Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1701.    117

   informed that they have been a Receptacle of Pirates with their Lib. X.

   Effects & have also given encouragement to illegal traders

   running their Goods there neither have the inhabitants had

   much regard for the Government imposed on them by the

   Proprietors having at their pleasures imprisoned their Gov

   ernor & again receive him as such according to the Prey

   alency of the several parties

     His Excellency having laid before the Board the Accounts

   of the vestries of the several parishes in the several Coun

   ties of this Province which are ready to be sent to their

   Lordships of trade & plantations &Ca in order to the obvia- p. 278

   ting some false Objections which have been made in England

   against the raising and disposal of the 40 l of Tobacco p Poll

   here for the Support of the Ministry

     Ordered that the Clerk of the Council see the said Accounts

   regularly stated and fairly transcribed in order to be sent to

   their said Lordships

     His Excellency proposes to the Conncil that in reguard an

   opportunity now presents of buying some powder already in

   the Country whether it may not be advisable att this Junc

   ture to embrace the Occasion

     To which the Gentlemen say they are sensible there is a

   considerable Quantity of Powder already in the Country

   which is continually decaying and Damnifying therefore do

   not at present think it Necessary

     His Excellency says he has often called upon George Plater

   & George Muschamp Esqrs his MajstYs Receivers to give

   Security for their Receivers places who now propose Thomas

   Tench Esqr & Lieut Collo Jacob Moreland to be their securi

   tys which are well Approved of

     Upon the Application of George Plater Esqr Ordered that

   the several Clarks of the respective County Courts do forth

   with return an exact List of all Fines & Forfeitures in there

   County Courts wch have fallen since his Majestys more imme

   diate happy Government.

     Whereas it is now the winter Season and his Majestys p. 279

   advice Boat Eagle under the comma of Captain Nathaniel

   Bostock is in this River it is thought advisable that he bring

   the Vessel into the Creek where she may be ready upon all

   Occasions if the weather will permit.

     Came Sr Thomas Lawrence Bart & produced his Majestys

   Letters pattents to him for the Secrys Office in this Province

   upon which occasion these Following Minutes which had been

   taken before his Excellency & the honble Colo John Ham

   mond were read & well approved of