86 Assembly Proceedings, July 7-29, 1740.

U. H. J.

it cannot be unknown to your Excellency that A Bill for the same
Use now lyes before us ready to pass, whenever our Bills in the Upper
House shall be sent us with their Usual duration; And We can with
truth repeat, that there is not a member of this House against this
Bills passing into a Law, And therefore must in this as in every other
part of Our proceedings let the Publick Judge to whom the Want of
this and all the other Bills as well as the heavy Expence occasioned
by frequent fruitless Assemblies are to be Imputed
We therefore Conclude with the plainess your Excellency desires

p. 95

by telling you that We will not Introduce the practice of bargaining
for what of Right, as British Subjects, the People ought to Enjoy;
that the Bill for 6^d p hogshead has had its first reading, but that We
are determined to proceed no further in that or any other money Bill
that may tax or Burthen the Country (those relating to his Majestys
Service only Excepted) until we have a regular return of the long
accustomed Method of proceeding from the other Branches of Leg-
islature with this House and of all Our Useful and necessary Bills
passed with their Accustomed Duration
Signed on behalf & by Order of the House
[July 25, 1740] Philip Hammond Speaker

Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly
Upon the Perusall of your Address delivered to me yesterday by
Col^o Hanson I find that little or nothing In Answer to what I laid
before you in my Message of the 23^d Instant therefore must think
what I there said was so just and reasonable that it will not admit
of an Answer
The greatest Part of this Address, concerning the several Dis-
putes that have passed between you and the Upper House, not relat-
ing to myself, I must refer you and every other Person to what has
passed in the several Messages between the two Houses on the
occasion
I must confess I have a very great opinion of the Honour and
Justice of the Gentlemen of the Upper House 1 know the great
Interest they have in the Province, which makes it impossible for
them not to wish its Prosperity, and I know the Abilities they have
to second their Inclinations, and I am fully perswaded that in all
their Proceedings in a legislative Capacity, their views are just and
reasonable, and for the true Interest of their Country; but what you
mean by saying " It is now become no longer a Secret, that the late
and present Conduct of the Upper House, with respect to Our Ex-
pired Country Laws, is approved of and justified by me " I must
confess myself wholly at a Loss to apprehend, as the greatest part of
the expired Country Laws (as you term them) have now actually
pass'd both Houses, and consequently must have had their joint
Approbation, whereas my Assent or Approbation of them is yet to
Come