The Lower House. 367

those Laws are Subject to be disannulled by a Power less than that
by which they were made; and We would intreat your Lordship
to consider, that the repealing of Acts once made is exercising a
Legislative Power, and that, that Power is by the Royal Charter
given to your Lordship in Conjunction with the Freemen of your
Province or their Delegates
There are Grounds to suspect that We have been represented to
your Lordship as a factious clamorous People disaffected to his
Majesty and ill disposed towards your Lordship, since there are
those amongst us who have not been wanting to lay those things to
our Charge; but when your Lordship considers that such Repre-
sentations come from the Authors of many of those Evils, whereof
we complain, we hope they will have but little Weight with you, We
have it is hoped very lately given sufficient Testimony according to
our Abilities of our sincere Attachment to his Majestys Person and
Government and we can with the greatest Truth assure your Lord-
ship that we never had it in our Thoughts to abridge you in any
of your Rights and Prerogatives, and are at all times willing to give
such a Support to your Government, as is suitable to our Circum-
stances, But We know ourselves to be a Branch of that free People
of whom your Lordship is a Representative entituled to all their
Rights and Priviledges and therefore We can never submit to the
Payment of any Tax or Impost but what is laid upon Us by Law
It is with the greatest Pleasure we receive M^r Bladen as our
Governor and as We have full hopes that by his mild and just Ad-
ministration, the true Interest of the Province will be pursued so we
Promise on our Parts to do every thing in our Power to make his

L. H. J.

Government easy and to promote and support your Lordships just
Rights was Read and Assented to and signed on behalf of the House
by the honble Speaker

M^r Smallwood hath Leave of the House to go home
The following Message (See page. 299)
Was sent with the Bill mentioned in the Message by Mess^rs
Magruder and Sprigg
The Bill entituled an Act to enable his Excellency Thomas Bladen
Esq^r or the Governor for the time being to purchase four Acres of
Land &c^a Read the second time and will pass sent to the Upper House
by M^r Lloyd and M^r John Goldsborough
M^r Smith from the Committee to inspect the Arms and Ammuni-
tion &c^a delivers M^r Speaker the following Report viz.
By the Committee for inspecting the Arms Ammunition and
Accounts relating thereto October 25. 1742
Your Committee having view'd and inspected the quality and
quantity of the arms and Ammunition of this Province now in the
City of Annapolis, do find the same as follows viz.

P. 359