666 Assembly Proceedings, May 1-June 4, 1744.

Calvert
Paper
No. 1109

the Lo: Ho: who passed Another Bill, And which to my very great
astonishment, And without precedent, was passed by the Upper
House (None but M^r Plater & my self publickly opposing it) But
the Governor with a spirit & Resolution becoming Your Lordship's
Representative, refused the scales & His assent: He also denyed any
Account to the Lo: House of the Amount of the 12^s & Tonnage who
Addressed Him for that purpose.
The Lower House Has by Address to the Gov^r offer'd 2⁹..6^d sterl
p hhd. in lieu of Your Lordship's Quit rents Exclusive of the Aliena-
tion fines: should Your Lordship Hearken to any proposall of this
kind; I submit, whether it may not be more Eligible to take a Cer-
tain Sume And Have the paym^t properly secured, Especially as it is
in time of War, And that the Countrey may not be prevented by an
Agreem^t with Your Lordship from putting their trade under Regu-
lations, If they should Hereafter think it Expedient, tho at present
They do not seem to Entertain Any thoughts of it: Whether your
Lordship will Judge it proper to make use of Those Overtures for
any other Purpose than a Composition for the Quit rents, I must
Submit to your Lordship's Consideration & Directions, which I Hope
will be as Explicite as possible.
Upon M^r Dulany's Unwillingness to attend the Indian Treaty I
was injoyned by the Governour to that Service, which I undertake
purely, That I may not Appear backward in Any Instances where
Your Lordships Honour & Interest are Concerned: For I am truely
sensible not Only of my own Unfitness, but of the Difficultys which
may occurr from the Criticall Times, which no Doubt will Drive the
French to sollicit & Ingage by Every Method the Indian Friend-
ship: This will give the Indians a Handle to insist (If they Treat
with us at all) on a Greater Sums than what is allotted by the As-
sembly, or that Can be Discharged at present perhaps without your
Lordships assistance: But after all If we should meet, we must not
part upon bad Terms: The Event of this Treaty may be of such
Consequence as to draw the Indians in junction w^th the French not
only on our Borders, but on those of His Maj^tys other Dominions in
America on the Continent. This, Virginia & Pensylvania are so
Aware of, That The Virg^a Comiss^rs are now at Philadelphia
ready for the Treaty, And the Governour of Philadelphia de-
signes to attend it, In order to forme a Defensive Allyance, If
it Can be effected; But perhaps we may find the Indians so
Averse in this point as that a strict neutrality may be the Only Thing
they will Concede to. Your Lordship will by the Papers Inclosed
perceive What the Govern^r urged to prove an obligation on the
Lower House to raise & make good what money may be necessary ;
And the strength of what He says is so undeniable, As must Con-
demn the Lo: Ho: If they should not Comply; But I Have so Little
Hopes of their Doing what is their Duty, or may be Reasonably ex-
pected in this And the Other Affair of Arms & Ammunition, That
I should be pleased If your Lordship, Upon our Address & the Be-