436 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1724.

             Lib. x.    as think fit to purchase, are obliged to take them on Board

                  again after they are disposed of For Instance your Petitioners

                  having on the 19th of this Instant December disposed of two

                  of them (to say) a Man and a Woman named Joseph Ashbee

                  and Mary Mounteer to certain House keepers of said City

                  and sending them to their Masters Houses were taken into

                  Custody by Sheriff of said City and Carried before their

                  Court in Order for Commitment without any Offence by them

                  Committed here but meerly for being under the denomina

                  tion of Convicts unless they themselves or some others for

                  them would become bound in the Penal Sum of Fifteen

                  Pounds Current Money for their good behaviour your Peti

                  tioners humbly Conceive by the aforesaid Act it is not any

                  Part of the Contractors duty to enter into Bonds and recog

                  nizances for the Convicts Good Behaviour in any part of his

                  Majestys Colonies in America that the Contractors did [n]ever

                  expect to meet with any such Inconveniences your Petitioners

                  are further very much hindered by being publickby threatned

                  by a Certain Magistrate in this City that if one of your Peti

                  tioners should Land a number of them on Shore in Town

                  that he the said Magistrate would send both the Convicts and

                  your Petitioners to Prison how far the said Law made by the

                  said Corporation is Agreable to the Statute of England afore

                  said we humbly pray your Honours Consideration and how

             p. izo     far it is consistent with the Lords Justices Dissent to a Law

                  of like Nature in Virginia and also the Lord Baltimores dis

                  sent to the late Act of Assembly against their Importation

                  here Now this is what your Petitioners humbly pray leave to

                  lay before your Honours for your Consideration for without

                  your Honours Relief we have only to Offer the late Law of

                  said Corporation to Excuse us to our Imployer for not making

                  such Returns as some of us heretofore in Virginia and other

                  places have done we have only further to subscribe our selves

                  with all due Regard Your Honours most Obliging most

                  humble Servants                  John Moale

                                                   Danl Russel

                    To which Petition the said Corporation being called before

                  us appear here at this honble Board and beg Leave to Answer

                  the said Petition which Answer followeth in these words

                    To his Honour the Governor and his Lordships Honoura

                  ble Council

                  May it please your Honours

                    On Perusal of the Representation of Messrs John Moale

                  and Daniel Russel to your Honours we find they alledge