PREFACE.

      The two most disastrous gaps in our long series of Archives occur

     in the period covered by this volume. For the years from Sept. 1708

     to Oct. 1714, and from Dec. 1715 to Aug. 1721, the Council records,

     both original and copies, are missing, and diligent search, both here

     and in London, has failed to discover them. It is to be feared that

     during the long period when the ancient archives of the Province and

     State were mouldering in cellars or thrown into waste-paper bins, these

     volumes have been destroyed with many other important documents.

     Some condensed records of the years 1715-1716 have been found

     among the Calvert Papers, and are inserted under their proper dates.

      To make some amends for these deficiencies, we have inserted a

     collection of interesting papers bearing on affairs in Maryland in the

     years 1697—17 14, discovered in the Public Record Office, London, by

     Henry F. Thompson, Esq. Particularly interesting are the census lists

     (pp. 25 5—259) furnished by several Governors to the Board of Trade.

      Hubert Hall, Esq., F. S. A., of the Public Record Office, London—

     who has always shown a warm interest in our researches, and to whom

     we are indebted for very valuable assistance—called our attention to

     the Bridgewater collection of manuscripts, now belonging to the Earl

     of Ellesmere and preserved at the Bridgewater Estate Offices, Man

     chester. The Duke of Bridgewater was for a long time President of

     the Board of Trade, and seems to have had charge of many colonial

     papers. Miss Martin, custodian of these documents, at our request

     kindly furnished us a list of such as related to Maryland, a number of

     which are printed as an appendix to this volume. Among them will be

     found curious accounts of pirates and their treatment in Philadelphia,

     two characteristic letters from William Penn, a list of vessels built in

     Maryland (this from the Public Record Office) and other interesting

     papers.

      Governor Nicholson being removed to Virginia, he was succeeded on

     Jan. 2, 1698/9 by Nathaniel Blakiston. Governor Blakiston was of a

     more conciliatory temper than his predecessor, and seems to have had

     and deserved the good will of the Assembly and the people. During

     his administration the State house was struck by lightning while the