Letter of Transmission. xvii

executive prerogatives by giving their representatives in these negotiations
secret instructions which were not spread on their journal.

The Delegates also wished to investigate the return of the fourteen penny
tax on tonnage and the shilling tax on tobacco exported, which investigation
Gov. Bladen opposed. It may well be that the Delegates were not merely
actuated by economy in refusing to accept an appropriation to complete the
Governor's house, but that they wished to revenge themselves upon him. They
also refused to pay Thomas Cresap for carrying arms to the back country, and
they objected bitterly to the refusal of the Upper House and its clerk to permit
the clerk of the Lower House to copy some records in the possession of the
Upper House clerk.

The Upper House, on its part, refused to pay bills to pay a Provincial Agent
in England, to exempt vessels owned by Marylanders from taxation, and to
have trial of matters of fact in county courts.

There were 24 divisions during the Session and the party cleavage is more
clearly seen than at any previous time. The delegations voted quite solidly and
the delegates were present with considerable regularity except from Baltimore
County, which was represented by Sheredine only, until Paca joined him well
along in the Session. Together with the Worcester County members, the
House now had 54 Delegates. Forty-eight was the largest vote in any division
and 37 was the lowest. The Proprietary or Court Party numbered the mem-
bers from Somerset, Dorchester, Cecil, Annapolis and Worcester—chiefly from
the Lower Eastern Shore and the Capital. All Southern Maryland (the tobacco
counties) was represented by members of the Anti-Proprietary or Country
party as were Baltimore, Kent, Talbot and Queen Anne's Counties.

The first division on May 5, determined, by a vote of 30 to 12, that the duty
for arms should be paid the Speaker. Only Waughop of St. Mary's, John
Gresham and Calder of Kent, and Wright of Queen Anne's voted with the
Somerset, Cecil and Annapolis members in the negative.

Three days later, by a vote of 24 to 20, the House voted to continue the bill
for the encouragement of industry of linen manufacture. Party lines are un-
discoverable. Swann of St. Mary's, the Greshams of Kent, the Calvert dele-
gation, Smallwood and Wilkinson of Charles, the Goldsboroughs and Thomas
of Talbot, the three present from Dorchester, Sheredine, Hammond of Queen
Anne's and all the Worcester men (save Henry) formed the minority.

On the next day, 33 voted to insist upon the bill for arms and ammunition
as sent to the Upper House, only 11 voting to yield. Waughop, Wright, John
Gresham, Pearce and Hyland of Cecil, changed from the minority to the
majority, but the four men from Worcester changed, so as to vote for a
compromise.