The Lower House. 305

Lords of Trade and Plantations after the Case so often
adjudged we cannot say but must be plain in telling you we
cannot approve thereof and wonder in a Matter the Country
is like to receive so little Benefit by you should trifle away so
much Time, letting your Prejudice to S^r Tho^s Lawrence over
balance the true Interest of your Country... We desire you
will once more duly consider the Nature of her Majesty's
Commands so very urgent and often reiterated lest your Neg-
lect thereof should lay the Country under her Displeasure
when by a chearful Compliance with what she has dictated
you might expect in proper Time to be heard and relieved in
a Matter you think so hardly imposed upon you. And now
that we may not be wanting to enforce- her Majesty's Com-
mands and endeavour to demonstrate the true Interest of the
Province, we desire you will appoint such and so many of the
Members of your House as you shall think fit to confer with
four of the Members of this Board upon the subject Matter
now in Hand.
Signed p Order W Bladen Cl. Council

Read, debated & ordered the following Message be sent.

By the House of Delegates

9^th Nov^r 1713.

Your Message by the Honble Col^o Greenfield and three
other Members of your Board we have read and considered
and are sorry your Honours should think we have any Preju-
dice against S^r Thomas Lawrence or any other Person and
that we are not allowed to shew our Reasons against the false
Allegations laid against us even to your Board. We cannot
think her Majesty or the Lords of Trade and Plantations will
deny us Justice. We never desired you to approve our Address,
Only sent it you that you might see our Reason for not pass-
ing an Act. ffor your Wonder we should trifle away so much
Time in a Thing the Country will receive so little Benefit by
we do admire and believe some Persons are less concerned
for the Country's Interest than their own particular. What
Effect our Address may have or the Consequence thereof we
know not but are sure the granting S^r Thomas's Request will
much impoverish the Country Neither can we think it will lay
us any Ways under her Majesty's Displeasure. You have
sufficiently enforced her Majesty's Commands to us and we
have as effectually complied therewith as is possible in Equity
and Justice to ourselves and Country. There have been
many Conferrences formerly on this Subject who always
agreed 'twas none of Sir Thomas Lawrence's Right and

L. H. J.

Lib. 41