The Lower House. 519

ffourteen pence per Ton, on the Tonnage of Shipping; with Accounts
of the amounts of the same Respectively, for Two years then last
past.

Since the ffifteenth Day of January last we have Received from
the Naval officers, papers said to be Copies of the Orders, by which
they Receive the said Twelve pence and ffourteen pence, but no
accounts of the Amounts of the same Respectively, as prayed for.
That the Trust Reposed in us by the House of Delegates may be
discharged on our parts, we Repeat our prayer, that your Excel-
lency will please to order, that accounts of the said Two Sums of
Twelve pence per Hogshead, and ffourteen pence per Ton, Respec-
tively for Two years then last past (as prayed for in the Address
of the House of Delegates) duly proved and authenticated, be
delivered to us, according to the prayer of the said Address.
The necessity of the Case, under the delays heretofore given to
the prosecution of this affair, we doubt not will plead our Excuse,
for the fresh Trouble we are obliged to give your Excellency on this
occasion. We are Your Excellency's most obedient Servants
Philip Hammond Thomas Worthington
Charles Carroll Osborn Sprigg

To which said Letter we Received the following answer.
Gentlemen,
Upon the breaking up of the last Assembly, I gave Directions to
the Naval officers, to transmit to you the Authorities, by which they
Received the Twelve pence per Hogshead, and ffourteen pence per
Ton, properly authenticated; and upon your Remonstrance of the
12^th of January that those Directions had not been complied with,
I sent fresh orders for that purpose
As for transmitting an Account of the amount of those Duties,
the reasons given in my Answer, to the Address of your House, still
seem to me Sufficient to prove it unnecessary, I am, Gentlemen
Your Most Humble Servant
T. Bladen
Which Answer concluded us from Applying further on that Head,
nor could we procure the attestation to the Copies Received from
the Clerk of the House, before June; and Capt. George Lawson, in
the Ship Ranger, from Patuxent, being the ffirst good opportunity,
we transmitted such Copies as we were able to procure, by the Master
of the said Ship, to fferdinando John Paris, Esq^r in a Letter Dated
the 1^st of July 1743.

Phil. Hammond Tho. Worthington Osborn Sprigg
C. Carroll John Magruder
Henry Hall Turnor Wootton

L. H. J.