154 Assembly Proceedings, April 22-May 10, 1718.

U. H. T.
p. 63

The Petition of Maurice Birchfield Esq^r Survey^r Generall
being Read at this Board, The Question is put whether this
house will Proceed to the Examination of the Allegations of
the Petition^r or whether they will Referr it to the Considera-
tion of the Lower House.

Resolved it be Referred to the Consideration of the Lower
House

The Reverend Clergy lay before this Honr^ble House a
Representation as foll

To his Excellency John Hart Esq^r
Capt. Generall & Comander in Chief &c
And to the Hon^rble the Uper & Lower Houses of Assembly
May It Please your Excellency and your Honours
The Clergy having addressed Your Excellency and your
Honours to remove such Obstructions as seen to Impede the
Ecclesiasticall Jurisdiction of the Right Reverend the Lord
Bishop of London our Diocesan, which we humbly Conceive

p. 64

should take place here agreeable to his Excellency's Instruc-
tions from the late Queen a Copy of w^ch duly Attested is here-
with humbly offered ; do now Presume with all Humility to lay
before you a Sumary of such Obstructions with Solutions to
the same as in our Opinion, if Approved of by your Excellency
and your Honours may facilitate the due Exercise of the af^d
Instruction, Viz.

Obstruction first.

That the People are generally made to believe that the
Bishop of London has no Authority to Erect any Court within
this Province

Solution

That the Bishop of London's Jurisdiction in this Province
as Contained within his Diocese be asserted and Recognized,
Except in such things as are Excepted in his Lordships Comis-
sion to his Commissarys and his Instruction from the late
Queen, Instruct 80^th

Obstruction the second

That by reason of the many Creeks & Rivers wherewith this
Province doth abound the Church Wardens do find it Charge-
able to attend the Commissaries at their Visitations

p. 65

Solution

That the Reasonable and necessary Expences the Church
Wardens may be at in their Attendance at the Comissaries'