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

          Lib. H. D.     day of January Anno Dom 1697/8 And in the ninth year of

                his Majesties Reign

                                     John George    [Seale]

                Signed Sealed and Delivered

                     in presence of   In Testimonium Veritatis

                            Isa Addington

                  Edwd Surfrey        Sampson Sheafe

                            [Scale]  Notus Pubus

                              JanTY 25th 1697/8

                 By the Principal Comissrs for Prizes

                Mr Ino    Whereas his Majesty by Comission under the

                Georges Comission for great Seal of England hath made constituted

                prizes &ca & appointed us to be Principal Comissioners for

                the care & management of all such Shipps Goods and Mer

                chandizes as are have been or shall be taken and seized for

                prize during hostility wth the French King thereby giving us

                or any three or more of us full power & Authority by Comiss

                ion under our hands & Seal wth the approbation of the Rt

                Honoble the Lords Comissrs of his Majtes Treasury to substitute

                such & so many persons as are necessary to be imployed in

                and about this service. And we having recd their Lordshipps

                warrant authorizing us to supersede the Comission we have

                lately given to Peter Ienings to be Agent for prizes in Mary

                land. Do by virtue of the power & authority unto us graunted

                and pursuant to their Lordships said warrant accordingly Sup

                ersede the Comission of the said Peter Jenings & constitute

                and appoint you John George and you are hereby constituted

                and appointed Agent for all Prizes that are have been or shall

                be brought into all or any of the Ports in Maryland and dis

                tricts thereof and in New England New Yorke Pensilvania &

                Virginia wth full power & Authority to you, to do and performe

                all & all manner of things to the said place of Agent belonging

                & appertaining according to such directions & Instructions as

                you shall from time to time receive from us or any three or

             p. 179 more of us And Whereas we are informed there are and hath

                been great concealments & embezelments made and committed

                And that also no accompt hath been yet returned unto us of

                any prize Shipps, Goods or Merchandizes wch hath been

                brought into Maryland, New England, New Yorke Pensilvania,

                Virginia or any other place upon the Continent of America

                We do therefore hereby impower you Iohn George & such

                others as you shall think necessary to imploy to inquire after

                examine and find out all matters & things transacted or that

                shall be transacted comitted or done touching the premises in

                the said Colony of Maryland and its districts, or in or on New