The Upper House. 537

tary yet it was always but by Temporary Laws from three
years to three years at the Expiration of which Laws it was
as wee Conceive in the Power of the Assembly to give it to
whom they thought fitt

Original
Journal.

5^thly That as to what S^r Thomas Laurence asserts concern-
ing his Application to the Comittee of Laws in April 1704.
And their refusal to hear him ag^t the Bill. We say S^r Thomas
Laurence was not denyed to be heard by that Comittee but
was by them treated with all the Civility & respect and
answered by the Chairman thereof That what they did was
given them in Charge from the House of Delegates & that
that Comittee could not Act Contrary but must proceed
according to their Directions
6^thly upon the Whole Matter wee do not find that any Secry
of Maryland (S^r Tho. Laurence excepted) ever claimed the
Profitts arising by Ord^ry Lycenses as a Perquisite belonging to
& inseparable from the Secretarys Office, but when they had
the same it was by the free Donation from the Lord Baltemore
when granted him by the Assembly during his Government
here and since by the Gift of the Assembly w^thout p'tence of
any other Right thereto so that we are of opinion that unless
S^r Thomas Laurence can make it appear that the same is a
Perquisite incident to the Sec^rys Office & inseparable therefrom
Settled by any Act or Acts of Assembly otherwise than as af^d
it is & of Right ought to be in the Power of the gen^ll Assem-
bly to dispose of the Same as they think fitt.

p. 34

Neither have we any Reason to believe that our most gracious
Queene will deny her royal Assent to any Law Enacted
here for the good of this Province upon the bare Insinuation
of private or particular persons whose Interest leads them to
think or say the Contrary Especially where they do not (as the
Act for Ordinary Lycenses does not) lessen her Majestys Of-
ficers Just Fees they being limitted by another Act of Assembly
for that purpose
So that upon Consideration had upon the whole matter of
S^r Thomas Laurences Peticon We doe Assert that the Fine for
Ordinary Lycenses is not nor ever was an ancient Fee or Per-
quisite belonging or appertaining to the Secretarys Office of
Maryland Signed p Order Rich^d Dallam Cl Cone.

By the House of Delegates Aprill 10th 1706

Upon reading this Report The house concurrs therewith
Sign'd p Order W Taylard Clk h d.

p. 35

M^r Jones & M^r Grey bring from the house Viz.

p. 36