The Lower House. 277

Bill for Relief of Josias Crouch Read the first and second
Times by special Order and will pass
The three Bills past this Day sent to the Council p M^r
Talbot M^r Broome, Major Sprigg, and M^r Pearce who return
and say they delivered the Bills
The Petition of John Rousby Esq Read and ordered to be
entered as followeth

To the Hofible the House of Delegates

The Humble Petition of John Rousby Naval Officer of
Patuxent District Humbly Sheweth

That your Petitioner as Naval Officer has received for the
several Duties payable to the Country amongst other ready
Money some Gold which he hath offered to the Honble
Samuel Young Esq. Publick Treasurer of Western Shore who
altogether refuses to receive or take the same and your
Petitioner conceiving himself much injured thereby he being
obliged to receive ready Money humbly prays the Direction
of this HoHble House therein and that the said Treasurer may
be obliged to receive the same from your Petitioner and if
your Honours shall think it more advantageous and for the
Ease of the Country your Pet^r for two p Cent more than what
is now paid him will be obliged to bring the Money to
Annapolis at such Time as he shall be commanded and there
pay the same to such Person as he shall be directed by the
Committee for apportioning the publick Levy and humbly
prays the Consideration of this Hofible House in the Premises
And as in Duty bound he will pray —

By the House of Delegates
second November 1713

We have read and considered the within Petition and con-
ceive it's very reasonable the Treasurer should at present
receive the Money in Gold from the Naval Officer as he has
taken it all the Members of this House being willing to take
it at the same Rate from him if now ordered them. And as
to the latter Part of the Petition we think it very generously
offered by the Petitioner to save the Country the Charge of
three p Cent. And that the Treasurer is such an Officer as
may be very well spared being of no other Service than to
run the Country to Charge and impose upon them (of which
we are not without President) and if all the Naval Officers
give good security for Performance of their Duty we are very
willing to discharge the Country of the Treasurers Salaries of
five p Cent to which we desire the Concurrence of the Honble

L. H. J.
Lib. 41
P. 39^o