The Lower House. 525

assistant is necessary to dispatch Business, and that that Committee
had Chosen M^r Richard Burdus; The House approves the Choice

L. H. J.

Ordered, That Major Hall do administer to him the Oath of office
prescribed
Major Hall acquaints M^r Speaker he did adminster the oath of
office to M^r Burdus
Major Hall is added to the Committee of Laws
The Bill, entituled An Act for Limitation of officers frees; was
Read the second Time, passed and sent to the Upper House by
M^r Nicholas Goldsborough and M^r Joseph Hall.
The Bill entituled An Act to encourage the destroying Bears in
Worcester County, was Read the second time passed, and sent to the
Upper House by Cap^t Purnell and Cap^t Selby.
An Ingrossed Bill, entituled An Act reviving an Act, entituled an
Act for the Benefit of the Poor and encouragement of Industry; was
Read and assented to, and Sent to the Upper House, with the Paper
Bill, by M^r Wootton and M^r William Wilkinson
A Bill entituled, An Act for Dividing St. Stephen's alias North
Sassafras Parish, in Cecil County, was Read the ffirst and second
time, by especial order, passed, and Sent to the Upper House by
Col. Colvill and M^r Pearce.
Coi. Hammond from the Upper House, delivers M^r Speaker the
Bill entituled, An Act for raising ffour Pence Sterling per Hogshead,
&c and the folowing Message (See page 456)
On Reading the above Message, and duly considering the purport
thereof, and that the Subject matter in the Message from the Upper
House, of the 18^th of June 1741, referred to in this Days Message;
and as it contains no Reason to enforce the amendment proposed by
the Upper House, to the Bill, and inasmuch as the said Bill suffi-
ciently Provides for the matter intended, of Providing Arms and
Ammunition for the Defence of this Province :
It is therefore Ordered, that the said Bill be entered on the Jour-
nal of this House, that it may appear by whose means this Province
remains without the same. The Bill follows in these Words, viz.
An Act for raising ffour pence Sterling per Hogshead on all
Tobacco to be Exported, for purchasing Arms and Ammunition for
the Defence of this Province.
Whereas his Majesty our most gracious Sovereign is now engaged
in. a War with Spain, and that a war with ffrance may ensue in Con-
sequence of the vigorous Measures taken by his Majesty in favour
of the Common Cause, and lest the Magazine of Arms and Ammu-
nition now in the province, and the monies heretofore raised by any
former Acts should prove Insufficient for the present purpose: We
his Majesty's faithful Subjects, the Delegates of the ffreemen of
Maryland, in General Assembly convened, to Testify our zeal for

p. 392