302 Assembly Proceedings, May i^-June 6, 1719.

U. H. J.

Consideration and this I Propose from my Tender Regard for
the good of this pvince which I shall always have at Heart and
am even Careful least you should Hurt your Selves tho by
your Own Consent And what will Posterity and Strangers say
when they are Informed the Warr you make on these Little
Animalls has Cost this Country by a Modest Computation in
One year 7000 pound Sterling.
When I reflect on the Happy Increase of the Youths in this
pvince and the Vast importation of Europeans and negroes
into it yet that the number of your Taxables do not Amount
to what it might be reasonably Expected from these Causes it
is naturall from hence to Conclude that there are not Just
returns made to the Publick this is worthy Your Inquisition
And in my Opinion there Cannot be too severe Penalties Im-
posed on such who will fully Conceal there Taxables and so
Defraud the Publick whereas all that Receive Protection from
your Laws Ought to bear an Equall Proportion of that Charge
w^ch is Levyed for the Comon Good.

p. 12

Gent. I have after my Accustomed Method laid before You
the Intention and End of y^r meeting and what I have Offered
is in the Sincerity of my Heart Proposed for y^r Wellfare.
But as you are I thank God a Free People so may accept or
Refuse what I Now Deliver to you as you shall find it for the
Conveniency or Inconveniency of your Country
John Hart

p. 13

After which the Gentlemen of the Lower House withdrew
M^r John Rousby and M^r Philip Lee acquaint this House
that they have made Choice of Michael Jenifer Gent, to be
their Clerk and Accordingly Present him to be sworn.
Thereupon the said Michael Jenifer qualifyes himself by
takeing the severall Oaths Appointed by Act of Assembly to
be taken to the Governm^t And the Usual Oath of Clerk of the
Lower House, and withdraws
His Excellency Acquaints this House that by their Lord-
ships Comands he lays before them their Lordships Answer to
the Address from both Houses last Sessions, Which is as
follows

Baltemore| Gentlemen of the Upper and Lower Houses of
Guilford J Assembly
The Dispatch given to the Publick Affairs in your last
Sessions, And the unanimous Concern you have Shewn for

p. 14

the Just Authority of our Courts, And the Persons of our
Ministers is most gratefull to us. And you have thereby not