540 Correspondence of Gov. Horatio Sharpe, 1754-1765.

came inclosed directed to him, with a Letter to him from
M^r Robert Lloyd, he said his contents were only, that he had
received the inclosed Packet from M^r Thomas Ringold who
desired him to transmit it to M^r Anderson to deliver it to M'
Franklyn; that upon Breaking open the cover directed to
him, he found Loose the Lower House Journal of March 17^th
1762 and a Paper Book Printed by Jonas Green containing
A Bill For raising a Supply for His Majesty's Service, which
was Framed by the Lower House of Assembly, at a Sessions
held at Annapolis in March 1762. To which is prefixed, all
Messuages which passed between the Two Houses relating
thereto " and which Paper Book he was to send to M^r Frank-
lyn, attendant therewith a Large thick Packet in form of a
Letter, this was all he knew from Maryland; But hinted
from good Authority that he" learnt the Letter was a Pamph-
let in vindication of their Supply Bill and of and concerning
the same and of their Conduct, and he understood from the
same Person inclosed were Addresses to the King and
Queen, what other Contents he heard not of. I asked him
what he intended to do with the Packet ? Says I the Frank-
lyns are both in America, yes says he, therefore as the Di-
rections were only to them, He would return the Letter
Packet to M^r Robert Lloyd.

This by all seeming appearance is an Attempt of Effort
by the Lower House, by false Colours and Evasive Argu-
ments to Blast with Calumny the Upper House's Conduct
relative to the Bill of Assessment, for His Majesty's Service,
rejected By the Upper House, & rejected by them from its
unconstitutional, Illegal and oppressive Measures contained
in the Body and Substance of the Bill, and adjudged so by
good Advice, His Majestys Attorney General, and by num-
bers here who have at times read it, all declare it full of
inconsistencies and of great wrong, tending to the commer-
cial Interest with regard to the Mother Country, Great Brit-
ain. I shall not enter upon further digestion about the
absurdities of the said Bill, nor of their Bad cloack of Subter-
fuge so well known to you and the Upper House. Yet think
it proper this Hint, that you will Consider, and strongly
recommend to such Members of the Upper House as you
shall think most meet, that they may Consult and Consider a
full Reply in vindication of their Honour, and to wipe off the
filthy slime of treacherous Attempt; this they can well do,
from their own solid Arguments and of others, in their pro-
ceedings against the absurdity of the said Bill, and you and
they can exonerate My Lord of his willingness and of his
having Submitted himself to be Taxed, tho' the Burthen by
Act of Assembly not on him in Support of War against his