The Upper House. 239

Read the Message by Captain Crabb and Col^o Belt Yester-
day to which the following Answer is prepared.

By the Upper House of Assembly October the 28^th 1725
Gentlemen.

If the two Servants you mention in your Message Yester-
day by Captain Crabb and Col^o Belt were Committed to Goal
for any Crimes or Misdemeanours Committed by them, we
admire they should remain there so long and not be brought
to a Tryal by which means they would be found Guilty and
receive due punishment or be acquitted and returned to their
Masters Service as our Law relating to Criminal Servants
directs, But if they were only Committed upon Suspicion of
Misbehaviour and after having lain so long in prison (no
Act tending thereto can be proved Against them) we are of
Opinion that they ought to be Released and returned to their
Masters who after the Expiration of their Service are obliged
by an Act of Assembly for paym^t of Criminal Servants fees to
Deliver them up for the payment of their fees or pay their fees
for them. If you please to read the aforesaid Act of Assembly
we believe you will find Sufficient provision therein made for
the present Case and we think we ought to have the same
tender regard for the propertys of Masters in their Servants

U. H. J.

as that Legislature had, for which reason we have refused
to pass yo^r bill.
Sign'd p Order Geo. Plater Cl Up Ho.

Which Message and Bill was sent down by John Hall Esq^r
who returns and says he delivered them
A Bill from the Lower house by M^r Denton and M^r Gordon
Entituled A Bill Declaring Probats of Deeds or other matters
or Acknowledgments of deeds taken before two Magistrates
of the City of Annapolis to be good and Valid in Law thus
Endorsed, Viz.

October the 28^th 1725
Read the first and second time by especial Order and will
pass
Signed p order M. Jenifer Cl Lo Ho.

Which being Read is ordered to be further thus Endorst
Viz.

By the Upper House of Assembly Octo^r the 28^th 1725
Read and will pass.
Signed p Order Geo: Plater Cl. Up. Ho.

p. 61