512 Assembly Proceedings, April 23-June 5, 1740.

U. H. J.
Calvert
Paper
No. 735

Well Wishers to the Prosperity of the Province will think it but
Prudence in us to be upon Our Guard, and to Arm Ourselves in
the best manner We are able, which will not only be of great Advan-
tage to us in Case of an Actual Invasion, but be the best means of
preserving us from so great A Calamity
Sam: Ogle

June 3
p. 104

To his Excellency Samuel Ogle Esq^r Governor of Maryland
The humble Address of the House of Delegates of the said
Province.

May 1t please your Excellency
We should very willingly have Entered upon the Consideration of
the matters proposed in your Message of the second Instant was
there any Probability of having the Result of that Consideration
Pass into a Law this Session if such Law should be thought neces-
sary
But since the Upper House keeps from us all Our Bills, most of
which have been there almost a month, and still refuse them a second
Reading, unless upon Terms which we in Justice to Our Con-
stituents cannot agree to, so that there is no Appearance of any
further Business being done at this Time; we pray your Excellency
to Excuse us from entring upon an Affair which requires so great
deliberation at a time when Six Weeks have been spent with the
passing of only one Bill, and our private Affairs necessarily call us

to our Respective Habitations

When your Excellency shall again be pleased to call us together,
and the present difficulties are removed, we shall gladly comply with
your desire in the mean time, we are in hopes that there may be
found Room enough in the Publick Buildings to Lodge more than
the few Arms We have now at this Place till a more favourable
Opportunity offers of providing a proper Recepticle for them; and
we also find in one of the present Militia Acts a Provision that Per-
sons Prest or inlisted in Case of Foreign Invasion, refusing upon
their Officers Commands to appear and serve in Arms, are Sub-
jected to Prosecutions in the Provincial Court to be fined and
Imprisoned at the Discretion of that Court which we hope will
suffice at present for common Soldiers, and as for those who have
accepted Commissions We cannot doubt but they will from a Prin-
ciple of Honour be Sufficiently prompted to pursue your Excellencys
Commands without any Compulsory means
Signed on Behalf and by Order of the House
Philip Hammond, Speaker