands for Sale,