Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 407

other Goods therein, amount, at a moderate Computation, to
One hundred thousand Pounds Sterling; and that, by this
unhappy Accident, two hundred and twenty Families were
turned out of Doors, the greatest part of whom, being by
this Misfortune rendered incapable of Subsisting themselves,
were become proper Objects of Charity. And that although
he had sent Briefs throughout that Province to procure
Relief for the unhappy Sufferers, the Calamity is so great
and extensive, that the Means of Relief from amongst them-
selves, and the Contributions of their own Inhabitants, must
be greatly inadequate to the Loss.

His Excellency therefore desires me to recommend it to
the People of this Province, to assist in Relieving their dis-
tressed Fellow Subjects, and that I would cause what may be
collected on this Occasion to be remitted to the Select Men
and Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Boston, with
whom will be lodged the Collections made in that Govern-
ment, to be distributed amongst the Sufferers, as they, in
their Discretion shall judge proper.

I do therefore hereby most earnestly recommend to the
Benevolence and Charity of the good People of this Province,
the calamitous and ruined Condition of these unhappy Suf-
ferers; not doubting, but as all are Subject to the like Calam-
ities, and under like Misfortunes would hope & expect the
Assistance of their Fellow Subjects and Fellow Christians,
that every Person amongst us will contribute on this Occa-
sion, towards alleviating: the Miseries of the unhappy Suf-
ferers, in proportion to the Means wherewith God hath
severally blessed us. And I do require the several Rectors
of Parishes, and other Ministers of the Gospel within this
Province, to read, or cause to be read, this Brief, to their
respective Congregations, on the first, Second, and third
Sundays after they shall receive the same; that they indorse
thereon, such Collections as shall be by them severally made ;
and that this Brief, with the Indorsement thereon, they
forthwith transmit to me; and the Sums Collected, they are
forthwith to pay to the Sheriff of each County, to be imme-
diately transmitted to the Commissioners of the Paper Cur-
rency Office, in the City of Annapolis, that the same may
be speedily remitted to the Select Men and Overseers of the
Poor of the Town of Boston, agreeable to the laudable and
charitable Design of the Contributors.

Given at the City of Annapolis, the Sixth Day of May, in
the Tenth year of his Lordships Dominion, and in the year
of our Lord Christ, 1760.
Hor^o Sharpe.

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.