Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1728. 491

    proclamation which proclamation is Ordered to be prepared      Lib. X.

    and is as follows vizt

    Maryland sst

      By his Excellency Benedict Leonard Calvert Governor and

    Commander in chief in and over the Province of Maryland

                     A Proclamation

      Whereas I am informed by Representations from the

    County Courts held in March last past that Indian Corn is so

    Generally Scarce throughout this Province that the good

    people thereof are greatly Apprehensive of a Common Want

    of Subsistance if the Exportation of such Corn so necessary

    for their support be not immediately prevented such melan

    choly representations from the Good people his Lordships

    Tenants most sensibly Affected me with a deep Concern for

    their present Sufferings, & the Apprehensions they lye under

    of farr greater to Come In tender Consideration Whereof

    (being desirous to use the Earliest and Speediest precautions

    for their preservation in so Important a Circumstance of their

    Welfare) I have therefore thought fitt by and with the Advice

    of his Lordships Honble Council of State for the Reasons

    aforesaid to Publish and Proclaim and I do hereby Accord-        p. 200

    ingly strictly Order and Command that no person whatsoever

    Inhabitant or otherwise within this province from and after

    the publication hereof until the first day of October next do

    presume to sell Carry or load on Board any Ship Sloop Shal

    lop Boat Cannoe or other Bottom any Indian Corn with Intent

    to Export the same out of this province or with any Knowl

    edge or privity that the same is intended to be so exported

    by others and that no Master or Owner or any other person

    Navigating such Ship, Sloop Shallop Boat Canoe, or any

    other Bottom or any other person whatsoever purchase receive

    or take on Board their said Vessels any Indian Corn as afore

    said with any Intent other than to Transport the same from

    one place to another within this Province for the supply of the

    Inhabitants thereof, or for the necessary support of their Voy

    age Homewards under pain and penalty of the several per

    sons therein found Offending being prosecuted according to

    the utmost Seventies of the Law for such their Contempt

    therein And I do hereby further strictly enjoyn and Com

    mand the several Officers of the respective Ports as well as

    all Other his Lordships Magistrates and Officers whatsoever

    within this Province to be diligent and careful that this my

    Proclamation be duely observed, And to the End due Notice

    hereof may be given I do further strictly charge and com