Sessions to Both Houses of Assembly & by yr messuages con6
framing a New Inspection Law wherein you observed to them
" that you could not with prudence & obedience you owed to
his Majesty & the Lord Proprietary give yr Assent to a New
Bill wh should rate the species of Coin mentioned in the
Statute of the sixth of Queen Ann, higher than they had been
rated by that statute as a Currency, because such Regulation
had been deemed in England to be repugnant to the said
Statute." tho this sound Doctrine, yet the Lo. H. Qred yr
Instructions? desired to see (their Sophistry) hoping on sight
to view something else, at least as might produce wrangle.
yr answr Judicious keeping them to the Participle contained in
yr speech on that matter of the staple of the Province, alike
is yr just Doctrine " to provide for defficiences wh may have
arisen from the Long continuance of the War & other incidents
viz. the claims of the Militia in actual Service & of other
Persons on the Public" By Law they are Bound to answr, if
refused to men who have ventured their Lives for their pro-
tection, the Law ought to take place pr force, alike agt the
cruel devestations of the Savages: shall a handfull of People
comparatively speaking of a Large Body of People & by that
Body entrusted as their representives to Protect them, wh by
Laws Divine & humane they ought to exert & see well per-
form'd, is it almost to be conceived that men so intrusted shall
hear of their Neighbours cruelly Butchered & deny their aid
to protect & defend: because of Squable brot by the ambition
& Self Interest of a few Leaders, who strive only to make use
of others by deciet to be their step Ladders to preferml then I
say if such be, Judgement would be justly falen upon them by
the Hands of the Savages in their Senate House. I hope all
cruditys may be brot to safe consistence. yr Labour & conduct
in all affairs highly Honble & just, the Harmony you have
recomended & the proceedings of the Upr H. very meritorious.
And further cong yr Behaviour, June the 20th I wrote you, not
recg any answr I deem that Letr not recd. It was of & concerng
a personal Audience His Majesty was graciously pleased to
Admit me alone with him abt an Hour. Inter Al. he spoke
of Maryland, " Ask'd if the Province was Quiet? I reply'd
yes, says he quite Quiet? I answd so please you Sir, save
such Persons as are in all Goverments of Discontented minds,
mischevious & too often thro self Intrest & Ambition, he
smild sd " of that I know." he ask'd How the Govr pleased ?
I reply'd very well. He then said " What is your opinion of
him ? I reply'd That of a Person Brave & resolute & of real
Honesty & in the Due execution & Administration of
Govermt very adroit, all Deserving. (I also took the Liberty
to refer him of yr character military to his Highness the Duke
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