Letter of Transmission. xix

On the next day, the offer in return for the quitrents was fixed at 2 shillings
and six pence per hogshead of tobacco. The tobacco raising counties voted for
the lesser rate of two and three pence, viz., 3 from St. Mary's, 3 from Anne
Arundel, 4 from Calvert, Smallwood and Wilkinson of Charles (Harrison and
Courts voted for the higher amount), three from Prince George's. Nicholas
Goldsborough and Thomas of Talbot, and the 2 Baltimore men were the only
men from the non-tobacco raising countries to vote for the lesser amount.
When the House immediately divided as to whether the life of the bill should
be 7 or 3 years, the longer period was adopted, by a vote of 29 to 18. Thomas
of Talbot changed his vote to the majority. The others voted as before. The
address asking the Proprietary to accept the Proposed substitute was then
adopted by a vote of 30 to 17, Chesley of St. Mary's leaving the minority.

On the 29th, the unfriendliness which had sprung up between Bladen and the
Lower House led it to reject a bill providing a duty upon tobacco for the
benefit of the Governor, by a vote of 17 to 27. The minority comprised 4 each
from Somerset, Dorchester, and Worcester, the 2 present from Cecil (Colvill
and George), the one Annapolitan (Tasker) present, and Hammond and
Wright of Queen Anne's.

On the same day, the House voted to continue the tax on ordinary licenses
to pay for the Governor's house, by a vote of 27 to 16. The minority was
heterogeneous: Richard Gresham and Wilson of Kent, Worthington of Anne
Arundel, Hall and Brome of Calvert, the 4 from Charles, the 4 from Talbot,
Ennalls of Dorchester, Wootton and Sprigg of Prince George's.

On May 30, by a vote of 24 to 20, the House voted to address the Governor
on the Indian negotiations. The negative on this bitterly contested question
was composed of the Court party: John Gresham of Kent, Thomas of Talbot
and all the Queen Anne's delegation except Wilkinson, joined with the full
delegations from Somerset, Dorchester, and Worcester and the 2 present from
Cecil.

On the same day, the House voted, 28 to 17, to continue the ordinary license
tax. The negative votes were cast by all the Kentish men except John Gresham,
Hall and Brome of Calvert, all the 4 members from Charles, the 4 from Talbot,
Ennalls of Dorchester, Sheredine of Baltimore, and Wootton and Sprigg of
Prince George's. Then the address to Gov. Bladen on the Indian matters was
brought in and adopted 24 to 21. Tasker had come in to the House and in-
creased the negative vote.

A postponement to the next session of consideration of some alleged private
grievances was made on March 31, by a vote of 30 to 12, the negative votes
being cast by Swann and Chesley of St. Mary's, the Greshams and Wilson of
Kent, Smith, Hall and Brome of Calvert, all the Charles delegates except