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

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

,more of the Negroes who were lately imported into Pa-
tuxent River in the Brigantine Edward of which one John
Cousins is Master have declared that they are not Slaves but
Freemen, that the Negroe called Cap^t Gray in particular is
the son of a person of some Consequence and Power on the
African Coast, and that the said Cousins treacherously stole
and brought them away, I am Ordered by his Excellency
and their Honours to communicate to you the Information
that hath been given them and moreover to Desire that on
the Receipt hereof you will send for, and examine the Sur-
geon Mates and Boatswain of the said Vessell & Endeavour
to discover whether Cap^t Cousins hath committed the Crime
whereof he is accused, and if you shall either by the Evi-
dence of those Persons or any others be inclined to think
that the Master is guilty, you will be pleased to have him
apprehended immediately and delivered into the Custody of
the Sheriff of Calvert County, and to give that Sheriff
Orders to deliver him over to the Sheriff of this County, so
that he may be brought without Delay before his Excellency
& the Council to be dealt with as to them shall seem meet.
If you see Cause for having him apprehended you will be
pleased to send hither all the Persons that shall be able to
give Evidence against him, & whether you Cause him to be
apprehended and brought hither or not, you are desired to
return to me the Depositions or Examinations that shall be
by you taken on this Occasion. I am
Sir
Your most Obedient humble Serv^t
J Ross Cl: Conc :
To James Weems Esq^r Chief Justice of Calvert County.

p. 253

At a Council held at the City of Annapolis on Tuesday
the twenty ninth Day of Septem^r in the tenth Year of his
Lordships Dominion &c.. Annoque Domini 1760.

Present
His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor

The
honourable

Benjamin Tasker Esq^r
Col^o Charles Hammond
Sam^l Chamberlaine
Esq^r

Col^o Benjamin Tasker
Benedict Calvert Esq^r
Stephen Bordley Esq^r