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

Lib. J. R,
& U. S.

Talbot County Nov. 12^th 1755.
Sir
We have made the enquirys mentioned in your Letter of
the 15^th August last and do not find there has been any tu-
multuous Meetings or Caballings of Negroes within this
County nor do We find that any Persons of the Roman Catho-
lick Persuasion here have misbehaved in such a manner, as
to give his Majestys Loyal Subjects just Cause to fear an
Insurrection. There is not any Roman Catholick Priest or
Jesuit at this time (nor has been for many years last past)
residing in this County. Be pleased to communicate this to
the Governor & Council We are
S^r Y^r Humble Servants
Risd" Bozman, James Edge, Mat Tilghman, J Goldsborough
W. Thomas, Rob^t Goldsborough, Trist^m Thomas, James
Lloyd.

p. 72

May it please His Excellency the Governor & Council

This Acknowledges the Receipt of both your Letters, as
well that of the 15^th of August as the other of October the
28^th and we beg leave to assure your Excellency and Honours
that nothing prevented our giving an answer to your first
but that we Imagined as those things Recommended by your
Excellency and Honours for our enquiry, being intirely false
and Groundless, so we apprehended that no further Notice
was necessary; We therefore humbly hope that this will
Sufficiently Excuse and Apologise for our not doing it
Sooner. We beg leave to Assure your Excellency and Hon-
ours, that there are not the least Grounds that we know of
to Suspect either Negroes or Papists of any ill designs
against the Government, and indeed we conceive it almost
needless to mention the latter as his Excellency has their
Numbers Returned to him taken by the Several Constables
in the County by which it will Appear that they are so in-
considerable as to fear nothing from them and to do Justice
to the few amongst Us we have not observed them to behave
Otherwise than good and dutiful Subjects. As to the Roman
Catholick Priests mentioned by your Excellency and Honours
leaving their Habitations We beg leave to return for Answer
that We don't know, nor never heard of any of them residing
in this County We also Conceive that the Rumours and Re-
ports mentioned by your Excellency and Honours, tending
to the disquiet of his Majestys Subjects are intirely false and
Groundless, but have not yet discovered the Authors of them,
when ever we do, we assure your Excellency and Honours
that We will Comply with every part of your Instructions, as