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

Lib. J. R.
& U. S.

5. The Inhabitants take annually from Great Britain all
sorts of fine and Coarse Woolens and Linens, Great Quantities
of wrought Leather, wrought Iron, and almost all kinds of
British Manufactures, and East India Goods, the Particular
Quantities of Each cannot be ascertained by reason the same
is Consigned or Shipt to a great variety of Persons but it is
supposed that the goods which have been Sent hither annually
from Britain for these six years Past Cost us more then
£160,000
6. The Inhabitants of this Province trade very little to any
foreign Plantations, a few small Vessels may be sent in a

year to get Salt in some of the Portugeze Islands, and One or

two perhaps to the Island of Madeira for Wine. Neither do
the Inhabitants send any Vessels to other Places in Europe
besides Great Britain, except two or three Loaded with Flax-
seed & Lumber to Ireland.
7. To prevent illegal Trades the Commissioners of his
Majesty's Customs in London appoint Collectors and Sur-
veyors of the Customs to reside on the Principal Rivers, be-
sides there are Naval Officers appointed by the Governor in
the Several Districts into which the Province is divided and
considering the Number of Rivers and Creeks that are navi-
gable this Method is as effectual to Prevent illicit Trade as
can well be,

p. 321

8. The Inhabitants may perhaps communibus Annis for
Years past have got for the Tobacco (Our Staple) which hath
been annually exported to Great Britain about £140,000, while
the Merchants get as much more for Conveying it to great
Britain and selling it, the only Commodities exported hence
besides Tobacco, are wheat, and Indian Corn, Bread, Flour,
Pigg and Bar Iron, Skins, Furs, Lumber and Some Flaxseed,
which Articles may altogether be valued at about £80,000,
In the year 1747 An Act of Assembly was made here to
Compell all the Owners or Makers of Tobacco to send it to
certain Inspection Houses whence it cannot be again removed
Till it is put on board a Ship for Exportation. As to any other
Commodities the Exporters are not under a Necessity of hav-
ing them Inspected, but the Acts of Parliament made for pre-
venting the Exportation of Wheat and Flour to Foreign Parts
and all illegal Trade are duly obeyed & inf orced.
9. There are a great many Iron Mines, and several of them
very good. In this Province are Eight Furnaces for making
Pig, and Ten Forges for making Bar Iron, the Quantity of
Pig made communibus Annis may be about 2500 Tons and
the Quantity of Bar about 600 Tons. There are great Shews
of Copper in many places, but tho several Attempts have been