550 Appendix to Council Proceedings, 1696/7-98.

       P. R. o.    for Four hundred and fifty three pounds Sterl were sent to

             them in the last from Sr Thomas Lawrence he did excuse the

             non payment of that money at that time the Revenue being

             indebted and promised care should be taken in the next

             Assembly which I believe is now effected by your conduct. I

             have sent you a Copy of my Treaty with the five Nations of

             Indians whereby you will preceive how they are apprehensive

             of the inequality of their burthen of the Warr and have patcht

             up a Peace with Canada which I was obliged to acquiese with

             not being in a condition to make Warr upon them it will be

             much the concern of Maryland as well as of other Provinces

             that the Indians be kept stedfast to the English and the Fron

             tiers of this Province better secured were there sufficient

             Force to justify all our Posts this had not gone so farr and I

             doubt not yet to reclaim them I have proposed a new scheme

             of a joynt assistance which is inclosed the like is sent to Sir

             Edmund Andros so desire you will consider of it—Count

             Frontiniack is at Mount Royall with considerable Forces hath

             some design, I have sent to discover his motion and give you

             a Copy of the Intelligence.

                                      I am Sir

                    your Exncys humble servant

                          Benjn Fletcher.

               Govr Maryland.

               Answer to the aforegoing letter as followes viz:

                                           St. Maries City

                                             Octr 18th 1694.

             Sr

               Yr Excys letter of the 24th of Septr past with inclosed papers

             I recd the wch were communicated to the Councill the eighth

             day of Octr inst. and so sent down to the House of Burgesses

             together with his Mates Royall Letter of the 11th Octr 1692

             relating to the assisting your Frontiers &c against the French

             and Canida Indians and yr the state of the whole matter

             might be fully known I caused the severall letters and papers

             passing betwixt the two Governmts to be likewise laid before

             the House; an answer whereto the inclosed paper is a copy

             the Gentn of the Councill agreeing and assenting to the same.

               The other inclosed paper is copy of the Councills reasons

             why the Forraigne Indians wch came into this Governmt about

             two years agoe with intent to settle should not be entertained

             among us.

               I find the revenue of this Province to be very precarious

             and the Governmt altogether destitute of any Banck or Fund

             of money and which is worse is at present much in arrears