276 Assembly Proceedings, February 20-28, 1721/2.

U.H.J.

Thereupon the said Samuel Skippon took the Several Oaths

Appointed by Law and Signed the Oath of Abjuration and
Test, and likewise took the Oath for the due Execution of his
Office
Col John Mackal and M^r Robert Tyler Acquaint this
House that there is a Sufficient number of their House met to
proceed upon Business, and desire to know his Hon^rs Com-
mands.
Whereupon Col Will^m Holland is Sent down to the Lower
House to acquaint them that his Hon^r the Governor requires
the Speaker and the whole House to attend him immediately
in the Council Chamber
The s^d Col Holland returns & Says he has delivered the said
Message
The Speaker and Lower House of Assembly give their At-
tendance accordingly; upon which occasion his Hon^r the
Governour made the following Speech Viz.

Gentlemen of the Upper and Lower Houses
It is with the Utmost Regret that I found myself under a
necessity of Convening you at this unseasonable Time of the
year, but as the occasion is so evident, it Ushers with it a due
Apology; for very few of the Tobacco makers can conscien-
tiously comply with the Oaths prescribed in the late Act for
meliorating Tobacco w^ch puts such a Stop to Trade as neither
Planter or Merchant is the better by that Law. For if the
people will not freight their Tobacco the Consequence to them
and the Merchants is too evident to need a Comment; if they
Ship without complying with the Law, it may create greater

P. 3

Trouble to the Courts and Charge to the People than indeed
ought to be wished. But as it is allowed, that a Melioration of
Quality was and still continues necessary, which is the Chief
Design of that Act, I doubt not, but you'll readily Agree that
there is a Necessity for an Explanation or Amendment to the
Law. For my Part there is nothing- that is proper for you to
Ask, and me to Grant, hut I shall heartily concur in for the
Good of Maryland
Inasmuch as through the indispensable necessity of the
above occasion you are met; I thought it my Duty to Acq^t you
that our most Gracious Sovereign; in a late Speech to the
British Parliament, has taken the low Estate of our Trade
into his Princely Consideration, and for our Relief recom-
mended the making of Naval Stores in these parts such In-
stances of his Paternal and Royal Care of us, must certainly
more and more endear him to all his Good Subjects And to
Shew our Gratitude to the Best of Kings the least we can do,