The Lower House. 161

What of late may have p^rvented Shipps and consequently
keept us in the Darke as to the State of our Laws we know
not, but since wee enjoy the p^rsent comfort of them and are
assured they are in the hands of soe Good a prince and patron
we will sitt downe in hopes of an Answer to our Satisfaction
being now ready to receive what proposall shalbe sent to us
from your Ex^cy and his Maj^ty Hon^ble Councill
The Comittee of Elections are sent out.
The answer being so prepared was brought into the house
and Ordered by M^r Speaker that Coll^o Edward Loyd M^r John
Salter Coll^o Jn^o Thompson Maj. Edward Dorsey M^r Sam^ll
Young, M^r Jn^o Smith, M^r Jn^o Lowe M^r Phillip Lynes M^r Rob-
ert Bradley George Muschamp Esq^r John Ffrancklyn and M^r
Jn^o Lecompt carry the same to his Ex^cy in Councill.
Who Returne and say they have delivered their Messuage.

By the house of Delegates May the 9^th 1701

Whereas M^r James Round a member elected to serve in this
house for Somersett County is lately deceased these are there-
fore to require you to Issue out a new writt for Election to the
Sheriff of the said County to Elect and choose one good and law-
full man to serve in his place this present Assembly and this
shalbe yo^r Warr^t
To the Honble W Bladen Tho. Smithson Speaker
his Maty^s Secretary of Maryl^d

Ordered that the same be delivered to the Honble Sec^ry
The honble Thomas Tench Esq^r Tho: Brooke Esq^r James
ffrisby Esq^r and Coll^o John Hammond Enters the house and
delivers the following Message to M^r Speaker viz^t

By the Councill in Assembly May 9^th 1701
Gent.
It seems to us the most important Service this sessions will
be capable of is the Due consideration and serious reflection
we ought to make of the p^rsent State and condicon of our
Laws sent home for England the last Assembly and now as
we are informed by the R^t Honble L^ds Com^rs of trade and
forreigne plantacons Lyeing before his Maty^s Attorney and
Sollicitor Gen^ll not as yett certaine w^t Determinacon they may
fall under from his most Sacred Mat^y in Reguard of some ap-
parent inconveniencyes especially in the Law Entitled an Act
for repealeing certaine Laws in this province and confirmeing
others wherein we are doubtfull to have made the same un-
11

Original
Journal.