308 Assembly Proceedings, April 30-May 14, 1696.

U. H. J.

preached by the present Arch Bishop of Canterbury of doing
good to Posterity and then told them that he Prorogued them
until the sixth Instant and the same stands Accordingly Pro-
rogued.
At a Council in Assembly according to the above Proroga-
tion Met and held at the Port of Annapolis the sixth day
of May 1696 and In the eighth year of his Majestys Reign &c

Present
His Excellency Francis Nicholson Esq^r Capt General &c

Col^o George Robotham Col^o John Addison
the honble Col^o Nicholas Greenberry Col^o John Courts
Col^o Charles Hutchins Thomas Brookes Esq^r
Col^o David Browne James Frisby Esq^r

Came from the House of Burgesses M^r Philip Clarke and
five other members who say they are sent from the House to
acquaint his Excellency that they are met pursuant to the
Prorogation yesterday and desires to know if his Excellency
has any Business to impart to the House.
They are told some Messages shall be sent presently.
His Excellency is pleased to Order Col^o Addison and M^r
Brook to go down to the House and Command their Attend-
ance at this Board
The Honourable James Frisby Esq^r upon his motion and
request made to this Board Obtained leave to go home his
Lady drawing near her time
The Gentlemen upon the message sent return and say the
House will Attend Immediately

p. 873

M^r Speaker with the rest of the Houses members return up
his Excellency was pleased in a short speech to tell them that
he hopes all differences & by past disputes will now be now
laid aside and that they will cordially proceed upon what
Business shall be Offered to them principally taking Notice
that the chief Outcry is the Poverty of the Country and of the
great Burthen the Poorer sort undergo through means of the
vast Levies Yearly Accruing for the defraying the necessary
Charge of the Province to Ease therefore that Burthen and
Charge his Excellency is pleased to propose these two things
viz^t by Laying an Imposition of 10^s p head upon negroes im-
ported and by Continuing of the 3^s p hhd duty upon all
Tobacco Exported
In the next Place his Excellency is pleased to Recommend
that they would Reassume what Business had been proposed
& Offered to the House before hoping they would make some
fair end of all those matters which when finished they are Given