Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 87

     especially by restraint, In this his Majesty's province. I have P. R. O.

     endeavoured to make an Essay of Ports and cohabitation at Maryland, 9.

     this place, and at the Port of William Stadt on the Eastern

     Shore, which are places where Trade naturally was. To come

     to which places I have ordered the Pensilvanians who trade by

     Land at the Head of the Bay, there being severall good Cart

     Roads between the Two Countreys, especially one which is

     between the Head of Bohemia River in this Countrey, and

     Opoquiraing Creek which runs into Delaware River a few

     Miles below New Castle, the Land Carriage being only about

     eight miles, by which they carry Boats and Shalops of io or

     12 Tuns upon Sleys, or in great Carts: and illegal trade is

     much practiced that way, especially in carrying Tobaccoes

     into Delaware, from whence I suppose severall hundreds of

     Hogsheads are carried into Scotland and other places, and I

     believe that when strict examination is made there, it will be

     found that the Acts of Trade and Navigation &c are oftner

     broken than kept, especially the late Act. And how I have

     endeavoured to discharge my duty therein, your Lordships

     may be informed by Copys of severall proceedings in No 4

     I'he bounds betwixt this his Majesty's Province, and that of

     Pensilvania, especially in the 3 lower Countys in the Territo

     ries of New Castle are very uncertaine. In the late King

     James his time there was a dispute betwixt My Lord Balti

     more and William Penn Esqr, and I have seen the Copy of an

     order of the late King James in Councill for dividing the

     provinces, but I don't find that the line was ever run, but

     severall of Pensilvania &c have endeavoured to incroach

     upon this his Majesty's province, but I shall not (God willing)

     be wanting according to my duty, to ascertaine and main

     taine his Majesty's Right. I believe it will be for his Maj

     esty's service and the Interest of the Inhabitants of both prov

     inces that the Bounds were settled. But with humble Sub

     mission I propose that they may not be adjusted, before

     inquiry be made in these parts about the said Bounds; for

     then the upper part of our Bay might be well seated, and be

     a check to the Pensilvanians &c. And the Inhabitants and

     Ships trading to this Province, who are now furnished from

     Pensilvania with Flower, bread, and beer, might be from

     them, that being a very proper soile for making those Com

     modities, provided one man had not above two or three

     hundred Acres at the most. Some persons taking up great

     quantities of Land both in Virginia and Maryland, and few or

     none of them being able to improve it all, is one great

     reason that the young English Natives and Servants when

     they are free, leave these Colonies, and goe either Southward,

     or Northward, for they are naturally ambitious of being Land-