22 Assembly Proceedings, Oct. 23-Nov. 3, 1711.

U. H. J.

And A Bill to ascertain the Gauge of Tob^o Hh^ds and to
prevent cropping cutting & defacing tob^o taken on Board
Ships & Vessels upon Freight
Which said Bills were assented to by this Board and sent
to the House by Col Whittington

p. 720

The Address of the House of Delegates of Wednesday last
being again read and debated

Resolved the following Message be sent to the House of
Delegates Viz.

By the honble Presid^t & Council in Assembly
Novem^r 2^d 1711
Gentlem.

In Answer to your Address on Wednesday last we assure
you we are truly well Inclined to remedy any Aggrievances
you represent so far forth as in our Power when duly made
appear to us
But We cannot Conceive any Judge of a Court ought to be
Questioned for his opinion when given impartially & with-
out Corruption; of which we have not the least Reason to
Suspect any of the Justices of the Provincial Court and more
particularly the Gentleman of whose Honour & Integrity you
are pleased to say you have no Suspicion (altho he were
abstracted from any relation to this Board).

As to the ill Precedent represented we must observe to you
that her Majesty's Secretary S^r Tho^s Lawrence Sate as one of
the Justices of the Provincial Court — And when he was dis-
placed obtained his late Majesty's order to be restored thereto
Yet to prevent the opinion of any one Justice being preju-
dicial, we think it adviseable more be added to the Provincial
Court, The Remoteness of some of the Justices Habitations,
Sickness & other Accidents that may prevent their Attend-
ance being impossible to be foreseen

Signed p Order W Bladen Cl Coun.

Sent to the House by Col Holland & Cap^t Dorsey & Col
Coursey

p. 721

M^r Hicks & M^r Smallwood brought up a Bill for paym^t &
assessm^t of the publick Charge of this Province

And two Engrossed Bills Viz
A Bill for the Relief of Jn^o Clements &

A Bill for the Naturalization of David Pagett his Wife &
Children. Assented to by the House