The Lower House. 117

Post Meridiem

The House met according to Adjournment.
M^r Speaker communicates to the House the following Letter from
Jonas Green, Printer, viz.
To the Honourable Col Edward Sprigg, Speaker of the Lower
House of Assembly
May it please your Honour.
I am ordered by the Honourable the Lower House of Assembly,
to print in the Journal of their Votes and Proceedings of this pres-
ent Session, a Letter from Governour Shirley of the Massachusett's
Bay in New England, to his Excellency our Governour: And I am
expressly forbid, by an Order of Council, either to print, or suffer it
to be printed at my Press. The following is a Copv of the Order,
Viz.
At a Council held in the Council Chamber on Fryday 23^d August,

1745.
Present

His Excellency Thomas Bladen Esq^r Governour
Whereas the printing Governour Shirley's Letter, dated at Boston,
July 3^d 1745, may have a Tendency to give such Intelligence to the
Enemy as may be very prejudicial to his Majesty's Service: There-
fore Jonas Green is hereby strictly charged not to print or suffer the
said Letter to be printed, in or by his Press, upon any Pretence what-
soever, as he shall answer the contrary at his Peril.
I. Ross G. Con.
As I am, Sir, solely dependent on the several Branches of the Leg-
islature for a Living ( for I can have no publick money except granted
by your Honourable House, nor any, if so granted, except the other
Branches should acquiesce thereto, and cannot live without it) I am
in a most terrible Dilemma: Impending Danger, Ruin, Destruction,
hanging over me, let me act as I will. In this desperate Case I am
sure to err. If I print it I shall highly offend the Governour and
Council, and must expect no Favour and Countenance from thence ;
if I do not, the Lower House of Assembly I may justly expect will
be likewise offended: And I cannot live without the Favour and
Protection of both. To obey two Orders, so diametrically opposite,
is impossible; and to know how to act in this unhappy situation, per-
plexes and almost distracts me. I am Honourable Sir, with the ut-
most Deference, and in the greatest Distress.
Your Honour's most obedient humble Servant
Jonas Green
Which being read, the House agrees to the following Resolves,
Viz.
In as much as William Shirley Esq^re his Majesty's Governour at
Boston, in his Letter to the Governour of this Province, laid before

L. H. J.
Liber No. 46