328 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1715/16.

              C. P.     tho' she had intimated to severall of her acquaintance, that it

                 was of dangerous Consequence, and tended to excite Re

                 bellion, in the Province Which he hearing from severall

                 Hands, had required the said Letter, which was now in the

                 Hands of the Clerk of the Council, and inclosed under his

                 Excellency's owne Seale.

                   Which by his Excellency's order, was opened at the Board,

                 by the Clerk of the Council, and read as follow's Viz.

                 Rd in Chr. Pr

                    D C     Yours of the twenty first was very agreeable,

                 especially towards the End, for its ingenious banter, had I not

                 been Prevented by this Your Sarcasm, I might have had

                 Prudence enough to have desired Your Correction, of my

                 imperfect and indigested Thoughts, that the abounding Dross,

                 might have been severed, by Yr Skilful Hand, from the little

                 Bullion, if Yet there be any Ore, therein Conteined, but as for

                 Yr Perusal of my &ca with the mentioned designe, I shall never

                 consent, to so much loss of Your tyme, As for that which has

                 four times stood the Test, its too thread bare, to appear this

                 cold Season, & its well if it be not condemned, to lower Ger

                 many, before I see You next, for its so ill acquitting its selfe,

                 in past Service.

                   But whence this unseasonable Petition, this unexpected

                 Demand, was it to stop my Mouth, from the like foreseen re

                 quest, Indeed I might wth greater reason, have Petitioned a

                 Moddel, to Copy after, for wt Wonder if Militiae tyro Militis

                 emeriti artem sibi, in Exemplum Proponit &c.

                   What you mentioned of Mr James Carroll's Liberality, was

                 News to me. I do not see why we may not Strike, while the

                 Iron is hot. Why can we not enter thereon, tho' with some

                 difficulty? all beginnings are hard, but why may not we rub

                 through as well as Our fforeffathers? wou'd not two or three

                 Hands Suffice for a beginning? & this I shou'd think might be

                 procured: I acknowledge myselfe unfit for such an under.

                 taking but shou'd be very willing to do my Endeavours, to

                 struggle with it were it Committed to my Charge, and why

                 don't we admitt the Offer, since a new Supply is expected

                 with the Major? I am much of the Italian's mind, that no

                 Occasion is to he Passed by I suppose what you mentioned,

                 was Secret, and shall therefore do my Endeavour, to take

                 away difficulty, and forward the main concern I conclude

                 wishing you a happy Christmass, & a good New Year, Mr

                 Hunter tells me (for a fresh thought occurrs and I can't con

                 clude as yet) in one I lately received from him, that he is re

                 covered from his relapse, but very Chilly, & Subject to Colds,

                 And that for his Ease, Mr Brooke was inclining, to have You