Council of Maryland, 1783-1784. 547

Wednesday 20^th October 1784

The Council met
Present
His Excellency William Paca Esquire
The Honorable Samuel T. Wright, John Davidson, Charles Wal-
lace And Aquila Paca Esquires. —
The Council adjourned 'till tomorrow Morning 11 ^oClock.

October 20
Liber C. B.

No. 24
p. 509

Thursday 2 1^st October 1784
The Council met
Present
His Excellency William Paca Esquire
The Hon'ble Sam^l T. Wright, John Davidson, Charles Wallace &
Aquila Paca Esq"

Commission issued to William Stevenson of Kent County ap-
pointed Naval Officer of the Eighth District in said County. —
A Petition from Elizabeth Hope of Montgomery County, was laid
before the Board setting forth that she had bought Chickens of a
Negroe without knowing she was acting Contrary to Law, it being
a Constant Practice with all Ranks to buy of Negroes without a
Note from their Masters — and that the Same Negroe being some
time after brought before M^r Beall a Magistrate in said County on
a Charge of having Stolen Poultry, she gave information of his

October 21
Liber C. B.
No. 24
p. 509

having sold Chickens to her in Consequence of which she was pre-
sented, and on Submitting the facts to the Court was informed that
they had no Discretionary Power, and consequently she was fined
two thousand weight of Tobacco, and Eight of the Magistrates hav-
ing certified that the facts contained in her Petition are true, and
Recommending a Remission of said fine the Board taking the Same
into Consideration are of Opinion that the said fine ought to be re-
mitted and do order a Remission accordingly —
W^m Paca
Sam^l T. Wright
John Davidson
C Wallace
Aq^l Paca. —
The Council adjourned till tomorrow morning 11 "Clock. —

p. 510

[W^m Paca, Annapolis, to The Honble The Judges of the
General Court]

I have the Honor to lay before you Copies of two Letters, the one
from the President of the State of Pennsylvania, the other my An-
swer to him on the Subject

October 21
Liber No. 78
p. 464