Maryland ss
At a Council in Assembly held at the Town and Port of
Annapolis in Anne Arundel County the fifth Day of Decem-
ber in the third year of the reign of our Sovereign Lady
Ann by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and
Ireland Queen Defender of the Faith &c. Annoq Domini
1704.
Were Present

His Excell John Seymour Esq^r her Majesty's Cap^t General
and Governour in chief

Thomas Tench Esq^r | Col Edward Lloyd
The hon^ble Tho^s Brook Esq^r | L^t Col W^m Holland
Col John Hammond | Ja^s Sanders Esq^r

This being the Day appointed for the meeting of the Gen-
eral Assembly pursuant to his Excellency's Proclamation to
that Purpose his Excellency was pleased to communicate to the
Board what he intended to say to them upon the opening of
this present sessions as followeth & desired them to give their
Advice what they thought proper to be left out or added
the'reto.

U. H.J.

p. 345

Premising to and thus bespeaking the Council

Hon:^ble Gentlemen
I Thank God We have so good Weather at this present
meeting whereby all the Gentlemen of her Ma^tys hon^ble
Council as also those of the house of Delegates of this
Province have the opportunity of being Present here in order
to Consult advise and Redress the present unhappy Circum-
stances this Province lyes under of our publick Court House
being burnt with several of our Laws especially that for regu-
lating our Militia so absolutely necessary that it would be the
greatest neglect and folly not to Endeavour reenacting thereof
Whereupon so much depends the preservation & defence of
the Country
I must acquaint you that upon the 2 I^st of October last with
the advice of the Gent, of her Ma:ty's Council then present I
thought fitt upon the pressing occasion to Convene the
Assembly upon the 21^st of November and accordingly issued
Proclamations to the several Countys for Convening them
But afterwards finding that it was doubted by some whether it
might not be irregular to have them meet sooner than this

P. 346