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

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

ceeds thus. "Yet this is the Man who, in Possession of an
Honourable and Lucrative Office of £ 1500 a Year, insults his
noble and generous Benefactor by his Words, defies him by his
Actions, and wrests the Government of the Province out of
his hands by the fury of a Mob." Towards the Conclusion he
says " let him Stir up or lead Mobs against my Life, and raise
Law Suits against my Property, yet shall he in the end find "
&c. These are the Charges which he has in a Publick Manner
Exhibited against me, or some other Person, who has the Hon-
our to exercise some share in his Lordship's Government; As I
entertain not the least doubt, from the Honourable Rank I
hold in this Man's Esteem, that all these decent Charges are
intended for me, so I apprehend the Application I am now
making to Your Excellency for a full and fair hearing will be
thought to come most properly from me in the first Instance.
But whether it was my Case or the Case of any other Person,
I should humbly apprehend, that the Interposition of Your
Excellency would be indispensably necessary. It is publickly
asserted, that an Officer in his Lordship's Service, who derives
very considerable Emoluments from his Bounty is so far from
Acting with fidelity to his Interest that he insults his Lordship
by his Words defies him by his Actions and wrests the Govern-

p. 31

ment of the Province out of his hands by the Fury of a Mob.
Is not this I pray your Excellency a Matter proper for the
Enquiry of those who are the Supporters of his Lordship's
Government and the Guardians of his Prerogatives ? can such
a Piece of Information be properly overlook'd when it comes
from a Person, who is under every Tie to consult and promote
his Lordship's Interest, and holds a place of Great Honour
Profit and Trust in his Service ? Let the Event of this En-
quiry be what it will it must redound to his Lordship's Interest.
If the Charges can be Supported the Man who has been thus
unfaithful to his Lordship, ought to be discarded from his
Service with every Mark of Disgrace. If on the other hand
they should appear to be the Effusions of a Heart inflam'd
by the most rancorous Malice, and Dead to every feeling of
truth, Honour and common Justice, his Lordship will have the
best Grounds for judging of the real Character of a Man
whom he has honoured with his Confidence and favour, and
will be able to make a fair Estimate of the Merit of his past
as well as future Representations.
The End of this Address to Your Excellency is, that an Ex-
amination may be had into this Affair before Your Excellency
and his Lordship's Council, and that the Reverend M^r Bennet
Allen his Lordship's Agent may have timely Notice of the
Meeting, that he may come prepared with all his Evidence to