Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 8, 1697/8-Apr. 4, 1698. 51

of prince Georges County did not think Piscattaway Indians
to be so Inconsiderable an Enemy
The hon^ble S^r Tho^s Laurence Bar^t Secry Tho^s Tench &
James Frisby Esq^rs were by ord^r appointed to Carry downe
the bills yesterday Read and answered to the Severall Re-

Original
Journal.

solves as also the same tyme To swear Major Tho^s Smithson
Treasurer of the Easterne Shore to his publick acc^t and that
the Clarke of this board attend them in order thereto.
They returne and say they have delivrd their Message and
that they had sworne major Smithson To his Treasurers acc^t
in presence of the house of delegates
Brought from the house of Delegates by M^r Benjamin hall
and five other members the following answers to Some Mes-
sages and Referrences this day Sent viz^t

By the house of Delegates March the 30^th 1698.

This house have Consid^red of the Message relateing to the
four articles contained in M^r Slyes paper and doe not think
fitt to alter their form^r vote therein.
As to the Susquehannack Indians. We have fnrm^rly given
our opinion according to the best Information we can gett,
That they are not w'^h in the limitts of this province And as to
sending to New York the house see no necessity thereof.
As to George Huttchins L^re to his Ex^cy It is the openion of
the house that if the ten per Cent duty was paid for the four
Serv^ts It ought to be refunded againe but not for the goods
they being liable to pay the duty.
Signed p Ord^r p
W Bladen Cl. Dom. Del.

The said Message being read by his Ex^cy the Gov^r &
Councill in assembly March the 31^th 1698.

p. 77

The Answer of the house Concerning those four articles of
M^r Slyes has been Received and here read to w^ch seing you
thinke not fitt to make further answer. It is required that all
the papers relateing to that affair as also all other papers now
Lying before you and Sent from this board, be forthw^th
returned, but his Ex^cy being informed that some of the Mem-
bers of yo^r house pretend to prove the severall articles of
charge laid ag^t him by the s^d Sly, does therefor in his Maj^ties
name Comand those Memb^rs to putt in Writeing and give
und^r hand w^tt they have to say in that Matter in ord^r that they
may be sworne therto or else his Ex^cy does look upon them
to be false, Scandalous & Malitious, except those that can be
otherwise proved by record Signed p order
Henry Denton Cl. Condi.

p. 78