308 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1769-1770.

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

p. 69

At a Council held, at the Governor's, on Friday the 4^th day
of August, in the Nineteenth Year of His Lordship's Do-
minion Anno Domini 1769.

Present
His Excellency Robert Eden Esq^r Governor.

Benedict Calvert Esq^r Walter Dulany Esq^r
The Honble Daniel Dulany Esq^r George Steuart Esq^r
John Ridout Esq^r

His Excellency was pleased to lay before this Board a
Letter, which he had received from the Right Honourable
the Earl of Hillsborough, inclosing His Majesty's most
Gracious Speech to both Houses of Parliament at the Close
of the last Session; as also one from John Pownal Esq^r to-
gether with Sundry Acts of Parliament.

Whitehall May 13^th 1769.
Sir.
Inclosed I send you the Speech made by the King to his
Parliament, at the Close of the Session on Tuesday last. What
his Majesty is pleased to say, in relation to the Measures
which have been pursued in North America, will not escape
Your Notice, as the Satisfaction His Majesty expresses in
the Approbation his Parliament has given to them and the
assurances of their firm Support in the Prosecution of them,
together with his Royal Opinion of the great Advantages that
will probably accrue from the Concurrence of every Branch of
the Legislature, in the Resolution of maintaining a due Exe-
cution of the Laws, cannot fail to produce the most Salutary
Effects.
From hence it will be understood that the whole Legis-
lature concur in the Opinion, adopted by his Majesty's Serv-
ants, that no Measure ought to be taken which can any way
derogate from the Legislative Authority of Great Britain
over the Colonies; but I can take upon me to assure you,
Notwithstanding Insinuations to the Contrary, from Men
with Factious and Seditious Views, that His Majesty's present
Administration have at no time entertained a Design to pro-
pose to Parliament to lay any further Taxes upon America,
for the purpose of raising a Revenue, and that it is at present
their Intention to propose, in the next Session of Parliament,
to take off the Duties upon Glass Paper and Colours, upon
Consideration of such Duties having been laid contrary to the
true Principles of Commerce.
These Sir have always been and still are the Sentiments
of His Majesty's present Servants, and the Principles by