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

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

In consequence of a Petition of a certain Edward Talbot of
Calvert County being lodged with the Clerk of this Board,
together with Sundry other Papers relative thereto, Com-
plaining of the Conduct of Col^o William Ireland, Clerk of said
County, in the Execution of his Office. It is therefore Ordered
that there shall be a hearing on the said Petition on Tuesday
the Ninth day of June next, and that the Depositions of Wit-
nesses taken before any Magistrate, on behalf of either of the
Parties, in the presence of the other, will be admitted as good
Evidence at the Hearing. It is likewise Ordered that the
Clerk of this Board acquaint the Parties therewith.

At a Council held at the Governor's on Saturday the 28^th
Day of May in the Eighteenth Year of His Lordship's Do-
minion Anno Domini 1768.

Present
His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governor.
The Honble John Ridout Walter Dulany and John Beale
Bordley Esquires

His Excellency having represented to the Board, that Appli-
cation had been made to him by M^r James Calder for a Pardon
to any One of the Offenders concerned in breaking into the
said Calder's House, and abusing his Wife and a young Lady
with her, in a very shocking manner, on Condition of his
becoming an Evidence against the other, It is their Advice
that he not only issue his Proclamation, as prayed for, but that
he likewise send a Message to the General Assembly recom-
mending to them to provide a Fund for giving a publick Re-
ward to such as will detect and bring to Justice One or both of
the Villains. In Consequence whereof his Excellency was
pleased to send the following Message.

Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly 28^th May 1768.

You will observe by the Advertisement herewith sent, what
a horrid Piece of Villainy hath been perpetrated in Baltimore
County. Application hath been made to me to grant my
Pardon to one of the offenders, in Case he shall discover the
other; but as I conceive the offer of a Reward would con-
tribute more powerfully to detect and bring to Justice the Vil-
lains concerned in this atrocious Offence, I recommend to
you to appropriate a Sum to that Purpose, that it may be
notified in my Proclamation. I might observe to you that it is
not long since an Instance of a Similar Nature happened in
the same County, which evinces the Necessity of pursuing