Proceedings of the Council of Maryland 1745. 349

Deer and Other Wild Beasts and Game their Chief Business)
come from the Neighbouring Colonies and not only destroy the
Deer and Other Game, of which the Inhabitants ought to have
the sole Advantage — exclusive of all Strangers, but also set the
Woods on fire, whereby the Pasturage is destroyed as well as
the Peoples fencing and Even their Dwellings often endanger'd
and that the said Hunters committ divers Other Irregularities
to the great Prejudice and Loss of many the Inhabitants of
this province and against the Peace thereof Wherefore in Order,
as much as in me lies, to suppress the said Hunters and to
prevent the Injuries they do to the Good People of this Province
I have thought fit with the Advice of his Lordships Council of
State to issue this my Proclamation strictly charging and com-
manding all his Lordships Officers or Others to apprehend
all Non Residents ( Indians only excepted ) who shall presume
to hunt for any Deer or Other Wild Beast or Game or fire the
Woods in any part of this Province, and Every such Person so
apprehended to carry before some Magistrate, and that Every
Magistrate before whom any such pson shall be brought upon
sufficient or probable Proof of the fact, to take sufficient Security
for the Appearance of such Offender at the next Court to be
held for the County where the Offence shall be Committed to
answer for such Offence, and in Default of such Security to
commit the Offender to Prison until such Security be given or
the Party be delivered by due Course of Law Given at the
City of Annapolis this 10^th day of October in the 31^st year of
his Lordships Dominion Annoq Domini 1745.

The Like Proclamation issued to Baltimore County.

11^th October 1745

Ordered by his Excellency the Governor that the following
Proclamation issue

Maryland ss.

By his Excellency Thomas Bladen Esq^r Gov^r & Comm^r
in Chief in and over the Province of
Maryland

A Proclamation

Whereas his Majesty has been graciously pleased in Order
to settle the Island of Rattan in the Gulf of Mexico, to order
in Council, that Port Royal in the said Island shall be a free

Lib. C. B.
p. 246

Port for all his Majestys Subjects; where no Duties Either of
Export or Import shall be paid for any Goods or Shiping under
any Pretence whatsoever

p. 247