214 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 5-Oct. 3, 1704.

P. R. O.

B. T. Md.
Vol. 17.

as Wee are infinitely oblidgd to his Ex^cy so Wee are Extreemly
surprisd as knowing how greatly prejudiciall the same will be,
not only to Your Maj^ts Interest but to the happyness and
tranquility of this Your Maj^ts poore enoyd province in these
and many other instances Viz^t
I^st Its conceivd that if the Seat of Gou^rnment be at New
Yorke it will not only be A means to Allure and entice many
trades men Artificers and others now Among us who follow
the trade of Planting tobacco here to desert this province And
fly to that of New Yorke where they may follow their Severall
trades and callings & gaine to themselves more ease and
Advantage, thereby lessening the revenue of the Crowne of
England, But Also by those means they will in A Short time
supply us with such Manufactarys and other necessary's which
now are imported from England And inevitably destroy our
Comerce with the same.
2. Wee conceive that New York having power & Authority
Will upon All occasions Comand from us such forces as they
shall thinke fitt for the Safety and Strengthning themselves
w^ch will in A great measure weaken this province (now but
thinly Seated) And thereby leaue the remaining parte of the
inhabitants here open to the incursions of our Comon Enemys
the Indians by whom Wee are environd And many of them as
neere to us as those of New Yorke and often committing
Murthers on the Inhabitants here, having lately destroy'd sev-
erall persons and Cannot want opportunity's also of Ioyning with
the severall nations of Indians residing Among us to Effect their
designes leaving us in A deplorable condition the lives of the
inhabitants Greatly hazarded thereby and the Whole province
in danger of being totally laid waiste.
3^d That it will be very disadvantageous to the inhabitants
of this province upon All occasions as of Councills Assemblys
Gen^ll Courts &c. And upon appeales and differences between
party and party to travaile thither it being neere 400 Mile
distant from hence And the ways not passable in the winter
Season by reason of the desert roads Violent frosts Deep
Snows And Rivers and bays to pass over, so that the poorer
sort of people will not be able to Undergoe so great charge
and fatigue And the Richer to Avoid it will remooue them-
selves & Estates to England or other parts which will tend to
the mine of the tobacco trade and Consequently lessen the
Revenue of the Crowne.
4. That the constitucon of this province to theirs is of so
differrent and disagreeable a nature both in traffick and other
things that the laws there composed cannot be agreeable to
the trade and Affaires of this Countrey nor the constitution of
the inhabitants of this province.