Order of His Majesty's Council for Robert Eden to Qualify as Governor of Maryland - March 5, 1773

At the Court at St James the 5th Day of March 1773.
        
Present
        
The Kings most Excellent Majesty
Lord President 
Earl of Sandwich
Duke of Queensberry 
Earl of Rochford
Earl of Suffolk 
Earl of Dartmouth
Earl of Denbigh 
Viscount Falmouth
        
Whereas there was this Day read at the Board, a Report from the MS Vertical Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation Affairs dated the of this Instant in the Words following—Viz.
        
“Your Majesty having been pleased by Your Order in Council of the 15th of January last to referr unto this Committee, the Representation of the Reverend Doctor John Moore, Dean of Canterbury, and Hugh Hamersley and Peter Prevôst Esquires, Guardians appointed by the High Court of Chancery of the Estate and Person of Henry Harford Esquire, Lord proprietary of the Province of Maryland, an Infant under the age of Twenty one Years, for and in behalf of the said Infant, Setting forth, That Frederick late Baron of Baltimore in the Kingdom of Ireland, late Lord proprietary of the Province of Maryland, did by his Commission or Instrument of Appointment under his Hand and Seal at Arms, bearing Date the 1st of August 1768, nominate and appoint his Brother in Law Robert Eden Esquire Lieutenant General and Chief Governor of the said Province of Maryland with such and the like powers and Authorities as have been heretofore usually granted to the Lieutenant Governors of the said province, which Commission was duly approved by Your Majesty, pursuant to the Statute of the 7th and 8th of King William the Third; and the said Robert Eden having thereupon Qualified himself for the said Trust, in such manner as the Law requires, entered upon, and hath ever since exercised the Government of the said Province; That on the 4th of September 1771 the said Frederick late Lord Baltimore departed this Life at Naples, having duly made and Published his last Will and Testament in Writing, wherein he gave devised and limited the said province and its appendages, unto and to the use of the said Henry Harford and the Heirs—Male of his Body with Remainders over; That the Petitioners have been appointed by the
High Court of Chancery, Guardians of the Person and Estate of the said Henry Harford, who is now in the fifteenth Year of his age; That the appointment made by the said Frederick late Lord Baltimore of the said Robert Eden to the said Government being determined by His Lordships Death, the petitioners have with the Concurrence arid approbation of the said Henry Harford the Infant again nominated the said Robert Eden who is now resident in the said province, to the Government thereof, Subject to Your Majestys Royal Approbation; The Petitioners therefore for and in behalf of the said Henry Harford the Infant, humbly pray Your Majestys
Royal Approbation and Allowance of the said Robert Eden to be the Lieutenant Governor of the said province of Maryland pursuant to the said Statute of the 7th and 8th of King William the third—The Lords of the Committee in obedience to Your Majestys said Order of Reference, this Day took the said Representation into Consideration, and having heard the agents, as well for the petitioners as for John Browning Esquire who intermarried with the Honourable Louisa Calvert and for Robert Eden Esquire and the Honourable Caroline his wife (the said Louisa and Caroline being the Sisters and Heirs at Law of the said Frederick Lord Baltimore deceased) do agree humbly to Report as their opinion to Your
Majesty that it may be adviseable for Your Majesty to approve of the said Robert Eden to be Lieutenant Governor of the said province of Maryland; provided he qualifies himself for that Trust in such manner as the Law requires, and gives sufficient Security in the penalty of two thousand Pounds Sterling before Your Majestys Governor of Virginia, or the Lieutenant Governor or Commander in Chief of that Province for the time being, for his the said Robert Edens observing the several Acts of Trade and Navigation and obeying such Instructions relating thereto as shall be from time to time sent to him by Your Majesty or any Acting under your Royal Authority.”
                   
His Majesty taking the said Report into Consideration, was pleased, with the advice of His Privy Council, to approve of the said Robert Eden to be Lieutenant Governor of the said Province of Maryland. But it is His Majestys Pleasure, that the said Robert Eden, should Qualify himself for that Trust in such “manner as the Law requires”, and give sufficient Security in the penalty of two thousand pounds Sterling before His Majestys Governor of Virginia or the Lieutenant Governor or Commander in Chief of that Province, for the time being, for his the said Robert Edens
Observing the several Acts of Trade and Navigation, and obeying such Instructions relating thereto, as shall be from time to time sent to him by His Majesty or any Acting under His Royale Authority.