138 Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 10, 1697/8-Apr. 4, 1698.

Original
Journal.

sumoned had no authority from the Country and therefore
durst not freely debate the matter with your Ex^cy
Wherefore the house desire to be Excused from making
any further allowance to M^r Denton upon that Score. When
we Settled the Cl: of the Councill in Assembly's Sallary of
12000^l of Tobb^o p annum he did then promise that the
Country should be att no further charge for any writing in
relation to his said office.
His allowance of 400^l Tob^o was Intended for boath the
Comittees, however worded in the Iournall of the Comittee
of Acc^ts
This house cannot returne an answer to the Lre: from the
Navy office, unless we see Esq. Randolph's Lre: and as it was
directed to him he ought to returne an answer to it.
We have sent Major Ennalls and M^r Hoskins for D^r Brays Lre:
As to the protested Bill of Ex: allowed M^r Ben: Hall it dos
not consist with the hon^r of this house to delay the payment of
so Just a Debt and of what we are so well Justifyed. There-
fore humbly pray your Ex^cy and Councill will consent to the
payment thereof, as fast as the Surpluss Tobacco will Extend
the house agree his Matys hon^ble Councill may be equally
allowed.

p. 213

As to the proposall about the Leavy Law.
We do say that we make use of no p^rsidents in the Lord
Baltemores time that in the Assembly held in 1692 in his Ex^cy
Gov^r Copleys time two of the honble Councill were added to
the Comittee of Acc^ts but not admitted being denyed theire
votes and thereupon did not sitt with the said Comittee.
As for the apportioning the publick leavy assessed that
assembly they did not Sitt nor were they appointed by the Law
therefore, nor ever since till the last Assembly.
The said Gentlemen not being elected or being the repre-
sentatives of the Country have no right to dispose of the public
assessm^t and if his Ex^cy and his Matys hon^ble Councill will not
assent to the Laws as proposed, we cannot consent to any
alteration.
As to all things that were proposed we Instantly answered
them according to the sence of this house tho: phaps not to
your Ex^cys Satisfaction yet know not why should we be denyed
here on purpose to constraine us to comply with your Ex^cy in
those things which are agreeable to the sense of this house nor
for the advantage of the Country.
As to the Acc^ts in Gov^r Copley's time.
We do not think it worth our time to look so farr back upon
the said acc^ts not knowing to have Satisfaction for anything
amiss therein. Signed p order
W Bladen Clk: house Delegates