468 Assembly Proceedings, Oct. 25-Nov. 10, 1709.

L. H. J.

Lib. 41.

Govenor Copely for every License to keep Ordinary at Saint
Mary's City two thousand Pounds of Tobacco and in the
Counties twelve hundred Pounds of Tobacco which Act was
to continue but three Years Sir Thomas Lawrence being then
Secretary of Maryland who upon passing the Act and another

p. 260

the same Session Entituled an Act for Tonnage and settling
Naval Officers Fees within this Province petitioned his said
late Majesty King William that the same Act might not pass
the Royal Assent under Pretence that the Profits arising thereby
were Perquisites belonging to the Secretary Office and upon
the said Sir Thomas's Complaint none appearing to gainsay
the same the said Acts were dissassented but not any Directions
to vest the Benefits of Ordinary Licenses in Sir Thomas Law-
rence as Secretary or otherwise True it is the Assembly by an
Act made in the Year 1694 in the Time of Governor Nicholson
did give the Profits arising from Ordinary Licenses to Sir
Thomas Lawrence which is the first Law that ever gave such
Fines to the Secretary which said Act was Temporary and
expired in three Years And altho' the Assembly did afterwards
by other Acts continue the same to the Secretary yet it was
always by Temporary Laws thereby reserving to themselves
the Power of disposing of it as to them should seem meet.
And it being considered that the Fees of the Secretary's Office
of late are vastly increased through the Multitude of Business
therein and the Licenses to Ordinary Keepers not being and
Ways entered or recorded in the Secretary's Office is unreason-
able the Fines arising thereon should be given or settled
on him
This, Dread Sovereign is the true State of the Case, and
we doubt not will give your Majesty full Satisfaction that Sir
Thomas Lawrence as Secretary has no Right to the Fines on
Ordinary Licenses within this Province, and hope your Majesty
will not hear any further Complaints against us by Sir Thomas
Lawrence upon this Subject.

Robert Bradley Speaker

Thomas Robins

Ja Smallwood

Thomas Trueman Greenfield

John Whittington

Will. Wilkinson

Henry Pereg. Jowles

Solomon Wright

Thos. Crabb

Joseph Guibert

R. Ungle

Walter Storey

Thomas Covington

Phil. Hemsley

Jarmes Maxwell

Dan^l Pearce

John Bradford

James Phillips

Richard Jones Jun^r

Nicho. Lowe

Rich^d Colegate

Charles Greenberry

Sam^l Worthington

Aquila Paca

Daniel Mariartee

Geo. Gale

Rob^t Tyler

Joseph Hill

T. West

Philip Lee

John Mackall

Nath^l Dare

W. Smith

Robert Skinner