Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769. 267

one of the Clerks in the Office, said he believed it to be George
Hamilton's Writing, being well acquainted with his Hand,
Hamilton having some time before wrote in the Office with
him. I then advised M^r Lee to send for Hamilton, who was in
Town, when he came into the Office, I shewed him the Record
and asked him in the Presence of M^r Lee, M^r Sprigg, M^r James
Barrance, Thomas Landsdale, and John Lillie, Clerks in the
Office, if he had made that Entry, he reply'd that he did not
nor had ever seen it before. I endeavoured to persuade him to

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

a Confession. M^r Sprigg still declaring it to be his hand Writ-
ing, but he persisted in denying it. I then left the Office, and
afterwards, on M^r Lee's asking me how he should Act, I
advised him to acquaint the Court of the Transaction, he said
perhaps Hamilton might be prevail'd on to Confess the Fact to
me, tho' he would not in the presence of so many Persons, that
he would go to him and endeavour to persuade him to do it. A
very short time after, and before I left the Court House,
Hamilton came to me and said I acknowledge I entered that
Deed upon Record myself, I asked him what could induce him
to be guilty of so bad an Action, he Answered that if he had
not been persuaded he should never have thought of doing it,
but would not say by whom, we then parted. Immediately
went to M^r Lee and informed him of the Conversation that had
passed, as also those who were present in the Office at the
time Hamilton was first called on. M^r Lee desired I would
Advise him what I thought he had best do with Regard to the
Record. I told him that by Hamilton's Confession it was no
Record, and as there was Sufficient Evidence to Convict him
on a Prosecution, I thought it best to have the Deed carefully
erased out of the Record, and as Clerk I thought he could not
let it remain there, especially as it might be done without any
Prejudice to the Book, it being mostly on the inside of the
Cover of it, and further told him it would be right to have it
done in the Presence of some of the Persons that were present
at the time Hamilton was called in the office, in Consequence of
this Advice, he directed John Lillie one of the Clerks in the
Office to take it out, and to be very careful in doing it. The next
Morning M^r Lee set off for England, after his departure I
enquired of Lillie if he had complied with his Orders in erasing
the Deed from the Record Book, he told me he had, and upon
Examination I found it very carefully done, and without any
Prejudice to the Book. At the next Assizes Hamilton and
Lillie were presented, Hamilton for entering the Deed and
Lillie, (who acted only in Obedience to M^r Lee's order, and
that from an Opinion it was Right) for erasing it. If any
thing further should be required of me I shall Chearfully

p. 39