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Affairs, within this Province, entirely into the Hands of well-affected
Protestants, to the Disappointment of others, and much to the Peace
and Satisfaction of his Majesty's most affectionate Subjects: From
which free and public Declaration, I think, it might be presumed, that
the Subscribers before spoken of, and other the good and loyal People
of the Province, were, at this Time, satisfied, that a Remedy was
applied to the Evil, which, you say, was inveterate; and I apprehend,
that the Gentlemen, who, in such a Manner, expressed their Gratitude
for the Steps his Lordship had taken to remove their Uneasiness,
saw no longer any Evil, nor felt any Grievance that loudly called
for Redress. Before we proceed to remark on what occurred in 1746,
it might not perhaps be improper to premise, that for several Years,
preceding that Time, the Roman Catholics had been Favourites of
and caressed by the Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly,
who, in a Message to be seen among their Proceedings, declared to
another Branch of the Legislature, They were well assured, that the
few of those People here amongst us had it neither in their Power
or Inclination to disturb the Peace or Safety of the Province: But,
it seems, when the unnatural Rebellion broke out in Scotland, his
Excellency Governor Bladen received such Information, concerning
the Behaviour of some of them, as made him fear they did not want
Inclination to disturb the Public Tranquility, and give the Govern-
ment Uneasiness; and thereupon, like a careful loyal Gentleman, he
issued the Proclamation, from which you have taken your Extract :
But how this evinces, that the Jesuits and their Adherents were then
treated with extraordinary Lenity and Tenderness by the Governor,
or that they still met with Indulgence, I confess myself at a Loss to
comprehend.
Having now gone through your long Address, which obliged me
to be somewhat more prolix than really I could have wished, I shall
also resolve to dismiss this Subject; but cannot do so without assur-
ing you, that while I have the Honour to reside among you in the
Character I now bear, you will always find me ready and willing
to redress any Evils, which shall appear to be more than imaginary :
And as many of you are Magistrates in your respective Counties, and
cannot but know by the Circular Letters, which, with the Advice
of his Lordship's Council, were some Time since wrote to the County
Courts, that Papists have little Reason to expect any Favour, during
my Administration, unless they are exceedingly careful not to offend,
I hope such of you will acquaint the Rest, and your Constituents,
with the Purport of those Letters: In Answer to which the Magis-
trates assure me, That, after a careful Enquiry and Scrutiny into the
Conduct of the People of the Romish Faith, who reside amoung us,
they have not found that any of them have misbehaved, or given
just Cause of Offence; and as it will be their Interest to continue
quiet, and approve themselves good and loyal Subjects, I flatter my-
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 48
April 24
p. 247
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