The Lower House. 399

of me and will employ my Efforts to be useful in my Admin-
istration
June 23^rd 1714 Jo. Hart

Ordered That the following be returned as an Answer to
the Instructions referred to in his Excys Speech Viz.

L. H. J.
Lib. 41

By the House of Delegates
Thursday 24^th June 1714

May it please your Excy,
We the Delegates of this Province now convened in a
general Assembly having taken into Consideration the In-
structions to which your Excys Speech at the Opening of this
Sessions refers do with unfeigned Hearts return your Excy our
hearty Thanks for the Zeal and religious Care you express for
the Support and Observance of our Religion as by Law estab-
lished which we humbly are of Opinion is provided for as far
as our Circumstances will admit by several Acts of Assembly
of this Province and more particularly by an Act entituled an
Act for the Service of Almighty God and Establishment of
Religion in this Province according to the Church of England
&c^a We also beg Leave to acquaint your Excy that we are
humbly of Opinion that there are sufficient Laws already pro-
vided for the Punishment and Discouragement of all Drunken-
ness, Debauchery, Swearing and Blasphemy if put in due
Execution by the several Majestrates of this Province And we
assure your Excy this House will at all Times be very thankful
to your Excy if upon just Complaint you do remove any Justice
of Peace that shall fail in his Duty therein or commit any
Breach of them, and are assured that your Excy's Declaration
thereon and good Example (of which we cannot nor have the
least Grounds to doubt) will very much tend to effect what
your Excy and we so much desire.
We likewise are with Submission to acquaint your Excy that
(sincerely acknowledging the most Princely and tender Regard
Mercy and Moderation of her Majesty towards all her Sub-
jects and all others seeking Refuge in her Kingdoms and
Dominions) there is a Law already made for restraining
Severities to Servants by Masters or Overseers which is enti-
tuled an Act relating to Servants and Slaves whereby the
Justices of the Provi or County Courts of this Province are
impowered in a summary Manner to hear and determine
Complaints between Masters and Servants by Way of Petition
to give Judgment and award Execution; but we intend to
inspect into the same and if we find or are informed by your
Excy that it is any ways deficient shall revise and amend it,

p. 436