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

           P. R. O. Tobacco's and is a great hindrance to the ensuing Crop. It

         Maryland, 9. also very much retarded the Fleet's loading, and No 11 are

                Copies of severall proceedings thereon, in one of which it is

                most humbly represented to Your Lordships to intercede with

                his Majesty that a particular Convoy may be appointed for

                this province.

                 I herewith humbly transmit to Your Lordships the Dupli

                cate of a letter from his Majesty's Council and the House of

                Burgesses to the Right Honourable the Lords of the late

                Committee for Trade, together with a Duplicate of the

                Addresse and Association of my self, his Majesty's Councill

                and Burgesses in a Generall Assembly, which we did our

                selves the honour to signe. The same addresse and Associ

                ation is signed by the Provincial Justices, and Grand Jury,

                as also by the Iustices and Grand Jurys of each County, and

                the Field officers. Commission and Non Commission officers

                have signed it too. With these are the Duplicates of two

                other Addresses to the King's Most Excellent Majesty from

                myself, the Councill and Burgesses in a Generall Assembly,

                all which I humbly presume to send Your Lordships in No 1 2.

                 And I am an humble Supplicant to Your Lordships that you

                would be pleased to give directions about their being humbly

                presented to the King's Most Excellent Majesty; for I have an

                Account that the Originalls very unfortunately miscarryed, the

                ship in which they were being taken.

                 I now also send Your Lordships the Duplicate of my Letter

                to the Right Honourable the late Committee for Trade &c so

                most humbly begging your Lordships pardon for this prolix

                Letter, in which I have endeavoured according to your Lord-

                ships Commands, to give you an Account of this his Maj

                esty's province. But thô I have presumed to trouble your

                Lordships with a very long one, I am too sensible how far

                short it comes of giving your Lordships such an idea of the

                state of this Countrey, as I could have wished my self able to

                give, and as your Lordships might very justly expect from me.

                 All that I shall offer to Your Lordships in its defence is only

                this, that I hope I may be bold to say, what it wants in the

                stile, is made up in the sincerity and truth of it. And (God

                willing) by the next safe opportunity, the rest of Your Lord-

                ships Commands shall be answered with all possible care and

                fidelity, by him who most humbly begs leave to have the

                honour of subscribing himself

                                  Your Lordships most obedient

                                  and faithfull humble Servant

                                                Fr:   Nicholson.

                   Maryland. Port

                   Annapolis. March

                             27th 1607.