The Upper House. 457

Fund perhaps is not more than sufficient to provide necessary Arms
&c. but We tell you in the latter part that a Calculation may be made :
and We cannot see where the Impropriety is of making a Calcula-
tion to know whether any Money can be spared from a Fund which
Perhaps may not be sufficient for the Original Uses and Purposes,
and Our Readiness to joyn in contributing such money as may be
found on Calculation more than sufficient for such Purposes
If any Handle has been made of the Conspiracy of Our Negroes
to any other purposes than to discover and bring the Accused to a
legal Tryal and Punishment, we assure you of Our being entirely
Strangers to it, nor have we ever heard of any thing being indus-
triously spread over the Province about it, except what tended to
discredit the Opinion of the Romish Priests being concerned in it;
by the several Informations taken by a Magistrate as well as by the
Flight and Conviction afterwards of the Ringleader since executed
for that Fact, we have not the least doubt of the Truth of such cruel
Designs having been in Agitation amongst the Negroes, and what-
ever you may think of them, We cannot but be fearful of much
Danger to the Peace and Welfare of the Province from such Num-
ber of Slaves as are amongst us, if we should not make proper Pro-
vision against their Attempts.
Upon the whole, Gentlemen, although we have at present a War
with Spain, and you declare yourselves apprehensive of a sudden
One with France, who has Settlements and Forts within less than
Eight or ten Days March from Our Borders which lie exposed to
every Insult or Attack, although by the Laws regulating Our
Militia, there is not sufficient Authority to oblige the Service of any
One in Defence of Our Country against an Invasion, although We
have lately had a Conspiracy amongst Our Negroes, yet to Our great
Amazem^t you would perswade us into an Opinion of Security: As
for our Parts, your Indifferency at this Juncture requires from us
more Vigilance and Care, & We are so thoroughly attached to the
Duty We owe to his Majesty and the Country at this Juncture, that
if We cannot procure some better Provision for Our Defence, We
will not weaken what We have
Signed p Order John Ross Cl Up H.

Adjourned till two of the Clock in the Afternoon

U. H. J.

Calvert
Paper
No. 735

Eodem Die post Meridiem

This House met again according to Adjournment Present as in
the Morning
Adjourned 'till to Morrow Morning ten of the Clock

p. 42