Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1719. 355

     Government dureing the Absence, or on the Death or Re-         C. P.

     movall of our Lieutenant Governour for the time being.

      6 You shall either by Proclamation or otherwise Poruguc

     the Assembly to some day in the month of Aprill which shall

     be in the Year of our Lord One thousand Seven hundred &

     Twenty.

      7: And Lastly we Strictly Comand & Require you the

     said John Hart And all other our Officers and Ministers with

     in our sd Province of Maryland to be Assisting to his Majtys

     Officers of the Customes, as by Law you are Required to do,

     And not in the least to Obstruct his MajtYs Service under the

     Managemt of the Coniissioners of the Customs as by their

     Letter a Copy whereof we have herewith sent is Complain'd

     of.                           Baltemore

                                   Guilford

     To the first Instruction.

      His Excellency Observes to this Board that he has Com-

     ply'd therewith.

     To the 2d

      His Excellency Observes that his MajtY of his Great Bounty,

     and out of his Compassion Agreeable to his Princely nature

     (which his Excellency Acknowledges with all Duty and Humi

     lity) In Regard to his Excellency's Health (Notwithstanding

     he presumes his Majesty is not altogether unacquainted of

     other Reasons for his Desireing to Return to Great Britain)

     has Permitted him to be Absent for the Space of Twelve

     Months from this Governmt without Limitting him to any

     time to depart in.

      And that their Lordships Lycence does not Oblige him to

     any. But that their Lordships by this Instruction Tyes him

     up to Depart in three months if possible. Which he Declares

     he Cannot Possibly Comply with for these Reasons.

     First.

      That notwithstanding their Instructions are dated 23d of

     March 1718 They did not Come to his hands till the 26th of

     August 1719. And then Delivered by the hands of Capt

     Greenwood.

     Secondly.

      That there being many Pyrates on the Coast, And a

     Warr Declared with Spain, And the Spaniards Appearing

     within the Capes of Virginia, And the man of Warr Departed

     which Convoyed the Merchants Shipps from this Province,

     and the Colony of Virginia,

      It is not Safe for him to Depart in a Single Ship most of the

     Ships being Departed from this Province. And there not

     being one left fitt to give him a Reception.