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U. H. J.
Calvert
Paper
No. 735
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Posture of Defence we are able, against any such Invasion or At-
tempt of the French or any Others " Although this Preamble con-
tains the strongest Reasons imaginable for Its Continuance to a
determined time, and to the End of the next Session, as Acts of the
like kind have usually been for many years, yet this Bill is absolutely
limited to September 1741: This Alteration, if proper at any time
cannot be so now, when it is uncertain, how long Our War with
Spain may continue, or how soon Another with France may begin,
if not already proclaimed The Money now in hand from that Fund
perhaps is not more than sufficient to provide such necessary Arms
and Ammunition, as a prudent Caution in times of Peace (even
against such like Conspiracys as have lately happened amongst Our
Negroes) might require; And therefore not to say anything of the
Motive of self Preservation, We cannot think this Bill corresponds
with Our often boasted Loyalty: Should a French War break out,
and Our Country be attacked, many Accidents in such Times of
Confusion might prevent the Meeting of an Assembly And if even it
should meet, any future Concurrence to a Bill of this kind cannot
from present Appearances be certainly depended on; since it must
be looked on as very remarkable and extraordinary, That an Act
for Arms and Ammunition for the Defence of this Province was
never so much opposed, as since Our Alarms and Apprehensions
of a dangerous War; And if We are the least backward in con-
sulting our own Safety and Defence, as well as we can, against all
possible Accidents; would not Our Offer of furnishing Money to
encourage Levies for his Majestys Service abroad be rather thought
to proceed from a pretended Zeal than any true Principle of Duty
to his Majestys Since it might be interpreted We did not think
Our Preservation or Happiness consisted in any Defence against
the French; And that the more Money and Men we spared for
One Service the less we might have for the Other, and consequently
this Province might be the easier Prey to an invading Enemy; in
such Circumstances, however fortunate and safe the Roman Catho-
licks or persons nearly attached to them or their Interests might
imagine themselves, yet We are perswaded Every Friend to Our
present happy Establishment must think on such a Situation with
Horror
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p. 27
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These Gentlemen are Our Real Thoughts and Apprehensions and
these have determined us in a fixed Resolution not in the least to
weaken the Provision now subsisting by Law for the Security and
Defence of the Province, which we think, as Affairs now stand,
much too small and ought to be increased; And therefore We chuse
rather to return that Bill for Arms and Ammunition with a negative,
than by passing it, or any other at this Juncture, to forward the
making a Session which must put an End to an Act of the like Kind,
that otherwise will continue 'till a Session happens; for We think
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