This volume takes up the Council Proceedings from the point where our first Council Book stopped, and continues them from the originals in the possession of the State down to August, 1674, after which there is a gap of eighteen years in our records. This void we have, to a considerable extent, been able to fill, partly by the discovery of an original Council Journal of 1686-1689 (designated in the margin as Liber B, P.R.O.) in the Public Record Office, London, and partly by copies of other documents on file in the same office. Of these documents, many are transcripts from Maryland records, or such as must have been contained in the missing Council Books; while many are otherwise of great value as throwing new light on the history of the Province. The papers accompanying Claiborne's petition, and especially the depositions in the suit of Claiborne against Clobery, lighten in some degree the darkness that covers the affairs of Kent Island before the reduction. It is now more than ever clear that the settlement there was no plantation, but simply a trading-post, established by a firm of London merchants, and managed in their interest. They had no grant of land, but merely a license to trade; nor did the settlers raise their supplies, but depended for these upon traffic with the Indians, and upon their London principals for commodities to maintain that traffic. We also see that Claiborne was not dispossessed by Baltimore, but by his own partners or employers, whose agent took possession, in their name, of the buildings, goods and servants, by quiet and unresisted legal process. To the land, of course, this agent made no claim, as neither Claiborne nor his partners pretended any patent; but after seeing the Maryland charter, he acknowledged the jurisdiction of Baltimore. We also see (p. 267) that the principle of religious toleration was agreed upon between Cecilius and his first colonists before they set sail; and that soon after the first settlement "these conditions, by the unanimous consent of all who were concerned, were passed into a Lawe" -no doubt by the first Assembly, whose records are so unfortunately lost. The trial of Fendall for that mysterious rebellion of his is here given in full, from the report originally taken down in shorthand by the clerk of the Council. Here also are the first stages of the boundary dispute with Pennsylvania. We have a note of Penn's first application for a grant of land to extend no further south than the Maryland line, and his agreement Page 172, lines II and 27. Edouard for "Leonard." Page 181. The words in brackets are torn away in the original, and conjecturally supplied by Mr. Sainsbury, under whose supervision the copies were made. Probably for " curia" we should read "parte,” as this was an ex parte commission in the interest of Claiborne only. It seems, from the identity of phrase in these depositions, that they were not spontaneous answers, but drawn up by one hand for the deponents to sign. Page 186, line 5 from bottom. The only reference that we have found in the records of sixty years to the eating of oysters by the colonists; and here it seems to have been suggested as an alternative to starvation. Page 190, line 7. a peere for " apiece." Page 207, line 7 from bottom. Wampampege. "Peak," Indian shell money. Page 246, line 8 from bottom. P. Nolleys should be "T. Notley." Page 270, line 12. Page 287, line 3. Page 297, line 10 Page 298, lines II Page 300. This pp. 309 and 354. Pages 302, 303. but as each contains Page 307, line 18. Page 321, line 34. ats. Perhaps " also." from bottom. John Lynes. Error of scribe. charge of partiality to Papists is answered on These seem both to be extracts from the same letter; news bad. Perhaps "none bad." Page 323, line 12 from bottom. Waujany. Probably Nanjemoy in Charles County. Page 336, line 16 from bottom. x. Probably wrong. The P. R. O. copyist seems not entirely at home in the court-hand contractions. Page 370, line 1. Wee question. "Not" probably omitted. Page 393, line 13. Page 411, line 7. from whome. Sic, for "from whence." Page 412, line 19. Manheer prince, Governor John Printz. Vansweeringen or the scribe has made wild work of these names. "Younker passage" is doubtless Junker Pappegoia, Printz's son-in-law, called Papagy" below. "Casimoirs" is Fort Casimir, and " "Tenauum," Tinicum. Page 413, line 3. stated. Sic, for "seated." Page 413, line 4 from bottom. Page 415, line 13. Octeroy. supuatargoe for " "Octroi," or grant. supercargo." Page 421, line 18 from bottom. Tuttle fields, i. e. Tothill Fields. Page 422, line 4 from bottom. Goo' Slye. Perhaps "Cap Slye." Pape 424, line 27. letre. Perhaps "lets." Page 426, line 21. Asia Warmet. See note to p. 393. These two drafts are not duplicates. One measures by days' journeys, and admits a right in the Dutch. Page 431, line 20. George. Apparently for "Gov"." Page 432, line 15 from bottom. Markissnookati. Error of scribe for "Markis Hook at." Page 435, line 20. att." Page 439, line 12. CheChesterati. Error of scribe for "Chichester Nich. for "Nehemiah." Page 476, line 6 from bottom. Mackdonald. Sic in P. R. O. Page 479, line 13 from bottom. tt the Face. Probably “the Fall." Page 490, line 16. Of these contractions qt seems to stand for containing," and the character B for "shillings.' Page 497, line 5. There should be a comma after "thrive." Page 512, line 2 from bottom. one Tuce. The name of some place which the scribe could not make out. dc. Page 548, line 7. qd c. A contraction for "quem Deus conservet." |