The Upper House. 287

bers of Your House to joyn some of the Members of this House
on a Conferrence in relation to the Subject matter of the said
Message
Signed p Order John Ross Cl. Up. Ho.

Read the Petition of Johanna Hall late Johanna Philips mother
& Natural Guardian of James Philips & Susanna Philips Infants in
behalfe of herselfe and James & Susanna praying leave to bring in
a bill to Repeal An Act of Assembly formerly made in this Province
& ordered to be thus Endorsed.

By the Upper House of Assembly 3^d Sept^r 1731

The Consideration of the within Petition is deferred till the next
Session of Assembly and that Summons Issue for the parties con-
cerned then to Appear.

A Message from the lower House by Maj^r King and Eleven more.

U. H. J.

By the lower House of Assembly Sept^r 3^d 1731.
May it please Yo^r Honours.
Your House having proposed to pass the Bill for the Relief of
severall languishing prisoners for Debt, Except Richard Smith
James Mason & John Norwood with some Amendments without
Communicating any reasons to this House which Induced Your
Honours to Except the said three persons; We are at a loss to con-
ceive what your Reasons might be for Distinguishing these three
unhappy men from other Prisoners in a manner that must certainly
prove very prejudicial to their Creditors & Familys & may probably
occasion the loss of their lives; That Death may be the Consequence
of a long Imprisonm^t (which these unfortunate men must undergo
unless they are releived by this Assembly) there have been Recent
& Melancholly Instances in the Death of four men, who might prob-
ably live severall Years had they Enjoyed their liberty instead of
being confined in a loathsome Goal, and we hope your Honours will
not be for continuing the like meanes of Adding to their Number
without some very Cogent & Extraordinary reasons such as ought
to out weigh the Manifest Hazarding of Mens lives the Ruin of
family's & the loss of Creditors; which we hope cannot be given in
the Case of the persons your Honours would Except if such reasons
can be given we shall Submit to them,
As to Richard Smith & John Norwood we find that they are
recommended by the Justices of Prince Georges and Ann Arundell
Countys as proper Objects of the Legislatures Compassion.
As to the other Amendments proposed by your Honours this
House Agrees & desires your Honours will pass the bill upon making

p. 147