Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1698/9. 53

     Then was read the Opinion of his Majestys Atty General         Lib. X.

    & Council at Law to whom the Question this Day by his

    Excellency proposed to the Board about the General Assem

    bly meeting was likewise Referred to make report thereon

    which is as Followeth vizt

        To his Excellency the Governor & Council

     I have considered the Question & perused Authoritys

    treating of the Subject and find that it is his Majestys Pre-

    rogative Royal to call Prorogue & adjourn Parliaments at his

    Royal will & Pleasure & I take it that his Majesty hath dele

    gated his Authority for the Government of this Province in

    that point on your Excellency with the advice of the honble

    Council some peculiars to his Majesty reserved

     That taking as we ought the Kings Pleasure & will to have

    a constant Regard to the Nations Good and Welfare I am

    inclined to the Opinion that his Majesty on great & Emer

    gent Occasions by virtue of the Perogative Royal may call a

    Parliament sooner than the precedent adjournment appointed

    but this I have not any express Authority for at present but

    by a rational deduction of the Premises & if it may be so in

    the Primative

     It may on like Occasions be so here in the Derivative          p. 207

    which is humbly Submitted to your Excellencys Considera

    tion by           Your Obedient & faithful Servt

                                  Wm Dent

      I am of the same opinion

                                  Geo Plater

     It being Represented to his Excellency that the Court

    of Chancery the Court of Governor and Council for hearing

    appeals & the Commissarys Court of Probate of Wills now

    Stand appointed & adjourned until the 23d of February next

    at which time it is feared the Suitors will by the hard weather

    be impeded from attending the said Courts his Excellency is

    pleased with the Advice of this Board to issue his Proclama

    tion for the further deferring & adjourning the said Courts

    until the 15th of March next ensuing

      His Excellency tells the Gentlemen of the Council that he

    is sorry to understand that their respective Habitations are at

    such considerable Distance from this Place the Seat of Govt

    he having already experienced the Inconveniency & difficulty

    of calling them together upon any special Occasion therefore as

    sures them that he will never give them the trouble of meeting

    but when his Majestys Service especially requires it, for

    which upon all such occasions he will be glad to have their

    Advice & expects their due Attendance