The Lower House. 601

of the Honour this House had done him, and signified his Consent
to have the Sermon printed.
Mr. William Govane, a Delegate returned to serve for Baltimore
County, appeared in the House. Ordered, That Mr. Paca, and Mr.
Tolley, do go with him, to the Upper House, to see him qualified :
They return, and acquaint Mr. Speaker, they saw him take the sev-
eral Oaths to the Government required by Law, subscribe the Oath of
Abjuration, repeat and sign the Test. The Gentleman took his Seat
in the House.
Mr. Hammond, from the Committee of Laws, delivers to Mr.
Speaker an Address to his Excellency, on his Speech, which was read,
approved, and ordered to be ingrossed.
The House adjourns till 2 of the Clock Afternoon.

Post-Meridiem.

The House met according to Adjournment, &c.
Mr. Hammond, from the Committee of Laws, delivers to Mr.
Speaker the following Address to his Excellency, ingrossed; viz.
To his Excellency Horatio Sharpe, Esq; Governor and Commander
in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland.
The humble Address of the House of Delegates.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 48
December 14

May it please your Excellency,
We, his Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects, the Delegates
of the Freemen of Maryland, in Assembly convened, beg Leave to
return your Excellency our unfeigned Thanks for your affectionate
Speech at the Opening of this Session; and readily confess that the
ambitious Designs of the French, and the dangerous Consequences
from the carrying them into Execution, not only to ourselves, but to
all the rest of his Majesty's Dominions in America, are too obvious
to need any Repetition of Arguments, that might be urged for the
Demonstration of them.
These Designs, so general in their Nature, and destructive in their
Consequences, cannot but raise a just and suitable Indignation and
Resentment in the Breast of every Man amongst us, who has any
Regard either for his own Liberty and Property, or those of his
Posterity. And we do assure your Excellency, that we will, with the
utmost Dispatch, proceed, so far as our Circumstances will admit, in
Concurrence with our neighbouring Governments, in such Mea-
sures as shall be most effectual to repel the ambitious and insolent
Attempts of our natural Enemies the French, to shew our high and
just Esteem of his Majesty's good Opinion and Confidence in us, and
to these Ends, according to our Abilities, to enable your Excellency to
execute that important Trust reposed in you by his Majesty's Com-
mission, which you have been pleased to lay before us, and upon which
we beg your Acceptance of our very hearty Congratulations.

p. 14