186 Assembly Proceedings, August 5-September 28, 1745.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 46

second Time, passed, and sent to the Upper House by M^r John
Gresham, and M^r Bond.
The House adjourns to 2 of the Clock.

Post Meridiem

The House met according to Adjournment.
M^r Speaker communicates to the House the following Message
from the Governor, viz.
Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly
In Answer to your Address on the Subject of Quit Rents, and
vour Desire that I would acquaint you what was my Lords yearly
Income from them, I then told you, that a Disposition in you not
to be less forward in what may concern the Honour of Government,
and Defence of the Province, than his Lordship's Inclination for the
well being of his Tenants, will be the most likely Method to obtain
the great End of Ease and Happiness to the whole Province.
I made this Declaration as a Foundation for a mutual Engagement
between every Branch of the Legislature, that if such Laws as were
most acceptable to the People, and thought most convenient for their
Ease, were to be obtained on one Side; such others likewise as should
be judged necessary for the Honour and Security of this Province,
should accompany and go hand in hand with them; by which means
that Peace and Harmony between Government and People, which it
is every good Subjects Interest and Duty to contribute to, might be
procured and established. After this Declaration, your entering upon
the Quit Rent Bill, Assize Law, and resuming the Officers Fee Bill,
could be no other than accepting the Conditions proposed, viz. that
all Matters should proceed with, and accompany each other: There-
fore I am very much surprized, that now the three most desireable
Laws are in such Forwardness, you should deny the single Bill the
Government has to ask, and which is for the Defence of the Province.
What I have to propose to you is, that a Bill be now prepared for a
Provision for Arms, but not to take Effect or be in force, 'til the
Revenue and other Bills take place: This, I am sure, shews my Sin-
cerity and good wishes for a happy finishing of this Session, and an
Accomplishment of all our professed wishes; and which, if denied,
can have no other Interpretation, but that you are desirous those
Bills which have taken up so much of our Time, should be lost;
which must be the Case. T. Bladen
Which being read, A Question was put, whether this House will
now recede from the Resolve of Yesterday on the Subject of Arms
and Ammunition? Resolved in the Negative.