232 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 28-Dec. 16, 1757.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 49

Oct. 12

Report to the House, whether there is any Commission appointing
Mr. John Ridout Secretary to his Excellency the Governor on
Record there; and whether it there appears that he has taken the
Oaths to the Government, to Qualify him on such Commission; and
likewise to inspect the said Records, and Report, whether it appears
on Record in the said Office, that a Commission hath been granted
by any former Governor of this Province, appointing any Person
as his Secretary.

Your Committee have carefully examined the Records of the
Provincial Office of this Province, and do not find any Commission
on the said Records to John Ridout, to execute the Office of Secre-
tary to Horatio Sharpe, Esq; Governor of Maryland, or any other
Office in this Province; or that the said John Ridout ever took any
Oath of Office, or took the Oaths to the Government, in order to
Qualify him to execute any Office within this Province.

p. 39

Your Committee have also carefully examined the said Records
of the said Provincial Court, from the present Time as far back
as the Year of the happy Revolution, and do not find any Com-
mission granted to any Person, to execute the Office of Secretary
to any Governor of this Province.

All which is humbly submitted to the Consideration of your
Honourable House.
Signed p Order, Thomas Johnson, junior, Clerk said Committee.
Oct.^r 12,^th 1757
Which was Read, and Ordered to lie on the Table.
The Order of the Day being Read; the House proceeded to an
Hearing of the Petition and Representation of the Freeholders of
St. Mary's County; and after full Examination of Witnesses at the
Bar, Referred the Consideration thereof, until the Afternoon.
The House adjourns until 2 of the Clock Afternoon.
Post-Meridiem. The House met according to Adjournment, &c.
The House proceeded further on an Hearing of the Petition
and Representation of the Freeholders of St. Mary's County; and
on Consideration of the Allegations and Facts contained therein,
the Question was put, Whether Mr. Edmund Key, a Member re-
turned for St. Mary's County, be duly Elected a Delegate for the
said County, or Not ? Resolved in the Negative.

For the Affirmative,

Hynson, Sulivane, Dulany,
Waggaman, Govane, Bracco.
Wilson, J. H. Dorsey,
Gray, Cockey Deye, 10