160 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.
p. 432

At a Council held at the Governor's on Tuesday the 9^th day
of September in the Sixteenth year of his Lordship's Do-
minion Annoq Domini 1766.

Present
His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor.
The Honble Benedict Calvert, John Ridout, and Cha^s Golds-
borough Esq^rs
His Excellency is pleased to lay before this Board the two
following Letters, One from His Grace the Duke of Rich
mond, One of his Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, and
the other from Jn^o Pownal Esq^r Secretary to the Board of
Trade, together with Copies of sundry Acts of Parliament
passed last Session.
Whitehall 12^th June 1766.
Sir
I have the Pleasure of transmitting to you herewith In-
closed a Printed Copy of An Act of Parliament Entituled " An
Act for indemnifying Persons who have incurred certain
Penalties by An Act of the last Session of Parliament for
granting certain Stamp Duties in the British Colonies and
Plantations in America " as also a Copy of another Act " for
opening and establishing certain Ports in the Islands of
Jamaica and Dominica, for the more free Importation and
Exportation of certain Goods, and Merchandizes " and other
Purposes therein set forth. Thus you see, Sir, that not only
the greatest Attention has been shewn to his Majesty's Amer-
ican Subjects, by the Repeal of An Act which they had Com-
plained of but those Grievances in Trade which seemed to be
the first and Chief Object of their Uneasiness, have been taken
into Consideration and such Regulations have been established
as will it is hoped, restore the Trade of America, not only to its
former flourishing State, but be the Means of greatly increas-
ing and improving it, to the Conveniency and Advantage of all
his Majesty's Subjects in every part of his Dominions. With
those Views have these Regulations been enacted, and from
the best enquiries into the Commerce of America, It is more
than Probable that very salutary Effects will answer the In-
tentions. Such manifest Concern and tender Regard shewn
by His Majesty and his Parliament for the true Happiness and
Prosperity of the Colonies and Plantations, cannot fail I am
persuaded, to produce, on their Part, suitable Sentiments of
Duty, Respect and Gratitude to their King, and of Love and
Attachment to their Mother Country.
I am with great Truth and Regard Sir
your most Obed' humble Servant
To Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Richmond &c.
Lieu^t Governor of Maryland.