Minutes of the Board of Revenue, 1768-1775. 455

there must naturally be an enquiry from whence the Evil
sprung, my Name being affixed to the Instructions from the
Board will direct them to me, my Justification is from Orders
from the Board, to which I must refer them; but in Case I am
intended to be made the Sacrifice to the Public, by the malice
of the Enemies to Government; who are the Gentlemen that
issued them, That I may fly to them for Support and Redress ?
I declare I do not perfectly know them, never having had their
names, and in general are known to me, only as the Board of
Revenue.
Pray let me hear from you upon this matter, as soon as
possible, that I may be able to frustrate, as much as in me lies,
the base Schemes of designing Men. I must inform you that
in the case of Wickes for Kent, some difficulties arose of the
like nature with the above, and before he wou'd qualify he
chose to consult his Friends, and he with T. Ringgold went to
the Revenue Office together, and there read over the Oath and
Instructions, after which they returned to me and told me,
that upon maturely considering them, they could not discover
anything contained therein that might give the least Offence
to the most delicate Conscience, or what wou'd be inconsistent
with any honest man to undertake. This Instance I have
mentioned to all who have refused, but still the same obstinacy
remains and an absolute refusal to Act under the present
Regulations.

Lib. No. 86

In consequence of the foregoing. Ordered by the Board,
That the Clerk do write a Letter to Benjamin Young Esq^r
desiring him to attend at Annapolis on the 12^th or 13^th of next
month an order to receive further Instructions relative to the
appointment of Deputies and the future management of his
Office of Surveyor General.
The Board adjourn 'til the 12^th of Septem^r next.

September 12^th 1769
The Board meet according to Adjournment. Present.
His Excellency Robert Eden, Esq^r
Benedict Calvert, Esq^r

The Hon^ble Walter Dulany, Esq^r
George Steuart, Esq^r
Thomas Jenings, Esq^r

In consequence of a Letter received from Benjamin Young,
Esq^r whose Indisposition prevents his attending as this Day
agreeable to notice given him.
The Board go into a further Consideration of sundry Let-
ters sent up by him, as Surveyor General of the Eastern Shore

p. 94