76 Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 10, 1697/8-Apr. 4, 1698.

Original
Journal.

p^rsented him to his Ex^cy the Gov^r for his approbacon who
upon the said Maj^r Smithson disableing himselfe therein
answered that he thought the house of delegates have made

p. 158

their choise upon mature consideracon and that he himselfe
concurred therein, that the said Major Smithson was a person
every way capable of that Imploym^t and therefore told him
that he could not excuse him.
Then M^r Speaker on behalfe of the house, desired his Ex^cy
that the Libertys and priviledges of the house might be rati-
fyed and allowed them by his Ex^cy and that he might have
free access to his Ex^cys person upon all occasions requireing
the Same, which his Ex^cy was pleased to assure them of for
which M^r Speaker in the name of them all gave his Ex^cy the
hearty thanks of the house.
After which his Ex^cy was pleased to order a goun to be
given to M^r Speaker wherein he was imediately invested.
Also his Ex^cy gave to M^r Speaker a small mace which he
told him he might make use and deliver to the person that
should be appointed to attend this house, in the nature of
Serg' att Arms, who by bearing the Same should have
Authority to take such persons and bring them before M^r
Speaker and the house, as M^r Speaker and the house should
direct him.
Then was his Ex^cy pleased to sygnify to the house the
reason of their being now called together bespeaking them as
followeth.

Hon^ble Gentlemen,
God Almighty having been pleased by his Maty^s unimitable
valour and Conduct to restore an hon^ble peace to his own
Kingdoms and Dominions as well as to his Confederates. I
think we are in all duty bound to keep as Solemn a Day of
thanksgiving in this his Maty⁵ Province as we are capable of,
concerning which I do not in the least doubt but that you
agree with me as also in signing a most dutyfull and Loyall
address to his most sacred Maty upon this happy occasion.
And I Judge this a proper tyme to have read to you their
Ex^cys the Lords Justices proclamation for publishing the peace
between his Maty^s and the ffrench King with the severall
Articles thereof. As also the R^t Hon^ble the Lords Com^r for
Trade and plantations theire letter to me concerning the said
proclamation which being read his Excellency further added.
M^r Speaker I here give you his Maty^s most gracious speech
to both houses of Parliam^t on ffriday the third of December
1697, and by the latter part of it you will see how extraor-
dinary happy all of us are who have the good fortune of
being Subjects to so greate a King.