The Lower House. 65

Dollars, Pieces of Eight &^ta and distributing them for good
ones and of laying a Fine on all Openers of other Men's Let-
ters which villainous Practice is so frequently used in this
Province (and abhorred every where but in an Enemy's Coun-
try) to our great Scandal, for the Right Honble M^r Secretary
alledges his Letters to me have not 'scaped the knavish In-
spection of those Sort of Men. There are others I shall pre-
sume to communicate to the House of Burgesses by Message.
And now M^r Speaker and you Gentlemen Delegates give
me Leave to remind you of my own small Concern, the Rent
of my House with necessary Repairs and Amendments about
it and the Out-Houses; for without those little Additions I
could expect no comfortable Being.
Gentlemen: I can never believe it was any Disgust to my
Person or a Slight to her Majesty's Directions in that Point,
you refused building the Governor a House (which our Neigh-
bours at first word granted to theirs) but the low unfortunate
Circumstance the poor Province laboured under, for which
Reason I refused 15ll a Year above the Rent I stand at, when
you were pleased to offer it, and let the Matters rest without
any Reluctancy or uneasiness till we knew each other better.
Therefore as you never found me Mercenary or tricking I
cannot doubt your Justice in this Trifle. What have I ex-
pended amounts to £ 47-.13..6 to the Truth of which I can
solemnly depose. I have observed in some Speeches of a Pre-
decessor a very ingenious winning passage, That he had put
the country to no Charge. It's true I have, but be so just as
to consider those were Halcyon Days of Peace and Tranquility
mine of War and Hurly burly abroad and at Home, which
threaten us anew But I appeal to every Gentleman here
present to justify me in the Truth of this modest Assertion ;
That what has been laid out by my Directions was for Your
Honour Safety and Service without any manner of Prospect to
myself or Family. Your small Stock of Arms are well fixed,
our Ammunition good and useful, and think it my Duty while
I am Your Governor to have it constantly preserved for the
publick Service from all Homebred Villains and every Enemy
to our Monarch & Country.
What Designs are carrying on to bring such Trouble and
Expence upon us the House shall be Acquainted with not
without Hopes by your prudent Timely Assistance to defeat
and punish the Ringleaders for their new concerted Barbarity ;
which surely I can never fail of from Gentlemen whose Integrity
and Ability the Freeholders of this Province were so well as-
sured of unanimously to choose for Burgesses to serve and
use your utmost Endeavours to preserve our Liberties and
this our lawful Constitution.

L. H. J.