Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1698/9.    71

     from hence to the Kingdom of Engid upon Some Urgent Lib. H. D.

     Affairs requireing his presence there haveing Intimated to me p. 251

     that he would Saile with the first Ship that would be Cleaned

     out of this Province whereby the said Office or place of Col

     lector of his Matys Customs in the said District will be Vacant

     and no person within this Province being Qualifyed by any

     Comission from the honble the Comrs of his Matys Customs in

     England to Officiate and Act in that Station I do therefore to

     the End his Matys Service and Jnterrest in the said District

     may not neglected on prejudiced, Having Great Trust and

     Confidence in your fidelity Loyalty Skill Care Integrity and

     Circumspection do hereby Nominate and Impower you the

     said Robert ffinley to Officiate and Act in the Said Office and

     Station of his Matys Collector of Putuxent Aforesaid Untill

     such time as Some other person shall he Appointed & Com

     issionated thereunto by his Matys Comissioners of his Customs

     in the Kingdom of England or untill their Direction and

     pleasure shall be known therein Hereby Giveing And Grant

     ing unto you the sd Robert ffinley full Power and Authority

     to Enter and Clear all and all manner of Ships and other

     Vessells Whatsoever which shall Trade and Come into the

     District aforesaid And in all other things relateing to the said

     Office to Act and Do as fully and as Amply as any other

     of his Matys Collectors may on Can do by Virtue of Such

     their Offices aforesaid To have hold and Enjoy all and Sin

     gular the ffees Sallarys perquisites and Advantages thereunto

     belonging for and Duneing pleasure on untill such time as his

     Matys Comissioners of his Matys Customs in England shall

     Signifye their pleasure therein Given under my hand and

     Scale att the Town and Porte of Annapolis the Twenty second

     Day of March in the Eleaventh year of the reigne of our

     Sovereigne Lord King William &c Oven England &c Anoq

     Dni 1698/9

                                     N: Blakiston

                 [Commission to W. Bladen.]

     Maryland ss.

       Nathaniel Blakiston Esqr Capt Genll and Govr in Chiefe in

     and over this his Matys Province of Maryland and Territonys

     thereto belonging and Vice Admirall of the Same To W

     Bladen Gent Greeting.

       Haveing Speciall Trust and Confidence in your fidelity

     Integrity knowledge and Circumspection I Do hereby Nomi.

     nate Constitute and Appoint you the Said W Bladen to be p. 2S2

     Navall Officer of the Porte of Annapolis within this his Matys

     Province of Maryland Hereby Giveing and Granting unto

     you the Said W Bladen full Power and Authority to Act do