522 Appendix.

and not a little to the Discredit of the County; and there being no
Yard or back-Window to the said Prison, or Draft of Air through
the same, such Prisoners as do not escape, suffer additional Misery
from the Loss of their Health.

These Considerations alone, your Petitioners humbly hope may
justify their present application for a new Court-House and Prison.
But, your Petitioners further shew, unto your Excellency and Hon-
ours That the said Town of Joppa is on a low Peninsula, the Isthmus
into which is so miry, as to be often nearly impassable, especially
after high Tides, or heavy Rains, which overflowing the Isthmus,
reduce the Situation of the Town to an Island: From whence and
from the Want of navigable Water up to the said Town, and for
many Miles below it, other than for Shallops and smaller Vessels;
and also from the Length of Time the said Town has been laid out,
and its little Improvement, or Increase of Inhabitants, Your Peti-
tioners cannot flatter themselves with the most distant Hopes of any
favourable Alteration therein and from the Scarcity of Houses and
necessary Accommodation in the said Town of Joppa, the People,
who attend the Courts, are for the most Part obliged to ride by
Night to their Houses or Country Neighbours for Lodging, in all
Weathers, whereby they are often exposed to the Danger of Catch-
ing Colds, Pleurisies, and other Disorders; early Adjournments and
late Meetings of the Courts are unavoidable, and the Public Busi-
ness, greatly retarded

That the Town of Baltimore is free from the Inconveniences to
which Joppa is subject; there being therein Houses sufficient to
accommodate, with Ease and in Plenty, much greater Numbers of
People than are used to attend our Courts; and from the Number
of its Inhabitants, a Court-House and Prison would be better se-
cured against the Attempts aforesaid: That the said Town of Balti-
more is situate on a fine River, navigable for large Ships, and
within a few Years past has greatly encreased in Trade, and is
daily increasing therein and in Buildings, Inhabitants, Merchants,
Mechanics, and others; insomuch that the dealings of the Planters,
Farmers, and other Country People of the County are carried on
there, as at a regular and certain Market, where our Provisions,
and every Thing we make, may at all Times find a ready Price,
and to which the major Part of the People of the County al-
ready resort and trade, and others are daily more and more resort-
ing thither from all Parts of our County; not only to sell their Plan-
tation-Produce, but for the doing of most Sorts of Business; so that
whoever might be obliged to attend the Courts, would at the same
Time be in the Way of negotiating their common Concerns; their
Attendance on the Public Service would be rendered easy and light,
and regularly and chearfully given, and none of the said Incon-
veniences attending the present County-Duty would be felt: And