310 Assembly Proceedings, July 10-August 8, 1729.

U. H. J.

you will meet a happy Guidance in your own Knowledge & Expe-
rience

p. 2

Gentlemen of the House of Delegates
The Law for ascertaining the Gauge and Tare of Tobacco hogs-
heads and for other Things therein mentioned is near Expiration,
as I have not received any Instructions from His Lordship to the
Contrary. I think myself at Liberty to offer His Good Tenants
the Continuation for three Years more of that Law, whereby their
Tenancy is made so very easy to them, but as the late Law for
stinting the Number of Tobacco Plants, may considerably lessen the
Export of Hogsheads, the raising an Equivalent thereto to His
Lordship, must appear both just and necessary, lest His Indulgency
to His Tenants should prove unreasonably disadvantageous to him-
self,
Gentⁿ of Both Houses
Nothing can be more desireable than a Certainty in Matters of
Property, by bringing Controversies of Right to a known End,
wherefore it may seem necessary to limit the Time for Appeals
from Chancery, as well as to regulate the Nature of them; And as
a Question has arose whether in the Absence of the Governor and
first of the Council in Commission, the Senior of the Council then
present may preside and proceed to a Determination on Appeals and
Writts of Error, it will be prudent to solve it, by impowering in
such Case the Senior present so to preside and proceed, otherwise
Great Inconveniencies and Delays may happen by the Absence of
the Governor or first in Commission, or when Either or both should
be Parties concerned in the Matters in Dispute
I heretofore advised a separate Repository for Our Old Records,
and I hope you will no longer delay a Security so essential to pic-
serve the Rights of yourselves and your Posterity from the Injury
of Common Accidents.
The Act against Engrossers and Regrators might be very benefi-
cial to the People of this Province, were not the sense thereof con-
fusedly expressed, but a Revisal & Explanation of it may supply its
Defects.

p. 3

This leads me to recommend Great Care and Caution in the
Penning of Laws since it little availeth to be cautious and circum-
spect in Our Consultations, if we are not equally such in forming
Our Resolutions into Laws
Having thus delivered some things to your Consideration, it re-
mains with you to advise whatever else may be necessary or con-
venient to promote Our General Welfare, and you may be well as-
sured I shall not fail to advance to the Utmost of my Power, the
United Interests of His Majesty, the Lord Proprietary and the
Good People of Maryland