614 Assembly Proceedings, April 5-22, 1720.

L. H. J.

Bill Impowering Trustees and Commissioners, to sell the
Estates of Thomas Smithson of Talbot County &^c Read with
the Amendments and will pass which was so. Endorst, and
sent to the Upper house by M^r Hill and Coll. Woolford.
They return and Say they Delivered it
Ordered the following Message be prepared Viz:

By the Lower House of Assembly April the 19^th 1720
May it please your Excy and Honours
M^r Speaker haveing Communicated to this House your
Excys Letter of the 9^th Instant we have Inspected our late
address to their Lordships Touching the Sundry Vexatious
Prosecutions against many Inhabitants of this Province as
Debters or Supposed D^rs to the Crown, and take the same to be
set forth on Just reasons, but are Extreamly Surprized and
Sorry to find that the Commissioners of his Majesty's Cus-
toms have not been pleased to take under their Considerations
the Severall hardships complained of but contrariwise have
rather justifyed the said Proceedings and Accused your Excy

P. 57

of retarding those affairs which we are clearly of opinion, your
Excellency has in no wise Deserved, as may appear by the
Entrys on the docketts of the Chancery Court For we are so
well Sattisfied with your Excellency's Integrity and justice
During your Administration as Chancellour that the most
Invidious uf your Enemys Cannot In anywise make out the
least charge of Partiality or Corruption and are Sorry your
Excy thro' any unjust misrepresentations against you to their
Lordships should induce you to give up the seals tho' when we
Consider the just reasons laid down in your Excellencys
Speech in Councill on that Occasion, We Cannot but applaude
your Excellencies prudence in giveing up your Interest to
preserve your Integrity which we believe no power on Earth
Can remove from you
Signed p Order M. Jenifer Cl: Lo: Ho.

And sent to the Upper House by M^r Lee M^r Walter Smith
Esq^r Rousby Cap^t Rider M^r Caldwell and M^r Dashiel
They return and say they Delivered it.
The following Message being prepared viz:

By the Lower House of Assembly April the 19^th 1720.
May it please your Honours
In answer to your Message of the 15^th Instant by John
Hall Esq^r This House conceives that the reasons of the Con-
ferrees for referring the Subject Matter of the Conferrence