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

Lib. C. B.

No. 20
p. 83

At a Council held at the Governor's on Sunday the 12^th day
of November in the Nineteenth year of his Lordship's Do-
minion Anno 1769.

Were Present.
His Excellency Robert Eden Esq^r Governor

Daniel Dulany Esq^r John Beale Bordley Esq^r

The Honable John Ridout Esq^r George Steuart Esq^r

His Excellency is pleased to acquaint this Board that he has
received Instructions from his Lordship the Right honourable
the Lord Proprietary to appoint William Fitzhugh Esq^r a
Member of his Lordship's Council and the Upper House of
Assembly of this Province who being present took the several
Oaths to the Government required by Law as also the usual
Oath of Councillor, repeated and Subscribed the Oath of Ab-
juration and Test and then took his Seat at the Board accord-
ingly.
His Excellency is pleased to lay before this Board the fol-
lowing Draught of a Speech to both Houses of Assembly
which being Read is approved of.

Gentlemen of the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly.
From my desire of accommodating the public Business to
your private Affairs, I have delayed calling you together, nor
should I, did not the Exigencies of Government make it neces-
sary, now meet you, merely to Notify the Lord Proprietary's
Appointment of me to Succeed Colonel Sharpe as Governor of
this Province; to merit which Honor, and the Trust thus
reposed in me, I shall ever consider it to be my indispensable
Duty to promote on all Occasions the Prosperity of Maryland.

Gentlemen of the Lower House.
Convinced, as I am, that the real Interests of the Lord
Proprietary, and the People of this Province are inseparable,
I meet this Assembly with the most Agreeable Prospect. From
your Attachment to the Welfare of your Country; from your
knowledge of its Circumstances, and from your Moderation
and Prudence, I derive the most persuasive and pleasing Ex-
pectation, that this Session will be distinguished by the Bene-
fits which a dispassionate and amicable Intercourse cannot fail
to produce, by the Propriety of your Proceedings and the
Utility of those Laws which shall be Enacted.
His Lordship has been pleased to assure you in the Message
I am now to have the Honour of delivering to you, that if you
will prepare the Plan for the further Improvement of the
Province, his Encouragement shall not be wanting. Though