264 Papers Relating to Affairs in Maryland, 1701—14.

           P. R. o.   to include in the Surveys the Lands intended and Shewne

                 them; and very often prying into, and finding faults with the

                 old Surveys by the water Sides where the Ancient bounded

                 trees & even the Bancks are Some tymes washt away into the

                 Bays, and Rivers; to the Greate Disturbance, and dissatisfac

                 tion of her Matys Subjects, who have been put to greate

                 Charge in asserting their just Bounds. The Assembly made

                 an Act requiring the Lord Baltimores Agents to certifye into

                 the Secretarys Office the Instructions and Condicons of Plan

                 tations with the Fees by them demanded, and obliging his

                 Lordshipps Deputy Surveyors to qualifye themselves accord

                 ing to Law: And by that Act lay a forfeiture of twenty

                 pounds on the said Agents refusing so to certifye the said

                 Instructions and Condicons, and also enjoyne the Said Sur

                 veyors under the penalty of One hundred pounds Sterl, not

                 to Survey any Lands for any person whatever; untill they

                 have taken the Oathes by Law appointed to maynteyne the

                 Succession of the Crowne & likewise an Oath for the faithfull

                 Execution of their Offices which had never as yet been done

                 by any of the Said Surveyors; & is wholy Submitted to her

                 Matys Royall Pleasure and Directions, in case the Lord Balti

                 more Shall thinke fitt to address her on that Occasion. Some

                 disputes between the Lord Baltemore & Mr Wm Penn about their

                 North and East bounds of this Province rendring the Estates

                 of her Matys Subjects very precarious & ambiguous on those

                 Confines, have induced the Assembly to address her Matye

                 that She will be graciously pleas'd to direct the Said proprie

                 tors to run out, and Settle their Bounds, that the purchasors

                 and takers up of Lands there may be safe in their Graunts.

                   My Lords. In few days with the Advice of her Matys Coun

                 cill I shall regulate and Settle the Judicature according to the

                 Directions of your Honble Boarde; notwithstanding our Way

                 ward Assembly thought it improper to be done here, without

                 rendring any Substantiall or mannerly reason whatever, for at

                 present our Provinciall Court consisting of twelve Iustices is

                 a mere lest; tot homines tot Sententiae, unless particular Interest

                 draw them, not knowing any Rules to guide their Iudgemts

                   Notwithstanding Wee heare not from England in Scaven

                 eight or nine Months during this Warr, the Assembly with

                 the like Reason that they might still continue Irregular and

                 Gainsaying, rejected Mr Dumers Proposalls for better and

                 more Speedy Advice & Intelligence by Way of his Pacquett

                 Boats.

                   And when I proposed a Law to punish the Dispersers of

                 false and reflecting News of Affairs in Europe, during the

                 Warr it was denyd by our Stiftnecked Assembly whose Rea