The Lower House. 565

Wednesday April 3^d 1706

The House met according to Adjournment & were present
as yesterday
The Letter excusatary of Col^o Thomas Smithson for his
Absence read in the House & allowed of as also another Let-
ter as Trea^r of the Eastern Shore was read as followeth.

Talbot County March 28^th 1706
Gent.
I hereby give you Notice that I formerly received from M^r
Bozman Naval Officer of Potomack District in Payment of his
Account and Debt to the Public John Green's first second &
third Bills for ten Pounds Eleven Shillings Eight Pence drawn
on William Preston in Liverpool indorsed by John Bozman
which Bills are all lost and taken as far as I know the Ships
being taken by whom sent and I never received the money.
I sent to M^r Bozman a Copy of the third Bill after first &
second last desiring him to procure fourth fifth & sixth but it
was not done the Drawer I presume being gone and no

Lib. 41.

Effects. Now I humbly crave Advice and Order of the
House whether I shall sue M^r Bozman by Reason of his Debt
& Indorsement or that you will be content to lose it & dis-
charge me for that sum of ten Pounds Eleven Shillings Eight
Pence.
I give you further Notice that in like manner I received
from M^r Thomas Collier Benjamin Lowes Bills first second
& third Bills on John Younger in Whitehaven for five Pounds
indorsed by M^r Collier &^ca I desire Advice & Order of the
House about them all Circumstances being the same and to
be discharged as of the other always provided that if the
Bills can be recovered I will answer for them I had likewise
four other sets of Bills lost which by good Providence my
Friend lately got from France I had likewise Col^o Thomas
Brooks first second & third Bills for forty two Pounds payable
to Geo. Harris in Somerset County drawn on Isaac Millner in
London all lost and taken I have now writ to him to make a
fourth fifth & sixth payable as afs^d and I shall get them in-
dorsed or to give new Bills to me I desire he may be called
into your House and discoursed about it. It is my very
great Grief that I am not able to attend even for the adjust-
ing of these Matters. I have accounted for all sums in Pay-
ment whereof to myself. I took these Bills in 1704 when all
the publick Stock was drawn out of my Hands to less than
ten Pounds. I hope you will not put any Damage upon me
who am your Most Humble & diligent Servant
Tho^s Smithson

p. 51