The Lower House. 73

Province were of no Force before her Majesty's Dissassent
thereto, and if any Opinions have been given by them con-
cerning Laws Enacted by two of the three Estates and not the
other conform to what her Majesty has been pleased to approve
of and laid before you this Session we cannot unless we
thought it proceeded of Corruption think the Persons guilty
of any Crime for uttering the same neither can we on the nar-
rowest Scrutiny find any Difference between Sir Thomas
Lawrence and the present Deputy Secretary acting in the
Provincial Court as a Judge and Secretary and wish you to
reflect that Security is given for the Ministerial Office by the
Secretary in Chief and the Clerk of that Court Sworn to keep
a true Record and the Person pointed at has taken an Oath
for the due Execution of his Judicial Office In which if you
have any just Accusation against him or any others we are
ready to hear you, if not we hope you will not further press us
on this Score but faithfully execute the Trust reposed in you
by concluding this Session to the best Advantage and Service
of the Country.

L. H. J.
Lib. 41

Gentl. After such amicable Procedures as have been this
Session between us, We little expected that our adventuring to
defer laying her Majesty's Commands before you till this
Time, thereby preventing the Charge of convening an Assem-
bly in the Summer would have met so perverse a Construction
that the assessing the publick Charge, but more especially our
Allowances for Attendance in Council were the great Occasion
of this Session nor is there any Justice in your laying hold of
the Honble Presidents Expression that this was the usual
Time for assessing the publick Charge
Signed p Order W Bladen Cl. Council.

Which being read and debated Resolved it be answered as
follows.
By the House of Del.
3^d Nov. 1711

Notwithstanding we are assured what we have addressed
your Honours to remedy is our just Right and worthy your
Hon^rs Consideration we are willing at present to waive any
further Debate about it and therefore have sent the Bill for
assessing the publick Levy for your Assent.

Signed p Order Rich^d Dallam Cl. Ho. Del.

Sent up with the ingrossed Bill to the Honble Council by
Maj^r Gale, M^r Hunt, M^r Worthington, M^r Ungle M^r Lee and
M^r Jones.

p. 315