Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1702. 121

    the rate of Fifty Pounds p Ann out of the 50000 l Tobacco Lib. X.

    which his Excellency & this Board are impowered to raise for

    the Defraying the small Charge of the Provs

      His Excellency acquainting the Board that Majr William

    Dent his Majestys Atty General of this Province who has

    used great Ingenuity Dilligence & Integrity in serving his

    Majesty and Discharging his Duty in that Station finding his

    health much impaired and living Very Remote from the Seat

    of Government had signified to him his inclination of leaving

    his practice & desire of being discharged from that Service

    & therefore desired this Board to represent whom they

    thought fittest to be appointed to Serve his Majesty in that

    Employment, who are pleased to say they do think William

    Bladen very fit for that Service

      His Excellency asks the Board if they have any thing

    further to propose for his Majestys Service who say not at

    present.

      Ordered that Geo Muschamp Esqr his Majestys Receiver

    of Potomack & Pocomoke pay unto Major Willm Dent nine

    pounds & four pence out of his Majestys duty of 3d p hhd for

    Arms being what said Major Dent disbursed And paid for p. 285

    cleansing and fixing the publick Arms in Charles County 1701

                               Wm Bladen, Cl Cons

             At a Council held at Annapolis

                     June 26th 1702

                        Present

              His Excellency the Governor

              Mr Tench, Colo Addison

              Mr Brook, Colo Hammond    of her

      the honble Colo Lloyd Lt Colo Holland Majstys Council

             And Mr Sanders

      His Excellency acquaints the Board that whereas he had

    obtained his Majestys leave to return to England for the

    Recovery of his health which he designed very speedily with

    the present shipping he is therefore desirous of setling the

    Government now the Council is met pursuant to his late

    Majestys Royal Commission & Instructions

      And thereupon was produced & read his late Majstys

    Royal Commission to his Excellency the Governor under the

    Great Seal of England dated at Westminster the 19th of

    October 1698 And as to that particular Clause setling the

    Governmt in case of his Excellencys death or absence upon

    the eldest Councillor as President, by his Excellencys iustruc

    tions the honble Thomas Tench, Esqr being the first named is