Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 499

       distance. I have several times both in Virginy and here met P. R. O.

       Negros both single, and six or 7 in Company in the night

       time. The major part of the Negros speak English: and

       most people have some of them as their domestick servants:

       & the better sort may have 6 or in those circumstances: and

       may be not above one English: And they send the Negro men

       and Boys about the Country, when they have Business; and

       they commonly wait on them to all publick places: So that by

       these means they know not only the publick, but private

       Rodes of the Country, & Circumstances thereof. And as for

       the Irish servants, they have more privileges: and I don't

       know but they may confederate with the Negros; and in the

       summer time they may keep out in the Woods about the

       Frontiers, which are very thinly inhabited. But a great many

       of the people's Stocks of Cattel & Hogs run there, which

       may supply them with Victuals: In which parts there are are

       a great many Swamps that they may fortify; and it will be

       very difficult and dangerous to come at, & force them out.

        And if it please God these things should happen, even the

       subduing of them would be a very great charge and loss to

       the Country in genri and to their Masters in particular I

       have put the House of Delegates in mind of these things, and

       shall again at their meeting the 20th of October next, remind

       them of them in order to have some Law made for the

       restraining of servants and Negros going and rambling so

       abrode

        It's generally supposed that there will be left both in Vir

       giny and here, Goods enough to purchace, and Ships to carry

       away half the next Crops of Tobaccos.

        Here hath lately happened very great Rains, which will

       probably drown some quantitys of the Tobaccos; especially in

       the low Lands; (and the half of our Eastern shore is so) as

       allso spoil some of the ripe and forward: but the greater part

       of it is latter Tobacco. So that unless please God, there

       should be seasonable weather for above a moneth; there

       will be but indifferent Crops made in this Province.

        By the best accounts which I can get, all the English Pro

       vinces here, on the Continent, have been allso overstocked

       with ships and goods from Engld. so that in some places

       they sell their Goods for less than they cost them in Engld

       Both in Virginy, and here, they are very cheap, and Tobaccos

       pretty dear: and some ships go at very low Fraight: So I

       shall not prsume to trouble yor Lordps as formerly, about hav

       ing the Merchants send a quantity of Ships and Goods to

       supply the Market &c.

        I hope that I shall have yor Lordps Pardon, if I observe that

       Mr Pen's chief insinuating Reason, That the ten p Cent laid