90 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 20-Oct. 18, 1694.

Original
Journal.

Rights & libertyes of all their Ma^ts good Subjects And again
brought before this Gen^ll Assembly now Sitting, whoe not w^th
out good Advice & great deliberation haue duely considered
all the said proceedings ag^t the s^d S^r Thomas Laurence And
Doe find in the same much more of malice then matter And
that the whole proceedings were both Arbitrary & illegall,
Whereupon this house think themselves as they are in duty
bound to doe Equall Right to all their Ma^ts good & faithfull
Subjects, soe they are oblideged to give a True Carracter of
the said S^r Thomas Laurence whoe in every Circumstance
appeares to be a protestant, a Loyall Subject to their Ma^ts of
great & good Service to the Countrey & both liberall &
Generous in promoteing & Contributeing to what may tend to
the good & wellfare of the publick, And for his peaceable &
pious Inclinacon his sincerity & Integrity of life This house is
of opinion that for the Hono^rs of their Maj^ties & the benefitt &
Safety of the Subjects in Gen^ll to Impower & Employ the said
S^r Thomas to Assist in the Managem^t of some particular
affaires wherein their most Sacred Ma^ts gratious grant &
favour is hoped for To w^ch End & purpose wee most humbly
pray his Ex^ncy Coll ffrancis Nicholson Govern^r to give his Con-
sent & Approbation therein.
Signed p Ord^r
C Lomax Clk Assembly.

p. 73

His Hono^r S^r Thomas Laurence does say that he is highly
Obliedged to the house for the good Opinion they are pleased
to conceive of him & w^th all humbly Represents to the Board
that severall Matters of Considerable Moment relateing to his
owne Affaires calls for his imediate Repaire into England,
hopeing for the permission & Leave of his Ex^ncie & this
Hono^ble Councill for his goeing, which if granted he shall be
ready to doe all Services that the Countrey shall thinke fit to
Comitt to his care & Managem^t in England according to the
best of his Abillity and that dureing his Absence he will leave
a sufficient Deputy behind him to Execute that Trust their
Ma^ts have here reposed in him.
Then Read the opinion of the House about Bulke Tob^o as
follows, viz^t

By the Burgesses of Assembly Septem^r 25^th 1694.

Upon Reading the Queens Letf Concerning bulkt tobacco
upon Consideration thereof The House doth conceive that to
make an Act prohibiteing the same will be a very great
Diminution to their Maj^ts Revenues And allsoe an Impoverish-