Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1728. 501

    “which he had found on the Road as he came a Long and Lib. M.

    “was Desired to put it up there, with that I parted with him

    “and had no more Talk, this is what I know, and could De

    “clare it on my Oath Sworn to the Truth of the above written

    “Facts by Mr John Abington, before the Governour & Coun

    “cil this 31st of October 1728 Test

                                 Geo. Plater Cl. Co.

      Philip Lee Esqr one of his Lordships Provincial Justices

    lays before this Board the Deposition of Edward Harris of

    Queen Anns County taken before him & Coll: Levin Gale

    one other of his Lordships said Justices the Tenor of which is

    as follows, Viz.

      “The Deposition of Edward Harris of Queen Anns County

    “Aged about Twenty nine Years being Sworn on the Holy

    “Evangelists of Almighty God, before the Honble Philip Lee

    “Esqr & Coll Levin Gale two of his Lordships Justices of the

    “Provincial Court and Interrogated Declares as follows Viz.

      “This Deponant Saith to the best of his knowledge on

    “Tuesday night the 15th of this Instant October he was going

    “through George Nelsons Middle Room, where they Some-

    “times Dress Victuals, and there was a Company of about tenn 4

    “or Dozen Men Sitting in said Passage, amongst which there

    “was one Man had a Sword by his Side (who as this Depont

    “was Inform'd was Majr Samll Perrie who upon Sight of this

    "Depont Damn'd him, and Ask'd him Severall times, if he

    “was for a Tobacco Law, or not, if he was, that he should

    “have some punch (if not) he should have none, and that his

    “Room was very good Company this Deponant also Saith

    “that an Old man Lost some money at Dice that Night they

    “Call Drury Swore that Mr Perry or himself should fight him

    “Either with a Sword or without it. This Depont further

    “Saith that it Instantly Came into his mind of Mobbs, that

    “Constraines persons Either to Agree with their Sentiments or

    “to be knock'd Down, the Consequence that might happen he

    “did not know, However, Answered ‘em as followeth, first

    “that if he wanted any Punch, he Cou'd have it without being

    “Obliged to them, Secondly that his Declareing himself for, or

    “against a Tobacco Law, wou'd be of no Service to the Coun

    “try, because he had no Vote in the House of Assembly but

    “as he had a Family to Maintain, should be Very Glad of a

    “Tobacco Law provided ‘twas a good one. Thirdly, he

    “further Saith, that he told ‘em that if he had Disobliged any

    “of the Company, he shou'd think it his Duty to Ask pardon,

    “but in as much, as knew he had given no Offence, he made