Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1716/17. 351

     to fail at their pills Given at the City of Annapolis under C. P.

     the broad Seale of the Province this 11th day of January in

     the Second year of his Lordships Dominion &c. Annoq Dni

     1716

                               God Save the King.

       His Excellency Informes this board that Severall Masters

     of Ships Complain that the fees charged them by the Deputy

     Collector of the Port of Annapolis for Clearing their Vessells

     were unreasonable

       Thereupon Ordered that some of the Masters who are

     now in town be sent for to inform this board what fees they

     have usually paid on the Clearing their Ships

       Which being accordingly done appears Capt George West-

     girth who being asked what he generally paid on Clearing

     his Ship to the Collector for the Port of Annapolis, Answers,

     that for Examining fifteen Cocquetts & other fees the last

     year he paid three pounds Currt mony

       Also Capt Hugh Arbuthnott appears & is asked what he

     usually paid on Clearing his Vessell, Answers, he always

     paid Twenty pence p Cocquett to the Collector

       Also Capt Daniel Mand Appears & is asked what he usual

     ly paid, Answers he always paid Twenty pence p Cocquett

     to the Collector, but the last year he being demanded by Mr

     Evan Jones deputy Collector to pay his Account of fees of

     five pounds Currt mony, which he denyed, finding fault

     wth the Extravigant Charges therein, the said Jones ac

     cepted of three pounds ten shillings Currt mony in full for

     that Voyage.

       Mr Evan Jones Deputy Collector for the Port of Annapolis

     being Called before this board to Answer the premises is

     asked by his Excellcy by what law or rule he Charges and

     Exacts his Severall fees Especially that of Twenty pence p

     Cocquett, Answers he Charges them by Custome being what

     have been usually Charged by former Collectrs

       Resolved by this board that the fee of Twenty pence p

     Cocquett is unreasonable

       And for that the said Evan Jones (on Examination) has not

     a Table of his fees hanging up in his Office as the law Directs,

     His Excellency is pleased to say he will write to the Comis

     sioners of his Majestys Customes at home Concerning it.

       Resolved and Ordered a Proclamation Issue to Prorogue

     the Generall Assembly of this Province untill the first day of

     May next at which time they are required to Convene them

     selves at the City of Annapolis, as follows,