352 Assembly Proceedings, June 29-July 22, 1699.

Original
Journal.

Iuly the 21^th 1699

Sent the Bill ab^t Negros & Slaves to the house by Thomas
Tench and Thomas Tasker Esq^rs
Came Cap^t Rich^d Hill and the Comittee of Laws and brought
a Catalogue of the Laws And the following Message Viz^t

By the house of Delegates Iuly the 21^th 1699

May it please yo^r Ex^cy
Your Excellencys Signall and repeated favours Still nour-
ishes the hopes of our future happiness under your Ex^cys Good
Governm^t which we Can do no less then make an Acknowl-

p. 87

edgem^t of, Suitable to our weak Abilitys wherefore we make
this our humble offring of Two hundred and fifty pounds
sterl but because there is in most Countys two years Leavys
to be paid we would willingly therefore discharge the whole
publick leavy by the p^rsent Stock And therefore desire yo^r
Excellency not to take it amiss if we Cannot reasonably pay
the Two hundred and fifty pounds till the fall att which time
yo^r Ex^cy may have our humble Offerring paid by Bills or ready
Money as may be most Acceptable
Signed p Order
Chr: Gregory Cl house Del.

The following Message Sent from the house by M^r Willm
Harris and Major Whittington Viz^t

By the house of Delegates Iuly the 21^th 1699.

May it please yo^r Excellency
The Message by the hon^ble Thomas Tench and Thomas
Tasker Esq^rs in relation to the Act ag^t Divulgers of false
News was received and read and Considered and we are sorry
a Message was not Sent to your Ex^cy Concerning our desires
of haveing that Act repealed because of its great Latitude
which made it very Lyable to be abused of which wee know
Severall Examples we Cannot remember what diverted such
Message w^ch was intended to be sent but we are sure yo^r
Excellency is so well beloved and hono^rd that you will never
need any such Act to guard your hono^r and reputation, It was
not any disrespect to your Excellency nor our less Esteem of
yo^r Ex^cy then another made us do it But we ingenuously Con-
fess we thought yo^r Ex^cy would reckon yo^r Selfe so intirely
possest of our hearty Affections and thereby so secure ever
from unworthy Conceptions of your Ex^cy that you would have