320 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 23-Dec. 16, 1757.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 49
Dec. 7

ening and abusing the said Richardson and Meconekin. By these
Gentlemens own Account it appears, I think, that upon Smith's refus-
ing to go with them before a Justice of the Peace, and presenting a
Gun at Mr. Richardson, he the said Richardson took it away from
him, that a Scuffle ensued, but that in the End they released or
rescued Griffith, and then went and informed some Magistrate or
other of what they had done; what became of Lake and Smith they
know not, but have heard that Smith was a Waiter on one Mr.
M^cCarty, an Officer, and who Mr. M^cCarty is, or where he is to
be met with, they do not say; and I cannot learn, neither can I guess,
what you would have me do in this Affair. The Two Soldier-like
Men may, for aught I know, have been much to blame; but if the
Complainants were really of that Opinion, I wonder they did not,
when they found themselves able, carry the supposed Offenders
before a Magistrate, who would, no doubt, have punished them
according to their Deserts; but if, on the contrary, Smith and Lake
should return again to this Province, and make it appear that Griffith
was fairly Enlisted, I am apt to think, that Mr. Richardson and the
Deponent will not find it any easy Matter to justify their Conduct.

By the Depositions of Macclefish, Scares, Hill, Mr. William Hall,
and Mr. Ephraim Howard, one Thomas Beall, a young Fellow of

p. 143

Prince-George's County (who was impowered by me to Enlist Men
for his Majesty's Service, in Consequence of several Acts of As-
sembly lately made in this Province) is accused of having pretended
to Enlist the said Scares, Hill, and Macclefish, of treating them
afterwards as Deserters, of compelling Scares to pay £10 for a Dis-
charge, which he could not give, and of endeavouring to oblige the
other Two to purchase their Discharges likewise: Mr. Beall is not
present to hear what is alledged against him; and tho' his Transac-
tions, as in the Depositions stated, have not the best Appearance, yet
I don't think it would be right to condemn him unheard; he is no
Officer that I know of, neither is he in the least dependent on me;
and if the Complainants can prove that he has acted illegally, I hope
they may redress themselves without applying to any Branch of the
Legislature; but if it should, on farther Enquiry, appear that they
were duly Enlisted, you will not, I am persuaded, take it amiss if
they are apprehended and delivered up to one of his Majesty's
Officers.

With regard to the Complaint of Ezekiel and Jeremiah Cheney,
whose articled and indented Servants are said to have run away from
them, and to have Enlisted into our Provincial Forces, I can only say,
that if the Case is as they represent it, and they have a Right to
Satisfaction for their Servants, the Law will give them Relief, if they
will be pleased to take the proper Steps to obtain it: And upon the
Whole, I cannot help saying, that if these are all the Complaints that
your Constituents have any Reason to make against Recruiting