266 Papers Relating to Affairs in Maryland, 1701—14.

            P. K. 0.   the Assembly made An Act to punish Such like Offenders, &

                  the Utterrers of Such false moneys. And since Money is

                  become so absolutely necessary Wee earnestly begg her

                  Gracious Matye the Queene, will be pleased to intrust Us with

                  a Species of small Copper Coyne, as by our Address Wee

                  have pray'd.

                    My Lords I thinke it highly necessary to represent unto

                  your Lordps that there are two Gentlemen comissionated

                  and Stiled her Matys Receivers within this Province the one

                  George Plater Esqr for the District of Puttexent and the other

                  George Muschamp Esqr for the District of Potomeck, through

                  Mr Platers hands considerable Sumes of money pass yearly;

                  but through the other Mr Muschamps very little, his Collec

                  tion of the p hhd for which he is accountable for Severall

                  years has not amounted to above thirty odd pounds p An

                  num, & yet he as well as the other Receiver have each a Sal

                  lary allotted of one hundred pounds p Annum which they are

                  authorised to take out of the fynes and forfeitures within this

                  Government, which for many years will not halfe pay them,

                  So that these Gentlemen seeme much dissatisfyed tho I

                  thinke Mr Muschamp has little reason, his Office being need

                  less, and might well be supply'd by the other Receiver,

                  without any further Sallary.

                    I have Sent a Sloope well mann'd to North Carolina to

                  demand Some persons who have fledd hence from Justice,

                  and to learne what Law is made there to harbour others

                  from paying their just Debts, which has occasioned great

                  Numbers to flye from this Province thither to the great Det

                  ritnent of Merchants in England & cheating the honest well

                  meaning people of this Country for if they have as I am

                  informed made a law there, to protect any person from being

                  sued during five Years It will give an handle to many

                  knavish people to gaine large Creditts and run thither to

                  defraude their just Creditors, and not only to tend the lessen

                  ing the Number of taxable persons here, but to the depopu

                  lating her Matys more usefull adjacent Colonys, & Plantations.

                  And now as our poverty increases So fresh Villanys are

                  carryed on intirely to Subvert the Government; When I have

                  their answer I will transmitt it to Your honble Boarde, and

                  doubt not, but your Lordps will find out an Expedient to

                  have this pernicious practice Stopt, otherwise many persons

                  will go to North Carolina and her Matys Revenue hence be

                  Suncke to a Scantling. The generality of the people in this

                  Province have good tracts of Land and Stocks of Cattle and

                  hoggs; but being in debt to the Merchts Con signees in

                  England, they Send them little or no goods at all, most of

                  the Shipps comeing from London upon freight, in their Bal