The Lower House. 221

That inasmuch as this Province is very Luxuriant in Bays Rivers
Creeks and Inletts over which the High Roads aforesaid leads such
Taxations will in time become most Oppressive and Burthensome as
in reallity it now is, Your Committee have hereunto annexed A Copy
of a License Granted by his Lordships Agent for keeping such
Ferries for the Consideration of Your Honourable House
Your Committee humbly Observe that so early as the Year 1638
Ferries were settled and Regulated by Act of Assembly and at other
times since which Acts left the Chief direction to the County Courts
which they till of late practiced to settle and regulate
We likewise humbly Observe that in our Neighbouring Colony
immediately under his Majesty's Government the several Ferries
are by Act of Assembly regulated for the ease and Conveniency of
the People
Your Committee are humbly of Opinion his Lordships Agents
and Ministers Taxing and rating his Majestys Subjects of and by
his and their sole Power and Free Will without Law to support the
same, in a most arbitrary and illegal Proceeding is a very great
Aggrievance and Innovation on the Rights of his Majestys Sub-
jects the good People of Maryland and that such Practices of his
Lordships Agents and Ministers tend to Alienate the Affections of
the People from his Lordships Good Rule and Government
But is humbly submitted to the Consideration of your Honourable
House Signed p Order William Cumming Cl Com.

Maryland ss.
Charles Absolute Lord and Proprietary of the Provinces of Mary-
land and Avalon Lord Baron of Baltimore &c^a To all to whom these
Presents shall come Greeting
Whereas it is of Publick Service and Utility not only to the In-
habitants of our said Province but others Travelling through the
same to have Ferries kept in Proper and Convenient Places for the
easy and convenient Passages of all Persons having occasion to
Travel and for Cattle Carriages and Goods of any Sort and that We
by our Commission under Our Great Seal of Our said Province have
Authorized and Impowered Our Trusty and Well Beloved Benjamin
Tasker Esq^r Our Agent and Receiver General to appoint and
License Ferries to be kept in proper and Convenient Places for
the easy and convenient Passages of all Persons having Occasion to
Travel and for the Publick Good and Utility of our said Province
And Whereas A Ferry over River from the Old Ferry Point
at Annapolis Backwards and Forwards where a Ferry has been
usually kept is very convenient for the Purposes aforesaid
Know Ye therefore that Our said Agent and Receiver General by
Virtue of the Powers and Authorities to him by Our said Commis-
sion Given hath Nominated Licensed and Appointed and by these

L. H. J.