The Lower House. 607

Ordered, That Mr. John Goldsborough, with Three more, do
present the Address to his Excellency.
Daniel Dulany, Esq; a Delegate of the Citizens of Annapolis,
returned to serve in this present General Assembly, appeared in the
House.
Ordered, That Capt. Gassaway and Capt. Worthington do go
with M.^r Dulany to the Upper House to see him qualified. They
return and acquaint M.^r Speaker they saw M.^r Dulany qualified in
the usual Manner.
The Gentleman took his Seat in the House.
The House adjourns until the Morrow Morning at 9 of the Clock.

L.H.J.
Liber No. 48
September

22

Thursday Morning, 23^d September, 1756.

The House met according to Adjournment, &c.
His Excellency the Governor communicated to M.^r Speaker the
following Message, viz.
Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly,
In Compliance with your Request, I herewith send you an Extract
of the Letter that has been transmitted in Obedience to that from the
Secretary of State. I find, on Enquiry, and by some Returns from
Officers of the Militia, that a considerable Number of public Arms
is lodged in the Court-Houses, or in the Hands of private Persons,
in several of the Counties; most of these are much out of Repair,
and many of them of little Value. Had all the Commanders of the
Militia made due and regular Returns, I would lay them before you ;
but I am persuaded, that what I have received would little conduce
to the Dispatch of the Business that has been recommended to your
Consideration.

Hor.^o Sharpe.
September 23, 1756.

The Extract referred to in the Message.
There are in and belonging to this Province 19 Carriage Guns all
Iron but very good, four of them are 6 Librs and fifteen are 4 Librs
the Last not mounted. In the Magazine is 16^tt weight of Six pound
Shot, and 24 half barrels of powder: of Musquet Ball and bar Lead
we have a Considerable Quantity; and there were in our Magazine
last Spring about 500 Stand of Small Arms Some of these were lost
at the Action of the Monongahela and most of the rest have beer
Delivered to the Men that have been Raised for the Defence of the
Province, or distributed among the Frontier Inhabitants. The
Militia of the Colony consists of about 16500 Men one third of
whom have no Arms, and many of the other's Guns are very bad
and Scarsly fit for use. For want of a proper Militia Law the people

September
23