316 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1715.

     Lib. W. B.  not better answer Your desire of knowing the state of that

                 Province than by inclosing the Copy of what I have just writt

                 to the Secretary of State according to the Information I re

                 ceived from a Gentleman of considerable ffigure in that

                 Governmt sent hither to Sollicit it for an immediate assistance

                 of Men upon whose Representation I have gone as farr to

                 succour them as the Authority of a Governour supported by

                 the Concurrence of a Council wou'd Enable me by immediately

                 resolving to raise 300 Men for that Service and have allready

                 used such dispatch therein that there were but fifteen days

                 between the Arrival of the Commissioners here and their dis

                 patch with an hundred and Eighteen of that Number Next

                 Wednesday I intend to Embarque 40 or 50 more and the

                 Remainder will be ready against the returne of the Valeur.

                 These are also to be Armed from hence for which purpose I

                 have allready sent to Charles Towne 200 good Musquetts

                 and preparing a hundred more to be sent with the first

                 opportunity.

          p. 54  The Encouragement proposed by the Governmt of South

                 Carolina for engaging these Men in their Service are the pay

                 of 30 p month Carolina Mony provisions of Victuals and some

                 Supply of Cloathing against Winter; but the main inducement

                 has been a Proposal I made and which the Carolina Agents

                 agreed to tho It was not in his Instructions that for every

                 Man sent from hence a Slave should be sent hither to Worke

                 in his Roome and to remain here as a Security for his pay.

                  The Government of South Carolina has desired no less

                 than a thousand Men but it not being judged advisable to

                 Spare from hence so great a Number while we are appre

                 hensive of an Attacque on Our owne ffrontiers. I advised

                 their applying to you for a like Assistance if after the Arrival

                 of the Succours from hence they found it necessary not doubt

                 ing but upon their sending Executed a Contract of the like

                 Nature to Your Government as that they have Entered into

                 with this You wou'd Supply them with as many Men as the

                 Condition of Your Province cou'd Spare.

                  By what I can yet learne there is no reason to suspect any

                 of Our Indians holding a Correspondence with the Enimie,

                 nor has there been as yet any appearance of them on our

                 ffrontiers: but I am surprized at an Affidavit sent me in the

                 Pacquett from South Carolina and of which I send you a Copy

                 and as I know none of our Traders of the Name of Wilson

                 nor any Traders gone from hence or returned hither of late

                 I desire You will be pleased to Enquire if any such persons

                 belong to Your Province or are Come thither with the Skins

                 mentioned in that Affidavit.