The Lower House. 249

And Sent to the Upper House by M^r Lee and M^r Benson.
They Return and say They have Delivered it.
John Hall Esq^r & Coll. Addison from the Upper House
Deliver M^r Speaker the following Message Viz.

By the Upper House of Assembly

August the 5^th 1721
Gentlemen.

In Answer to Your Message of Yesterday by M^r Smith

L. H. J.

and M^r Dashiel It may not be Unseasonable to put you in
Mind of the Practice of all our Neighbouring Governm^ts who
with out Doubt find their Account in Employing Agents, as
well to Represent upon every Turn the Wants and Con-
veniences of Each Colony as to Obviate whatsoever may be
proposed to the prejudice thereof
We are Sorry to find that any of the Members of your
House have so mean An Opinion of Coll Blackiston's Con-
duct as to make it a Question whether or no it hath been of
Any Advantage to this Province. We are all well Assured
that he hath been Indefaticable in the Service thereof by

Employing his Good Officers at Court as well as with my

Lord Proprietary upon all Occasions wherein the General
Good of this Province (to which he Declares himself at all
times to be strictly Attached) hath at any Time been brought
into Dispute. A Gentleman of Good [Interest] at Court and in
Parliament too, seems the more Necessary to us at this Time,
that by Uniting his Interest to that of our Lord Proprietary
we may hope for Success in the Negotiation of all such Pub-
lick Affairs as relate Immediately, or more Remotely to the
Interest and Trade of this Province. We have no Manner
of Inclination to Burthen our Country with unnecessary Ex-
pence: But we take it to be a Duty Incumbent on us to Advise
the Making Provision against every Unforeseen Emergency
which may happen in England: and may for want of Proper
Remedies and Applications be of Fatal Consequences to the
Weal of this Province all which Considered we are of Opinion,
that the Continuance of An Agent will Very Much Conduce
to the Publick Good and we are further of Opinion that Coll.
Blackiston who is so particularly Acquainted with the Interest

p. 68

and Circumstances thereof is the properest Person to be Em-
ployed in the Negotiation of the affairs of this Province as
they may Regard the Court, the Parliament or Our Lord
Proprietary himself: for altho we are of the Same Sentiments
with you, in depending upon a very Easy and Free Access to
his Lordship's person and favour; yet the necessity remaining
as before of a Proper Person to Assist his Lordship upon
every Emergency that Respects the Common Good, we there-

p. 69