xiv Letter of Transmission.

p. 415. Keith to Calvert concerning the boundary, May 5, 1724; pp. 499 and
517. Gordon on troubles in Delaware, January 1, February, 1732/3; p. 522.
Gordon to Baltimore, March 28, 1734; p. 539. Gordon to Justices of the
Peace along the border, August 19, 1734; p. 546. Gordon to the Assembly,
June 17, 1735; p. 565 to 575. Logan to Lancaster justices of the Peace on
Maryland's threatening attitude September 8, 1736; pp. 587 to 659. Logan
to Assembly concerning- the border and accompanying papers, December
1736 to November 1737. (9) Steuart vs. Mason (The Cresap difficulties, 3
Harris and Johnson, 507).

Messrs. Benjamin Mackall and Kennard were absent throughout the
Convention. Mr. Dulany was away much of the time, and Colonel Gale went
home before prorogation. John Rousby, an older member of the Council, was
present for the first time in some years.

When the Assembly came together again, after a few days interval, the
members were in better temper, and were inclined to follow Ogle's
recommendation to keep on friendly terms. As a new Session had been called,
all the bills had to be reintroduced, but as many of them had been pretty
thoroughly debated, they were passed without much delay. On the vexed
question of the Councillors' allowances, it was decided, by a compromise, to
pay these for the future, but not to grant any amount claimed as arrears. It
was at last determined to remedy the evil conditions of the Annapolis jail
by building a new one, and the erection of a prison in Somerset County, was
also authorized. Authority was granted to build new churches in King and
Queen and in Durham parishes, and to build a new courthouse in Leonardtown.
An important report was made in regard to the condition of the records, in the
Counties. Towns were erected in Cecil and Kent Counties on the Sassafras
(Georgetown and Fredericktown, bearing the names of the sovereign and the
heir apparent). Several acts dealt with the growing, inspection, and sale of
tobacco. Poor debtors were relieved, individually, and collectively. The
adventurers in Iron Works were encouraged, the navigation of the Patuxent
received attention.

The early iron manufacture of Maryland was an important one to the
colonists and the Principio Company in Cecil County has been studied by Henry
Whitely in 11 Pa. Mag. of Hist. pp. 63, 190, 288. (See Swank's Manufacture
of Iron in All Ages, and British Museum Add. Mss. 29600.) The attempt of
the Patuxent Company to secure better roads reminds one of the remark of
J. B. Perkins in France under Richelieu and Mazarin (II, 369) that
" impovements in the condition of any country consist largely in improving
the means of communication. Modern like Roman civilization is a civilization
of roads." The entail was cut off as to two tracts in Dorchester County, the ill