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

         P.R. O.   on Goods here, hinder'd the Importacon of English Goods into

              Pensylvania, now appears (like some of his others) to be none

              at all. And for his saying that ‘tis a partial Law; I hope that

              what is in No 9 being a Copy of an Act of Assembly, and a

              minute there of, will satisfy yor Lordps to the contrary: And

              the Act for ten p Cent. expires next May.

                Upon Inquiry I find that the English Islands in the West-

              Indies, are under the same Circumstances for the quantitys of

              ships & Goods; as allso that where ever the English trade,

              suppose they have overstocked their Markets. Now, if it be

              so, I think my Country men may not have playd the politick

              part; yet they have shewed how vastly rich they are, wch pray

              God continue. And I hope that will be publickly taken notice

              of, especially in France; that after so long, cloudy, and very

              expensive a War, & the loss of so many Ships and Vessels,

              they have been able more than enough to furnish all parts

              with such great quantitys both of ships, and Goods: so that I

              think in some sort, the trade of this year in respect of the

              War, may be compared to the great fire of London, and the

              sudden building of it much finer than ever twas; as I ailso

              find they doe their Ships.

                In reading one of the monethly Mercurys, I was very sorry

              to find that both from East and West France they were

              designing to send great Settlements to the River of Mescha

              sipi. For having lately read Hennapins Travels into those

              pts. I find that if they settle that River, that and the River of

              Canada will encompass all the English Dominions here. And

              if please God, the French should get all the Indians on their

              sides, or have force enough to beat or over-aw them that will

              not joyn with them; they may be very troublesom to all our

              Frontier plantacons on this Continent. For upon Inquiry I

              had an Account from some Chaovonon Indians whose Country

              lies to the south-west of South Carolina, & a Frenchman that

              came with them, and was with Monsieur de la Salle that

              Journey that he was killed; that the French have some settle

              ments West Southerly not above 200 Miles from the Falls of

              Potomock. One of the chief of those Indians I got to chalk

              out the way to those Settlements, & so to the River Mascha

              sipi, to the parts adjacent, and down to the Bay of Mexico.

              I had one, who with the help of the French man, made a

              small rude draught with a pen, which I find in some sort to

              agree with Hennapins Mapps. And I find that in pag: 250 of

              his Book, he had by an Indian, a Country of 400 leagues

              described, which he found to be very exact. I am afraid that

              now please God, there is a peace, the French will be able to

              doe more dammage to these Countrys, than they were able to

              doe in the War. If they can not be prevented from setling on