70 Assembly Proceedings, May 21-June 16, 1730.

L. H. J.

your Honour our most humble and hearty thanks for giving us this
Opportunity (However Inconvenient it may be to us with regard
to our private Concerns) of Consulting a Matter of such great Im-
portance to our Country as the Amendment of our Staple.
And We are truely Sorry for and Condole with your Honour on
the Cause of your Affliction as well as your own Indisposition.
We Acknowledg with the Deepest sense of Gratitude, your regard
to the Welfare of this Province & Complyance with the joint Ad-
dress of both Houses of Assembly in Concerting a Correspondence
with Virginia; The people of which Colony cannot but be Convinced
as we are, that their Welfare as well as ours depends on the Amend-
ment of our Common Staple Tobacco. And that whether we Pursue
the Same or Different means the End ought to be the Same.
As to the Scheme your Honour has been pleased to Communi-
cate to us We shall take the same as well as Every thing Else that
shall Occur or be proposed to us into our most Serious Consideration
and Endeavour to the best of our understanding to form such a
Tobacco Law as may remove Some of the Miserys under which
our Country at present Groans & do all we Can to dispatch the other
Publick Business with the least Expence to the people we represent.

p. 182

Your Honour's Wishes that wisdom and Moderation may Direct
your Councills and the Assurances you have been Pleased to give us,
of your Inclination to Advance our real Happiness, not only deserves
our most thankfull Acknowledgments but ought to Excite us, as
we hope it will, to Act with the Greatest Zeal and unanimity in the
Service of our Country under a firm reliance on your Concurrence
with us in the means which never were more Necessary than at this
juncture.
Signed by Order of the House John Mackall, Speaker
May 22^d 1730.

They return & acquaint M^r Speaker they presented the Same.
M^r Kirk Appeared in the House this Afternoon
The Question being put whether this House should first proceed
to Consider of a Tobacco Law or for the Appointment of an Agent
in Great Britain.
Resolved that the House first proceed to Consider of a Tobacco
Law
The Question being put whether a bill should be prepared for the
Amendment of the Staple of Tobacco or not, Resolved in the Affirm-
ative.
The Question being Put whether in the Tobacco Bill to be pre-
pared the Restriction shall be to a Number of Plants or to a Number
of Pounds.
Resolved that the Restriction be to a Number of Plants.