The Lower House. 509

pleased to communicate to the Honourable the House of Delegates)
than to secure my own private property, and to prevent any ffounda-
tion for a future dispute between the Country and my self, con-
cerning that Land, or any Improvements which are making, or may
hereafter be made, on the same, by removing any Claim, or Right,
in or by the Country, or by the Governor of this Province for the time
being, in Behalf of the Country; which might be Alledged or set up
against me, had I suffered these Buildings and Improvements, on my
Land, to have gone on, without giving these Notices.
I am, Sir, your Honour's, Most Obedient Humble Serv^t
May 3. 1744 S. Bordley

On Reading the aforesaid Letter, Ordered, That an Address be

L. H. J.

prepared to his Excellency, and that the Committee of Laws prepare
and bring in the same
The following Ingrossed Address, viz.
To his Excellency Thomas Bladen Esq^r Governor of Maryland :
The humble Address of the House of Delegates.
May it please your Excellency,
We his Majesty's Dutiful and Loyal Subjects, the Delegates of
the ffreemen of the Province of Maryland, in General Assembly con-
vened, return your Excellency Our Thanks, for not calling us to-
gether until this convenient season of the year, and for our Zealous
Disposition expressed in your Speech, at the opening of this Ses-
sions, for the safety and Protection of this province.

Our Steady Loyalty, and inviolable Attachment to his most Sacred
Majesty's person and Government, and Regard to our own safety
will necessarily engage us to take all proper measures in our power,
for putting our Selves into a posture of Defense, at a Time when
the State of Affairs in Europe is so uncertain, when there is so great
a Probability of a French War, and Great Britain as by the late
Advices, has been threatned with an Invasion. But we cannot omit
telling your Excellency, that these are our only Motives for entering
on such Measures, and that no Consideration of ffuture Misunder-
standings, the putting a Stop to Public Business, nor any Considera-
tion whatsoever, besides our Duty to our Sovereign, and our own
Security, shall in the least influence us in this matter, or shall be an
Ingredient in this, or any other Case, to induce us to lay Taxes on
the people we Represent; and we are therefore sorry your Excel-
lency should have made use of arguments of this kind, with us, on
the present occasion, as it may to strangers, seem to carrv an In-
sinuation of our want of Loyalty to our King, or Duty to our Con-
stituents; altho we can with the greatest Truth say, that his Majesty
has not in his Dominions more Dutiful and faithful Subjects than
those of the Province of Maryland; which Duty and ffidelity, as

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