The Upper House. 349

And Desire to know whether your honours will Agree with
us that a bill may be brought in thereon According to that
Report
Signed p Order Mic Jenifer Cl Lo Ho.

In Answer whereto the following Message is Prepared viz.

By the uper House of Assembly
June 5^th 1719

Gent. In Answer to your Message by M^r Tyler & four
others this house Agrees that a bill may be brought in Limitt-
ing the Severall Officers fees as proposed by the Report of the
Conferrees.
Signed p Order John Beard Cl Up ho.

Sent by Col Tilghman & Col Ward who Return & Say they
D^d it.
Mess^rs Joseph Hill & John Caldwell with the Engrost bill
against buying and Selling of Offices &c
Assented to by the lower house.

And being Read is Assented to by this house and John Hall
Esq^r Sent to Acquaint the lower house thereof

U. H. J.

The Bill for Securing the Peace of this Province against
the Villainies of Imported Convicts being Read the following
message is Prepared.

By the uper house of Assembly
June 5^th 1719
Gent. We Cannot Agree with you in Opinion that the bill
now Proposed for secureing the Peace of this Province against
Imported Convicts does not relate to Trade because tho It does
not Directly Prohibit the Importation of them, yet it Effec-
tually Discourages any psons from buying them, which must
needs be a great Detriment to any Merchant who shall under-
take the Transportation of such Convicts. Therefore we have
Great Reason to believe his Excellency the Gov^r will not Pass
a Law, so Contrary to his Instructions besides we think it
would be a Great Injustice to any Merchant that use or may
happen to be Concerned in Transporting such Convicts to
make a law to deprive them of the opportunity of disposing of
them here without giving a Sufficient Time to Apprize them
of it So that Altho we are very apprehensive of the mischiefs
that may Ensue upon the Importation of such p sons amongst
us, yet we Cannot Consent to the Passing this bill under a less

P. 104