Original.
Calvert
Papers.
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condition of things; I know your intentions towards his
Lordship & the Province in General to be such as every Gov-
ernor ought to have, nor are you fettered by Instructions, the
design of your Instructions being only as General Rules
of conduct. Whether 'tis from over Scrupulosity and exat-
ness may induce you to consider as particular & invariable
Rules in all cases & emergencies? I don't pretend to know
that this is the case, nor can I say whence it arises; but
to Me it seems extreamly easy, with the several advantages
this Goverment has, to prevent for the future that Turbulent
& Malevolent Spirit in the Lower House of Assembly; with
that silly affectation of popularity, & those prejudices even in
his Lordships Courts of Justice, agt his Lordps Just Rights,
and so to Knit & unite the several Branches of Power there,
as to form one Grand & Regular Movement, all tending to
the Honour & prosperity of his Lordship, & the Happiness
& Welfare of the whole Province, without leaving it in the
Power of any Individual amongst them, either from Motives
of Interest, Avarice or Ambition, to disturb its operations. I
have always considered his Lordships right of Nominating to
the Council Board, not as a feather wherewith to Tickle the
vanity of such as he may be inclined to please, but as the chief
strength & support not only of his Lordships rights, but of
the whole frame of Goverment; 'tis by their advice Assemblys
are called, progued & dissolved, & all the Subordinate parts
of the Goverment are directed & put into Motion; It must
therefore be of the last consequence to his Lordp how the
Vacancies that happen there, are filled up; If this point is dis-
regarded, you may admitt a fool who will not only be trouble-
some & Impertinent but will Blabb every thing he knows; or
if he has abilities, unless you are sure he is well affected to
the Proprietor & Goverment, he will be the more Dangerous
in proportion to those Abilities; for I am very well satisfied
that placing such a one there is so far from putting him out of
the way, as is the pretended opinion of some there, that it is
increasing his Power of doing Mischief, by letting him into all
the secrets of the Goverment, & giving him a share of Man-
agemt in that Power which is to controul & direct all the rest
& so far corrupting & weakning the only check this Gover-
ment has over the Madness of popular fury; a Third & very
material consideration is, what attachments amongst them-
selves the person you propose to admit (whether he has abili-
ties or no) either has at the time, or may in all likelyhood fall
into; because otherwise such a one may serve only to
strengthen an opposition to his Lordships Rights both private
& Public & tho' capable of no more, yet by a single Vote
either in opposition to the Just & wise Measures of a Gov-
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