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Papers they were, would give the Colonel an Answer. Upon this,
another said, that indeed he had not Read the Letter, but as it seemed
to be of some Consequence, he thought I ought not to be permitted
to take it out of the House : He moved however, that the Clerk might
be Ordered to let me have a Copy of the Letter, or of that Part of
it where the Papers were mentioned. When I perceived by the Begin-
ning of the Gentleman's Speech, what he was going to say, I offered
the Letter to One that was near me, to be returned to Col. Cresap,
but another Member put out his Hand and took it, and then holding
it to me, asked, Whether the Name subscribed was my Hand-writing?
to which I answered, Sir, I shall not think proper to Answer your
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 49
Dec. 15
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Questions. In Consequence of the abovementioned Proposal, the
Speaker ordered the Clerk to let me have a Copy of that Part of the
Letter which related to the Papers in Question, or of the Whole, if I
desired it; whereupon I said, that perhaps the other Parts of the
Letter might serve to refresh my Memory, but added, that I did not,
or, should not, apply for a Copy of the Whole, or a Part; and that
since the Governor's Name was mentioned in the Letter, I must
desire to be excused from Answering any more Questions concerning
it. I was then desired to withdraw, which 1 accordingly did; but a
short Time afterwards was sent for again, and on my Return to the
Bar of the House, I was asked, How the Papers, about which I had
been before examined, came into my Possession? I said, as before,
that it was a great while since the Papers had been in my Hands, that
it was evident from the Letter that what I had done was by the Gov-
ernor's Order, and that I must therefore desire to be excused from
Answering any more Questions. A Member then said, Perhaps the
Gentleman imagines there is much more Intended by this Enquiry,
than there really is, and therefore it may be proper to explain to him
what it is the House is desirous of Knowing. I intimated to the
Gentleman, that he need not take that Trouble; for that I had already
Answered as much as I should think fit. After a short Pause, the
Speaker said, You see, Gentlemen, that Mr. Ridout declines Answer-
ing : I suppose he may withdraw. It was then moved, that I might
be Ordered however to attend in the Afternoon; whereupon the
Speaker told me, that I might withdraw, but that I must attend the
Sitting of the House in the Afternoon : I said, I have received Orders
from the Governor to do some Business of his, in the Afternoon, and
I must attend that. I was then, upon the Motion of some Gentleman,
Ordered to withdraw; which I did, and returned Home, it being then
about One o'Clock. What happened after this, your Excellency is no
Stranger to : Had I been to give a Detail of what Passed while the
Serjeant was in your Excellency's House, I should have varied a
little from the Account which he is said to have given; but that
Transaction is not, I apprehend, of very great Consequence.
As there are several Expressions in the Address, which has given
Occasion to this Narrative, that seem to imply that the Gentlemen of
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p. 205
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