582   Appendix to Council Proceedings, 1696—1729.

               B. M. whome his Excellency hath had several petitions from the

             Vol. 25. Masters vid: their last Peton And the Lords are humbly desired

                  that when they shall please to command any of the Captains

                  or Masters to come before them (if not compellable to answer

                  upon Oath) they will oblige them some other way to declare

                  the Truth it being so much for the good of the Country.

                    Mr George Muschamp Collector of Patomeck is ordered to

                  live at W Cloud's plantation as the most convenient place

                  upon that River But it being of so great length and the trade

                  of it small major Wm Dent the Navall officer who lives in

                  Charls County is Mr Muschamp's Deputy Collector and Mr

                  Muschamp is Mr Dents Deputy Navall Officer But in all the

                  other ports the Collector and Navall Officer live near each

                  other, it being necessary, they being a check each on the other

                  And his excellency obliges them to live at those places where

                  the Trade naturally is as he does all other officers for his

                  Matys service and the ease of the Country, it being most proper

                  for the officer to attend his business and not the business waite

                  on the officer as hath aliways been practised in this Province.

                    Peter Jennings esqr is Collector of Patuxent but by the Act

                  of Assembly he hath a Deputy at Annapolis and another at

                  Williamstadt. Mr Jennings is ordered to live at the mouth of

                  Patuxent most Convenient for Trade. Mr Samuel Watkins

                  navall officer lives over against him on the other side. There

                  is also a navall officer at Annopolis, and another at

                  Williamstadt.

                    Mr David Kennedy is Collector of Pocomoke and resides

                  in the most convenient place as does Mr John West the

                  navall officer.

                    Major John Thompson is navall officer at the head of the

                  Bay in Cecill County particularly to look after the Trade

                  of Pensilvania.

                    Memorandum. That Mr Edward Randolph brought over

                  Commissions for a riding Surveyor at Anapolis and another

                  at Williamstadt which may be turned into two collectors. But

                  the Riding Surveyors now placed in Cecill County being the

                  frontier of Pensilvania and of Pocomokc which is the frontier

                  of Virginia are of absolute necessity Illegal Trade being much

                  carried on in those parts.

                    Memorand: That the Agent consult the copys of his

                  Excellency's two last letters to the Lords upon these and

                  severall other matters in them conteined.

                          Papists and Dissenters.

                    That the Papists being our profess'd Enemyes and Joyning

                  togather against us It is proposed if it can be granted they

                  may not have so large a liberty as now they enjoy i'he papists