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

         P. R. O.   And they sold that year, for more in the hundred, than they

               did before: and I suppose, will aliways doe so, when so exposed

               to sail: For I found that that way gave great satisfaction, as

               the other did the contrary.

                 When I transmit to yor Lordps the Body of Laws which are

               now transcribing fair; I shall endeavour (according to yor

               Lordps Commands) to send yor Lordps the Draught of one for

               a genrl pardon: and shall likewise observe yor Lordps direc

               tions concerning the pardon for the two Women guilty of

               Murder. But I have an account that one of them is gotten

               away from Robert Mason late Sherriff of St Marys County.

                 Being yor Lordps think it not fit to propose to his Majesty

               the establishment of any new Office in any particular place, as

               that of Sollicitor genrl here: with yor Lordps Consent I shall

               endeavour to make Mr Wm Dent some sort of satisfaction for

               what services (wch have been very many) that he hath done

               his Majesty in that Stacon. For he hath had a very trouble

               some time of it; and no doubt hath lost very considerably by

               his practice. But I dare affirm, that had not he been imployd

               in his Matys Law-Affairs; they would have suffered very much,

               both for want of him, and of his being on the contrary side.

                 Before the next moneth be out, I expect to have accounts

               from every County what number of persons (please God) are

               dead of this last distemper: which I judge by a rough Com

               putacon, are betwixt 8oo & 1000 persons: but now, I thank

               God, the distemper is quite over.

                 There hath been imported this summer about four hundred

               and seventy odd Negros, vizt 396 in one ship directly from

               Guiny. 50 from Virginy, which came thither in a ship from

               Guiny. 20 from Pensylvania, which came thither from Bar

               badoes: a few others from other places. And by the middle

               of the next moneth, I .hope to have the certain Number of

               Servants imported; which by such an other Computacon, may

               be about 6 or 700. whereof most part are Irish. Now, if

               please God, there should next year, or within 2 or 3 years dye

               the like Number of Inhabitants; and there should be imported

               as many Irish and Negros, especially of the first, who are

               most, if not all, Papists; it may be of very dangerous con

               sequense to this his Majestys Province; as allso to that of

               Virginy; being I hear they are under all the same Circum

               stances. And they might make great desturbances, if not a

               Rebellion: because these are very open Countrys, and they

               may have easy Comunication with one an other near the Falls

               of Potomock; And in each Province they can doe it much

               easyer: for the comon practice is on Saturday nights, and

               Sundays, and on 2 or 3 days in Christmas, Easter, & Whitson

               tide, they goe and see one an other, thô at 30 or 40 miles