The Upper House. 507

Eodem Die post Meridiem
This house met again according to Adjournment
Present as in the Morning with the
Addition of Col George Plater

Benjamin Tasker Esq^r attended by the Members of this house
presents to his Excellency their address which follows in these words

To his Excellency Samuel Ogle Esq. Governor and Commander in
Chief in and over the Province of Maryland
The Humble Address of the Upper house of Assembly
May it Please your Excellency
We return your Excellency our most Sincere thanks for your kind
and obliging Speech at the opening of this Session; and We grate-
fully acknowledge your unwillingness to put the Country to the Ex-
pence of an Assembly and to call Us from home at an Inconvenient
Season of the year
The Shortness of the last Crop of Corn afforded a very Melan-
choly prospect, and nothing but the mild weather with which Provi-
dence favoured us, could have prevented so great a Scarcity in Sev-
eral parts of the Country, as would have been attended with
Terrible consequences, especially to the Poorer Sort; The want of
Bread is one of the greatest Calamities that men are Subject, and
therefore the most effectual care ought to be taken to prevent it, and
as an Assembly must not only be very Expensive but must also un-
avoidably take up so much Time in getting together and in framing
and Publishing any Law to Prohibit the Exportation of grain upon
the most Pressing Occasion, that very Probably the Remedy would
be to late as the length of time would give opportunities to export
greater Quantities than could be Spared. As to our Part we shall
concur in any Expedient that may Save Charge to the Country and
avert the Calamity of wanting Bread.
We are convinced that the Happiness of any Country must be
greatly promoted by the goodness of its high ways, that the having
such is absolutely Necessary as well as reputable to all Countrys
especially those of any Extent wherein People cannot Subsist nor
any Inland Trade be carried on without Land Carriage and there-
fore We assure you that nothing in our Power shall be wanting to
promote a thing of so great Importance and so Manifestly Conducive
to the Prosperity of our Country, as what you so kindly & affection-
ately recommend it
We are firmly persuaded of the Truth an Sincerity of your Pro-
ffession that nothing could give you more Pleasure than to See a

U. H. J.

Liber No. 34
May 16

General Spirit of Industry Spread itself thro out the Province; and
We and all mankind, must be convinced that were we to neglect either

p. 370