Letter of Transmittal. xxiii

bill, but suggested that in view of the precarious condition of the Province a
" free compromise " on the bill be held by the two houses. The Lower House
agreed to a conference with the reservation that it would refuse to confer on
certain of the provisions of the bill. The Upper House rejoined that whether
or not the Lower House refused to confer on the disputed points exempted from
consideration by the latter, the Upper House reserved the right to act upon all
these points as it saw fit; and appointed Philip Thomas and Col. Tasker as its
members of the conference committee. The Lower House appointed Philip
Hammond, Edward Tilghman, William Murdock, Matthew Tilghman, and
Charles Carroll, the Barrister, as its conferees. Thomas Johnson, who was later
to become the first Revolutionary Governor of Maryland, was appointed Clerk
of the committee.

The bill as finally agreed upon at the conference was a distinct victory for
the Lower House, which succeeded in retaining the disputed ordinary licences.
Although this item was not discussed in the debates, it was retained by a blanket
provision continuing in operation the levies in the Supply Bill passed in 1754
which included these licences. Another item, which probably was in part the
basis of the opposition of the Upper House, was the provision taxing lands at
one shilling for every hundred acres, including the Proprietary's manors and
reserved lands, which was modified and retained. A compromise on this was
agreed upon under which all the Proprietary manors were made subject to the
tax but only the leased portions of his reserves. Agreement was also reached in
regard to the method of later apportioning and fixing the land tax in case of a
deficiency in the amount required for the sinking fund to be set aside as security
for the bills of credit issued.

The act as finally passed on May 14th provided for the issue of bills of
credit to the amount of £34,015-6-0, which, together with £5,984-14-0 bills then
in the Loan Office unissued, amounted to the £40,000 called for by the Supply
Bill. Of this amount not more than £11,000 was to be expended on a fort and
four blockhouses on the western frontier to be located at a point not more dis-
tant than the North Mountain, and for arming, conveying, and supporting a
force there of not over two hundred men. These men were to be raised by the
payment of a bounty of twenty-two shillings sixpence each, or if this bounty were
not sufficient to induce enlistment, the men were to be drafted. The time of
service was to extend until February 10, 1757. This £11,000 was also to include
the appropriations made by the two ordinances already passed providing for
the support of the rangers now in service, and £3,000 for assistance to, and
cultivation of friendship with the southern Indians, including the expenses of
Col. Benjamin Tasker and Charles Carroll, the Commissioners to be sent to
confer with them. There was also an allowance of £1,000 as a bounty on the