The Upper House. 485

taken upon itself to determine Both, without allowing the House of
Delegates any Share in the Consideration of either.
2^dly That as the Upper House has frequently inculcated the
necessity of extraordinary Armaments at this Juncture, from our
Being in a War with Spain, from the Probability of one with France,
the Danger of being Attacked by some French Colonies said to be
within a few Days March of our Frontiers, the Insurrection of
Negroes, and the evil Disposition of Papists, our house have thought
the increasing the Sum and by Consequence the Quantity of Arms
and Ammunition at such a particular time of Danger, will more
Conduce to our Safety, than giving the Three Pence for nine or
any other number of years, for if the Danger is at Hand the Money
raised after the Third year can be of no use to defend us against such
Danger
3^dly That altho the Lower House in May 1739, when no War
was proclaimed, but only a general Rumour of it, when there was
a large Quantity of Arms in the Province, and above the Proceeds
of Seven Years Duty in Bank in England, did not think it neces-
sary to renew the Bill yet as they offer it when War is Proclaimed
and Danger is at Hand, it is not even to be presumed but that every
House of Delegates will continue from time to time so to do, when
they shall be in the like or worse Circumstances, or their own Pres-
ervation require it

U. H. J.
Calvert
Paper

No. 735

We are further Ordered again to renew to you the Offer made in
Our Message of the 17^th Instant, which if you refuse, we are required
to desist from any further Conference on the Bill for Arms and
Ammunition
The Conferees of the Upper House desire to withdraw to take
the Advice of their House thereon
And the Conferees Adjourn until to Morrow Morning

Thursday Morning May 22^d The Conferees met according to
adjournment
The Conferees of the Upper House deliver themselves in the fol-
lowing manner
Gentlemen We have it in Charge from Our House to say in
Answer to what you communicated to us yesterday on the Subject
of the Act for Arms &c^a and your Reasons for not agreing to Our
Choice of your Alternative for nine years, That the Right you
Claim of not being Obliged to give particular Reasons for your
Resolutions on money Bills, is not a less Priviledge of Our House
on any Bill whatever, and therefore they hope you will not think
it strange, whenever they should think fit to assert or insist upon it

p. 76