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erosity I am indebted for these secret Services, I have not been yet
able to learn; but I must rely principally on the Justice and Candour of
the Gentlemen of the Lower House, who are sensible there was not
the least Foundation for such villainous Reports, to vindicate my
Character, and to represent the Affair in it's true Light, to such of
their Constituents as may ask them Questions concerning it."
I forbear making any more Remarks upon this unlucky Affair of
Mr. Ridout's, as you call it; but shall proceed to take some Notice
of that Part of your Address, where you are pleased to Declare,
" That you know nothing about the Rights and Privileges of those
Gentlemen, that are said to constitute another Branch of the Legisla-
ture, as it is a Branch undevised in our Charter, and unknown in it's
Original; " a Declaration that differs very little, I think, from one
that was made here in the Days of Governor Fendall. That Gentle-
man, having been opposed in some of his Measures by the Council,
agreed, as it should seem, with some of the great Speakers and Lead-
ing Men among the Burgesses, to Destroy the Upper House, and
Subvert the Constitution: To bring this about, it was so ordered,
that the Speaker and the Members of the Lower House, should go
in a Body to the Upper, and tell the Governor and Council that they
could not allow them to be an Upper House, or a distinct Branch of
the Legislature; but that, if they pleased, they might take Place in, and
become a Part of the Lower; the Governor readily accepted the Offer,
and was received as their President. The Secretary, and other Gentle-
men of the Council, Protested against such a Step, as a manifest
Breach of his Lordship's Rights, Royal Jurisdiction and Seigniory,
and desired Leave to enter their Reasons; but they were not suffered.
As soon as this Affair was known in England, proper Measures were
taken to restore the Constitution and Government: Another Gov-
ernor was appointed, the Upper House re-assumed their Authority,
Rights and Privileges, and Mr. Fendall, and the Chiefs of the Faction,
were apprehended, tried, and convicted of Rebellion; their Lives were
with some Difficulty spared, but the Punishment inflicted on them, by
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 49
Dec. 15
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Loss of Goods and Imprisonment, was thought sufficiently Exem-
plary, to deter all future Governors, and Leading Men, from imi-
tating their Conduct.
But you may still insist, that this does not at all shew, how the
Upper House originally became a Branch of our Legislature, and a
Part of our Constitution, I shall therefore endeavour to give you
Satisfaction in that Point, hoping it will lead you to enquire after the
Rights and Privileges of that House, as well as those of your own,
and that it will make your Constituents less forward, for the future,
to subscribe any such Petitions as were, some Time ago, put into the
Hands of many of them, by several Gentlemen who were Members
of the late Lower House of Assembly.
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p. 208
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