The Lower House. 567

Prorogation, yet I am perswaded they must have been Ex-
traordinary and as I have not their Lordships commands
further to prorogue you, It Seems to be their Determined
pleasure, you Shou'd meet at, this, their appointed time.
Therefore use the Opportunity (which in all probability
will be the last I shall have) to recomend to your Considera-
tion Severall Important affairs for the good Government and
Welfare of His Majestyes Subjects of this Province.

Gentlemen.
You are Sensible the Act Ascertaining the Gauge and Tare
of Tobacco Hogsheads expires on the 29^th day of September
Ensuing, this Act Contains three Perticulars E'ssential to your
ease and Prosperity, first The Provision for Support of
Government.
2^d The Equivalent given in Lieu of your Quit Rents and
Alienation fines and
3^d The Regulation of your Tobacco Trade, the Staple and
Wealth of Maryland.

L. H. J.

I must here Acquaint you that I have wrote in very Press-
ing Terms to their Lordships for Instructions on the Support
of Government, and on the Equivalent for your Quit Rents
and tho my Correspondents Inform me my Letters have been
Delivered, I have not yet received their Commands thereon,
Occasion'd, as I presume, By the long Course of Contrary
Winds which Retards the arrival of the Ships Expected from
London, so that I must confine myself to offer you my own
Sentiments on them.
As for the Support of Government the very mentioning
of it Implyes the necessity of a proper provision to be made,
for Maintaining the Honour and Character of your Govern-
our and other judiciall and Ministerial Officers, With which
when Ordered to be laid before you for your Consent your
Complyance is not doubted.
The Law that Relates to your Quitt Rents as it now Stands,
Took its rise from my Observation of the wrong done the Late
Lord Proprietor in the Collecting and from the Manifold In-
conveniencies and Difficultyes The Tenants Laboured under
in the paying them in order to redress both, I proposed the
Expedient of Adding Six pence p Hogshead to the Eighteen
pence formerly given, to be in full Satisfaction for your Quit
Rents and Alienation fines this with much Difficulty (as you
may Remember) was obtained and now after Some years'
Experience I have the Pleasure to find no Proprietor here has
Ever received So Great an Annual income as the Present
Lord has done Since the passing that Act, nor were Ever the
Tenants better Pleased or more Easy in their Possessions.

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