432 Appendix.

Business, M.^r Moreton went on board again, and finding them thus
employed informed them that they had broke bulk before entry,
and that therefore the Vessel & Cargo were liable to be seized, but
without saying more, or doing any act to evince his Intention he
went off, and came down here where he libelled her, obtained a War-
rant for the Marshall from the Court to take possession of her,
and we are informed accompanied the Marshall from hence on that
Business, but parted with him before he got to Baltimore, upon the
Marshall's inquiring after the Vessel he was told She was gone to
the Fishery at the head of the Bay to dispose of the salt he thereupon
returned home, and M.^r Moreton hav[e] not been heard off since:
Upon the Vessel's landing the salt at the head of the Bay she was
brought down here, the day for her trial appointed, and M.^r Moreton
sought after as far as Philadelphia to no purpose, upon that's being
the case we went into the Trial on the 1.^st instant, and the Judge
after hearing the evidence and the Council for and against her, Con-
demned the Vessel, her Tackle, apparel and Furniture for having
broke Bulk before Entry, and accordingly she was appraised and
sold for forty six Pounds Sterling. — M^r Moreton's behaviour upon
this occasion has been severely considered as being too much Satan
like, in first giving leave to land, & afterward taking advantage of
that step, of which he was the only cause, to the distruction of the
Vessel to the owners. The Governor looks upon the Condemnation
as brought about so unfairly by Moretons means that he relinquishes
his third of the Seizure to the Crown, & the Judge, the attorney
General, the advocate for the Claimant & the other Officers of the
Court has in imitation of his worthy example relinquished their
Fees to the Owner also: May we therefore presume to recommend
the hardship of this Condemnation to Your Honors consideration,
and hope that you will be pleased to view it in that Limitive Light
which we f cell much better than we can describe; and that if you
incline to favour the Owner by relinquishing in behalf of the Crown
you will be pleased to signify the same by the first convenient
opportunity."

APPENDIX III

(5)

COMMISSIONERS OF CUSTOMS AT BOSTON TO Gov. ROBERT EDEN,

JULY 6, 1773
Sir

MS Gilmor
Papers, Vol.
IV, 47. Md.
Hist. Soc.

Our Officer M^r Moreton whom we had Stationed at Baltimore in
your Province for the Service of His Majesty's Revenue having com-
plained to us that he has been obstructed in the Execution of his
Duty, and under a necessity of quitting his Port by the Threats
of the people against him on Account of a Seizure he made at that
place of a Vessel called the Speedwell, for breach of the acts of
Trade, and having received a Letter from our Officers at Annapolis