Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 145

Miles, and a Quarter due South and the Line that runs West
from Susquehanna is fourteen Miles and three quarters due
South from Philadelphia.
The Constitution of the Government is founded on the
above mentioned Royal Charter, the legislative power is
in the Governour, the upper House which is composed of
12: Councillors, and the lower House of Assembly which
consists of the Delegates of the people 58 in number.
The Trade of this province consists chiefly in the Exporta-
tion of Tobacco to Great Britain in Vessels, annually sent
hither from thence to the Number of about 180 of the
Burthen of about 10000 Tons, navigated with about 1600
Men.
The Vessels owned by the Inhabitants of the province are
not above 60 navigated with about 480 Men, and of two
thousand Tons Burthen most of these are chiefly employed
in the West India Trade, but, as that is not a very profitable
one there is no great probability of the Number of such
Vessels being increased.
The Inhabitants take annually from Great Britain all sorts
of fine and coarse Woolens, and Linens, great quantities of
wrought Leather and wrought Iron, and almost all Kinds of
British Manufactures, the quantities of each cannot be as-
certained by reason the same is consigned or shipped to a
great Variety of persons but it is supposed that the Goods
which are sent hither annually from England cost us
£150.000
There are a great many Iron Mines, and several of them
very good; eight Furnaces for making pig Iron, and nine
fforges for making Bar Iron. There are great shews of

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

Copper in many places, but tho several Attempts have been
made to discover Veins of that Metal, none has been yet
made that quitted Cost ;
The Number of white Inhabitants is 107963, of Blacks and
Mulattoes 46225; in the year 1748 the Whites were about
94000, and Blacks 36000, since that time near 2800 Germans
have been imported, and perhaps 5000 souls from Great
Britain and Ireland.
The Number of the Militia is 16500, but as they are for
the most part quite unprovided, or very ill supplied with
Arms, and for want of a good Militia Law, not properly
regulated, they are not very formidable.
Strong places of Defence within this Government there are
none. Fort Cumberland where the Troops commanded by
General Braddock rendezvoused, and encamped before they
marched against the Enemy last Summer is in this province

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