xvi Preface.

by Sergeant Wm. Wynne of the Middle Temple, is printed in 32 Archives
(Council), pp. 493-498.

The discussion as to framing an oath for a judge which would satisfy
both Proprietary and Assembly continued, as did the controversy concerning
emitting bills of credit. The regulating of the value of foreign coin caused
discussion and the languishing debtors were like their oriental predecessors,
the poor, who were always with the people of Palestine. One Charles Slye,
who was skilled in military tactics, asked that he be employed to train the
militia, but although the two Houses felt that his proposal was a good one,
they could not agree as to the manner of paying him.

A month after the prorogation, the Assembly was reconvened on August 19.
The session was regarded as closely connected with the previous one; for the
acts received continuous chapter numbers, and the costs for private bills passed
by both sessions were taxed at one time. The number of private acts passed
was unusually large and the debtors who were relieved were more numerous
than usual. An act for ascertaining the form of oath of a judge was vetoed
by the Governor, as was one for the regulation of the value of foreign coin.
Some queries from England as to the foreign trade of the Province led the
Assembly to give interesting details as to that subject. The staple product,
tobacco, is shown to be still in an unprosperous condition. An act compelled
officers to write the amount of their fees in words at full length. The Assize
Act was discussed, but was not passed until the Session of 1732. It is interesting
to notice the order of proceeding in the passage of a bill. After passing two
readings in the House where it originated, it was sent to the other House and
received two readings there. It was then returned, with notice of approval,
or rejection, or with amendments. If the two Houses could not agree as to
amendments, a Conference Committee was appointed, which reported to both
Houses. If the bill was either returned with a favorable report or the amend-
ments were agreed to, it was read a third time in the House of origination, sent
to the other House for a third reading and, thereafter, transmitted to the Gov-
ernor for his signature.

Samuel Ogle, whose commission as Governor was read in the Provincial
Council on December 7, 1731 (25 Archives 549), is said to have been a captain
in the British Army before his arrival in Maryland, A year after his assump-
tion of the governorship, he yielded the executive position, on December 11,
1732, to Charles, Lord Baltimore, who came to Maryland in person and
assumed the direction of affairs. He remained only about six months and
then recommissioned Ogle as Governor on June 20, 1733. Ogle took the -oath
of office on July 11, and continued as Governor until August 23, 1742, when he
went to England, turning over the administration to Thomas Bladen, who