Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1731. 541

    having graciously determined to use all possible means that Lib. M.

    may most effectually put a Stop to such Violences for the

    future, and protect his Subjects in their lawful Trade and

    Navigation has signifyed his Royal Pleasure to me thereupon;

    and pursuant to his Royal Commands, that I should make it

    known in the several Ports of this Government to all his

    Loving Subjects that they may know where and in what man

    ner to apply for Redress on such Occasions; I do hereby

    publish and make known that it his most Sacred Majestys p.

    Royal Pleasure, that when any of His Subjects following

    their lawful Trade in the West Indies or elsewhere in America

    shall be unjustly plundered or despoiled of their Ships or

    Goods by any Persons of what Nation soever, the said Suffer

    ers do by the first Opportunity give in the most authentick

    Proofs of the damages and Losses they have sustained upon

    Oath before the Judge of the Vice Admiralty Court, which

    Judge after due Examination of the matter is to deliver to the

    said Sufferers a Declaratory Sentence under his hand and the

    Seal of the Court setting forth the particular Circumstances,

    when, where, and by whom committed, from what Port the

    Vessel or Vessels that did the damage was or were fitted out;

    and to what Port the Ship or Goods were carried, and the

    Value of the same, and that the whole has been duely proved

    upon Oath before him, which Sentence or Duplicate thereof

    is to be lodged in the hands of the Governor for the time

    being that it may be delivered to the Commander in Chief of

    his Majestys Ships in the West Indies or some Captain of his

    Majestys Ships who is thereupon to go to the Port where such

    Ship or Goods of his Majestys Subjects shall have been car

    ried in, or from whence such Ship or Ships or Vessels was or

    were fitted out, in order to procure the immediate Releasment

    of such of his Majestys Subjects as may have been taken

    together with full Restitution of the Ships or Goods so plun

    dered and taken or the Value thereof, or else the delivering

    up the persons or Ships that committed the fact, or to make

    Reprisals in such manner as is directed by the Orders in that

    behalf And to the Intent that all Persons concerned may have

    due Notice thereof I Do strictly require and Command the

    sev' Sheriffs of this Province to make this my Proclamation

    publick in their respective Counties in the usual manner as

    they will answer the Contrary at their Peril Given at An

    napolis this fifteenth Day of April in the seventeenth year of

    His Lordships the Lord Proprietarys Dominion &c Annoq

     Domini 1731                   J Ross Cl Conc.

       God save the King & the Lord Proprietary

                      [Great Seal]