484 Assembly Proceedings, April 5-22, 1720.

U. H. J.

It hath been affirmed that Cecilius Lord Baltemore Pub-
lished a Declaration Inviting all psons that believed in the
Name of Jesus to Settle and Inhabitt this pvince promising

p. 13

them all Equall Privileges yet I presume it will be Admitted
that Noble Lord could not give greater Powers than he had
For after all the Privileges and Immunities mentioned in
the Charter towards the Conclusion there is this Provision
made viz.
" Provided always that no interpretacon be admitted there-
" of by which God's Holy and truly Christian Religion or the
" Allegiance due unto us our Heirs & Successors may in any
" ways Suffer any Prejudice or Diminution
The Charter was Granted by King Charles the first who was
a Protestant and Certainly could not Intend this Provisoe in
favour of any other Religion than that of which he was a
zealous Professor. But to make this more Evident It is
Expressly Stipulated in the Body of the Charter that all
Churches Chappels and Oratories be dedicated and Conse-
crated according to the Ecclesiasticall Law of the Kingdom of
England.
This so well Explains itself, that It wants no Coment. I am
only Surprized from what Latent Cause the Papists derive any
Privileges here beyond what the Connivance of the Govern-
ment may indulge them in.
You may observe from your own Experience and from
what I now mentioned that their Pretensions (however ill
grounded) have Created great Disturbances in this Govern-
ment and should they gain their points in View may Possibly
one Day prove fatall Even to all his Majesty's Subjects on this
Continent considering the prodigious Settlements a formid-
able nation of their own pswasion are Extending on our
Backs. These reflections meritt your precaucon for it is much
Easier and Safer to prevent than to Cure an Inveterate Dis-

p. 14

temper Contracted by a long neglected ill Habit in the Con-
stitution.
But that I may not be wanting on my part to Apply proper
remedys to these great and Growing Evils, I hope you will
Approve of my Intentions of Sending for some Principall
Persons of the Papists in Order to Examine them before this
Sessions what Privilege they have a right to that they Enjoy
not And promise them readily to Concurr with you in allowing
them whatever is their due without the Least Violation. But
if this fair Occasion will not Induce them to Expose their
Claim to a publick Examination ; I must own It will Confirm
me as I think It may reasonably perswade all mankind besides,
that they are Conscious it will not bear the Light.