Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 10, 1697/8-Apr. 4, 1698. 87

Referred to the Comittee of Laws to prepare a Bill for
redress thereof
Likewise the comittee represent it as an Agrievance, that
the S^vrall vestrymen, Justices of the severall Countyes of this
province for very slight occasions have been arrested, surnoned
and compelled to appear att Annapolis to theire great Damage
and charge, therefore pray remedy for the future.
Resolved that M^r Michael Miller and M^r William Taylard
draw up an address to his Ex^cy the Gov^r to redress th^t agriev-
ance.

Original
Journal.

The said Comittee further represent that it is a great agriev-
ance to this province, that Severall Attorneys by orders of
Councill without being Legally convicted of any crime have
been dismissed from theire practice as attorneys much to the
disatisfaction of the court and country where they practice,
and as the Comittee is informed. George Plater, W^m Dent
and Rob^t Gouldsborough Esq^r by the names of the Kings
Councill att Law have signed an opinion under theire hands
that justifyes the s^d orders of Councill to the Gen^ll disatisfac-
tion of the Inhabitants of this province, the Government never
p^rretending to any such power before from the first seating of
this province and therefore desire that the house would move
his Ex^cy the Gov^r that the said opinion signed as aforesaid
may be publickly burnt by the Sherriffe of Ann Arundell
County.

Ordered that Thomas Renolds Serj' att arms Go and take
M^r George Plater, M^r William Dent, and M^r Robert Golds-
borough into Custody and bring them before this house.
Who being brought to the barr of the house in custody of
the Serj' att arms and examined why they would psume to
give theire opinions so contrary to Law in relacon to the
deposeing of Attorneys.
M^r Dent says that without due proof of some misdemeanour
the house should not conceive ill of them, that he will be very
Ingenious and not deny any thing that he ever did, and that
he hath always faithfully and honestly behaved himselfe in the
Station of his Maty^s Solicitor Gen^ll of this Province, and when
called by his Ex^cy the Gov^r hath faithfully given his opinion to
the best of his Judgm^t and apprehension.
Whereupon the said Gentlemen of his Maty^s honble Coun-
cill are dismissed and ordered to attend the house in the after-
noon.

Ordered that Major Walter Smith and M^r Benjamin Hall
go to the clarke of the Comittee and demand Copies of the
Severall proceedings in Councill relating to the dismissall of
M^r lames Crauford from being any Attorney.

p. 168