The Lower House. 315

Charge of this Province whereby the Execution of that Act has
been retarded, and a great part of the Money although collected is
still retained in the hands of the Sheriffs, and the public Creditors
deprived of it, is a thing so extraordinary, and attended with so many
ill Consequences to the People whom we represent, without any one
good end to his Lordship that We know of, that we cannot consistent
with our Duty pass it over, without complaining of it as a high In-
fringement of our Rights, But as We have no Room to suppose your
Excellency had any Share in this matter we only mention it to you
in order to pray your Concurrence in such Measures as we shall
endeavour to take for remydying those ill Consequences; which
Concurrence we cannot doubt of Obtaining, since you have so kindly
offered it, in every thing tending to the Safety and Welfare of the
Province
Our own Safety, as well as your Excellencys Recommendation,
will necessarily lead us to consider what Arms and Ammunition may
be necessary for our Security and to make such Provision therefore
as the present Exigency may require and our Circumstances admit
of and We do very sincerely assure you that nothing shall be wanting
on our Part to render your Administration easy and agreable to you,
consistent with the Trust reposed in us by our Constituents.

L. H. J.

Being prepared on Behalf of the House to be Signed by the
Honourable Speaker; which being done
Ordered that William Stoughton Esq^r and M^r John Magruder
acquaint his Excellency therewith, and that this House desires to
know when and where he will please to receive it they return and
acquaint M^r Speaker the Governor will receive it in half an Hour in
the Conference Chamber
Ordered that the Address to his Excellency the Governor, be
presented by M^r Speaker attended by all the Members of this House
M^r Speaker left the Chair and attended by the rest of the Members
presented the Address to his Excellency
M^r Speaker and the rest of the Members returned
M^r Speaker resumed the Chair
On Motion of a Member that A Bill be brought in to enforce the
Collection of the Public Money, as it was assessed and partly Col-
lected by Virtue of an Act entituled an Act for the Assessment and
Payment of the Public Charge of this Province
Leave given and Ordered that the Committee of Laws prepare
and bring in the Bill accordingly
And that it be an Instruction to the said Committee to insert a
Clause to enable the Sheriffs whose Offices are or shall be expired
before the Collection to make Completion,
M^r Magruder from the Committee of Aggrievances &c^a acquaint
M^r Speaker that that Committee had made Choice of M^r Nicholas
Hammond for their Clerk; the House approves the Choice

P. 317