xiv Letter of Transmission.

them because of a message from Gov. Clinton of New York that there was
danger that the Six Nations would be seduced by the French and because of
the Jacobite Rebellion in England. The Assembly adopted loyal addresses and
signed an Association, pledging fidelity to the Crown; though the Lower House
made some scruple as to the original wording of the document, which seemed
to show them too well content with Proprietary rule. Nothing was done as to
the Indians. The usual resolves claiming rights of Englishmen were spread on
the House Journal. Key took the place of Abell and Mills, who had been
unseated at the last session, was again returned from St. Mary's. No changes
occurred in the delegations from Kent, Anne Arundel, Calvert, Charles, Balti-
more or Talbot. Dashiell succeeded Wilson in Somerset; as did Lee, Sulivane
in Dorchester; Bayard, Colvill in Cecil; Stoddert, Osborn Sprigg in Prince
George's; Dulaney, Bordley from Annapolis; Tilghman, Wilkinson from
Queen Anne's; while Robins and Scarborough took Selby's and Outten's
places from Worcester. Sprigg was again chosen speaker.

On March 18, the House first divided and voted, 22 to 20, to give money
to the Indians. Key, Bond and Mills of St. Mary's, R. Gresham and Harris
from Kent, Hall of Anne Arundel, Courts of Charles, the Somerset delega-
tion, Thomas of Talbot, Hooper of Dorchester, Bayard of Cecil, Paca of Bal-
timore, the two Annapolis delegates, Hammond of Queen Anne's, and the
Worcester delegation formed the majority.

On March 26, four divisions were taken. It was voted, 28 to 20, to lay a
duty on tobacco for the purchase of arms, etc. The Proprietary members
voted no: the delegations from St. Mary's, Somerset and Worcester, the
Greshams, Thomas of Talbot, all the Dorchester members but Lee, and the
two from Annapolis.

Then they voted, 26 to 22, to make the duty not three pence per hogshead,
but four pence, Lee and Bayard changing their votes. At the third division,
the House decided, 30 to 18, that the proceeds of the tax should be paid to
Sprigg, the Speaker, and not to the Provincial Treasurer. The minority lost
Bayard and the three Dorchester men. Finally, the House voted, 37 to 11,
to pay the Armorer in current money. The minority consisted of Barnes of
St. Mary's, the Greshams, the Somerset members, Gordon of Annapolis and
three members from Worcester (Purnell voted aye!).

On March 28, the Lower House refused, 18 to 28, to pass the Arms bill
with the Upper House Amendments. The men who voted to pass it were the
delegations from St. Mary's, Somerset and Worcester, the Greshams,
Lecompte and Lee of Dorchester and the two Annapolis men.