Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1698/9.    57

      His Excellency was pleased again to ask where the Arms        Lib. X.

    are Lodged & it is answered that they are distributed to the

    several Counties & Lodged with the Commanders in chief

    thereof

      His Excellency asks the Board how the Militia Stand regu

    lated & whether well regulated or not to which they say they

    conceive they are not

      Proposed by his Excellency that in Regard the several

    Freemen of this Province are not provided with Arms that

    it be proposed to the next Assembly that instead of three

    Barrels of Indian Corn to be paid by every MasT to his Ser

    vant when free, he supply him with a Gun of the like Value

    which the Master shall actually be obliged to deliver to the

    Freeman who is not to dispose thereof

      Advised that the appointing & Commissionating Military

    Officers be referred until the meeting of the Assembly

      His Excellency is pleased to communicate to the Board

    one of his Majestys Royal Instructions relating to the Con-

    version of Negroes & Indians & says that he is informed

    that several Masters hinder & obstruct their Negroes tho

    Baptized from coming to Church & inquires if there be no

    Law Providing therefore

      To which it being answered that there is none Advised

    that it be recommended to the Assembly upon their Meeting

    to redress the same

      It being Represented to the Board that several Masters        p. 212

    of Ships & Coopers complain of the unreasonable Bigness

    & Tare of Tobacco Casks Advised that Some care be taken

    therein & that it be referred to the Assembly to redress the

    same

      It being moved at the Board by Mr Atty Genl that whereas

    the Pink Ioannah of Gosport is Condemned at the Court of

    Vice Admiralty & the Master Richd Hawks demands an

    appeal from the Sentence of the said Court to the high Court

    of Admiralty in England he humbly prays the advice of this

    Board in what Method & to what Court such appeal shall be

    granted Whereupon his Majestys Royal Commission to his

    Excellency being produced & due consideration had of that

    Cause directing appeals from this Province this Board are

    of opinion that what appeals are made from this Province

    to England they ought to be from his Excellency the Gov

    ernor & Council here to his most Sacred Majesty in his most

    honble Privy Council there for that his Majestys Pleasure

    seems plainly so to be signified in his Excellencys Commission

    wherein the manner of appeals is directed & therefore advised

    that if the said Captain Hawks will first appeal to his Excel-

    lency the Governor & Council here that from thence if he