Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1703. 165

        The Honble President produces to the Board a Letter from Lib. X.

      George Plater Esqr her Majestys Receiver & naval Officer at

      Puttuxent acquainting his honour that Captain Josiah Moore

      in her Majestys Ship Oxford who was one of the Convoys to

      the Virginia Fleet had brought into Puttuxent River a Sugar

      Prize and that he the said Mr Plater on Behalf of the said

      Captain Moore desired in case Colonel John Hammond the

      Judge and Wm Bladen Register of her Majestys Court of Vice

      Admiralty could not conveniently Come down to Puttuxent in

      order to condemn the said Prize that a special Commission

      might be Granted appointing some other persons at Puttuxent

      thereunto in regard the said Captain Moore was much in

      disposed & his Stay very short in this Province In answer

      whereto his said Honour the President had wrote to W Plater

      & Captain Moore as followeth vizt

      Mr Plater          Annapolis August the 24th 1703

         Sr

        I had yours by your Servant & have considered what you

      write in relation to Captain Moore commander of her

      Maiestys Ship Oxford & the Prize by him brought within

      this Government I have seen the honble Colo John Hammond

      chief Judge of her Majestys Court of Vice Admiralty in this

      Province who being apprized that Capt Moore has brought

      his Prize into this District of Puttuxent thinks it Reasonable

      that he by himself or procurator ought to Exhibite his Libell

      to the Court here in order to her Condemnation which will be

      expedited as soon as desired if he think fit the said Judge not p. 340

      thinking himself Obliged to go down to Puttuxent no appli

      cation being made to him or sufficient Reason offered by the

      Commander therefore Besides I find that the Commander

      upon his Arrival with his Prize by the Act of the 4th & 5th of

      King William & Queen Mary of which Statute I know no

      Repeal is directed to put the Prize into the hands of the

      Governor in plain English words which you must needs know

      to be the present Government President & Council till the

      same be condemned or discharged therefore you would do

      well to advise him to conform himself to that Law or any

      other later of her present Majsty if you know any such I am

      Sir                        Your humble Servant

                                       Tho Tench

      To George Plater Esqr

          Sir

        Mr Plater having advised of your arrival with a French

      Prize taken at Sea I find by the act of the 4th & 5th of King