460 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1726.

           Lib. X.    our Burgesses Concurring in the same Sentiments with our

                People in relation to a good and beneficial Tobacco Law so

                necessary at this time both for the preservation of great Num

                bers of our Good people of Maryland and for the Improving

                the Staple thereof

            p.  156 It hath been Agreed by a Majority in both Houses that a

                Tobacco Act is highly necessary but the means of doing it

                appears to have been attended with such a variety in Opinions

                that we to our Great dissatisfaction have not been able to Re

                concile them nor to enact any thing for the good of the Staple

                tho very much wanted and earnestly pressed for by the People

                  We highly approve of the method proposed in your Bill

                for limiting and Restraining the time of Shipping Tobacco the

                Advantages whereof are so Obvious that no reasonable man

                would willingly be debarred of them but such is the Temper

                of our Burgesses (having different views as well as different

                Conceptions) In the means of Advancing the Common good

                that one part of them chose to be deprived of the advantages

                flowing from a good Tobacco Law rather than give into the

                the measures of bringing it about

                  We are sorry to say that our Endeavours for the publick

                Good have proved so unsuccessful partly owing to the late

                Season of the year which is so far advanced that most People

                will have housed their Crops before the Tellers with the Re

                quisites previous to their Appointment could well be adjusted.

                But we shall Always be in hopes that a favourable Construc

                tion will be put upon our late advances towards a friendly

                Correspondency with the Neighbouring Colony of Virginia

                and that you will believe we had no other thing in view (by

                the proposing of a beneficial Tobacco Law, than a General

                Advancement of the Staple of Tobacco by a mutual concert

                between the two Colonies that we shall Always be ready to

                put in our Mite along with Virginia towards the Accomplish-

            p 157     ment of so desirable an end which that it may soon be brought

                about is the Hearty desire of

                  Superscribed               Gent

               To the Honble Hugh     Your most Obedient humble

          Drysdale Esqr Governor and       Servants

             Captain General of his Majestys Cha Calvert

             Colony of Virginia and to the   William Holland

                Honble Council of the said Colony   John Hall

                                   Virginia  Thomas Addison

             July 25th 1726                  Philemon Lloyd

         Geo Plater Cl Concil                James Bowles

                                             Benjamin Tasker

                                             Philip Lee

                                             Nicholas Lowe