The Lower House. 293

"As the Assembly will meet again the ist of July at farthest, the
Governor will be impatient to receive your Accounts fully and clearly
stated before that Time, because the Money is all expended. I before
writ to you on this Matter, and left the several Papers, &c. which
had been delivered in, with your Son at Conococheague."

As, from this Letter, and the Information of Col. Thomas Cresap,
now a Member of our House to whom that Letter was directed that
the Account which had been under the Examination of the Com-
mittee, was one of the Papers mentioned in it, we could not but be
of Opinion, that the Account which was missing, had passed tho'
Mr. Ridout's Hands; and as our Clerk denied, that he had delivered
it to any Person whatever, and alledged, he supposed it must have
been removed by some of the Members of the Lower House; a Regard
for our own Characters, as well as the Security of the Public Papers,
laid us under a Necessity of calling upon Mr. Ridout, to know how
he came to the Possession of that Account. Mr. Ridout came before
the House, in Consequence of a Request made by our Serjeant to
that Purpose; the Letter being handed to him, he was asked, if the
Name subscribed was his Hand-writing; he said, he could not, or
did not think proper, to answer that Question. He was asked, how
the Papers mentioned in that Letter, came into his Possession; he
said, the Governor's Name being mentioned in that Letter, he did not
think it proper to give any Answer. He was desired to withdraw.
Being called in again, he was desired to give an Answer to the Ques-
tion proposed to him before; he said, he perceived by the Date, the

L.H.J.
Liber No. 49
Dec. I

Letter had been wrote some Time ago; said, if he might have the
Letter awhile, he would reflect upon the Matter; he was told, he
might have a Copy of it, and might consider it against the Afternoon.
He made no Answer. He was then ordered to attend again in the
Afternoon. He said, the Governor had Business for him to do (or,
he had Business of the Governor's that must be done) and he must
desire to be excused. He was then ordered to withdraw. In a short
Time the House ordered him to be called in again; but he was not
to be found. Upon this Behaviour of Mr. Ridout, so unprecedented
among us, and so dangerous in it's Consequences, a Warrant of this
House was issued to our Serjeant, to bring Mr. Ridout before the
House, to answer for a Contempt of the Authority, and a Breach
of the inherent Rights and Privileges of it. Immediately on the
Meeting of the House after Dinner, the Serjeant Reported, that he
went to your Excellency's, and at the common Place of Entrance,
enquired of the Servant attending at the Door, if Mr. Ridout was at
Home; he answered, Yes. The Serjeant asked; if he was to be spoke
with; the Servant replied, he was at Dinner, but would come to him
if he (the Serjeant) had any Business with him. The Serjeant said,
he would not interrupt him at Dinner, but would wait on him again :
The Servant replied, he (Mr. Ridout) would come to him, and desired

p. 110