x                    Preface.

           boundary of Delaware is at “False Cape,” which is no cape at all, and

           doubtless received its very appropriate name in commemoration of this

           transaction. The map which did the Penns such good service is now in

           the possession of the Maryland Historical Society, where any one

           desirous of seeing a masterpiece of craft may inspect it.

             Blakiston's health being impaired, he resigned his office and sailed

           for England in 1702, carrying with him the good wishes of the Prov

           ince. Before his departure he offered to serve the Province as its agent

           in England for one year gratuitously, and after that at £‘ 20 sterling

           per annum, an offer which was willingly accepted, as matters continu

           ally arose in which it was of importance that Maryland should be prop

           erly represented before the Queen and Council. Blakiston, by his knowl

           edge of conditions in Maryland and the confidence which was reposed

           in him by the people, was eminently qualified for this position, in which

           he rendered the Province good service for several years.

             One of these matters which called for the services of an English

           agent was the continual pressure of the crown for assistance in men

           and money to New York for defence against the French and Indians.

           The Assembly took the ground that the position of Maryland was not

           understood; that the Province was in as great danger as New York

           from incursions of hostile Indians, and moreover that the people were

           poor, and that the expenses for their own defence and other necessary

           charges were as heavy as they could bear. At last they grudgingly

           agreed to contribute £300 when the other colonies should have con

           tributed their quotas, which was practically deferring it to the Greek

           Kalends [pp. 393—4].

             After Blakiston's departure, Thomas Tench, President of the Coun

           cil, acted as Governor until the arrival of John Seymour with a com

           mission from Queen Anne.

             Seymour was a consequential, arrogant, and injudicious man; but

           the defects of his character are not particularly apparent in the brief

           period of his administration included in the present volume.

             There are considerable gaps in our original records of this period,

           but fortunately we have been able almost entirely to fill them by copies

           obtained from the Public Record Office, London. In this way the Pro

           ceedings of the Lower House during the sessions of 1 700 and June

           1702, and those of both houses in 1704, together with the Report of

           the Committee of Accounts for 1700 have been obtained. The exist

           ence of copies of these records was discovered by Henry F. Thomp