Introduction. xxiii

site in a more convenient location. This petition was referred by the Upper
House to the Lower House, and the latter directed that Mr. Dale, Mr. Plater,
and Mr. Key of Saint Mary's County be authorized to bring in a bill with
this end in view. This was done and the bill passed both houses and became
a law (pp. 50, 98, 106, 116, 120, 133).

An interesting petition was presented by the rector, vestrymen, church war-
den, and parishioners of Port Tobacco parish, Charles County, requesting the
passage of a law to tax annually the inhabitants of the parish for the support
of a church organist. This indicates a degree of appreciation of music at this
early date worthy of notice, as the petitioners were willing to have themselves
taxed, although it should be added that this also meant taxing Catholics,
Quakers, and other dissenters in the parish, who would not be likely to enjoy
the performances of the organist at Port Tobacco Church. Referred to the
Lower 'House, the bill to this end was promptly introduced and passed on De-
cember 22, and sent to the Upper House where it was assented to. The act
recites that Dr. Gustavus Brown (a native of Scotland and a very prominent
member of Port Tobacco parish) had offered to donate an organ on condition
that the parish would employ an organist. An annual tax of two pounds of
tobacco per capita to be collected by the sheriff was to be imposed for a period
of fifteen years, but it was provided that if for any reason the parish should
be without an organist the tax was to be applied to such other parochial pur-
poses as the vestry should decide (pp. 56, 63, 121-122, 135-136). It is of
interest to note that the performances of the organist were so appreciated by
the parish that in 1763 the act was continued by new legislation.

Two other petitions relating to church matters were also presented at this
session. One was from certain "Subscribing Clergy of the Church of England
within this Province", apparently requesting that amendments be made to the
existing law regarding the inspection and grading of tobacco. That this was
probably not entirely disinterested is revealed when it is remembered that clergy-
men's salaries were payable in good tobacco and that rigid inspection and grad-
ing of tobacco was therefore to their interest. This petition was thrown out
on the ground that an act extending the inspection law had already been
passed (p. 48). We are left in the dark as to the nature of the "Petition of
the Subscribers, Clergymen of the Church of England of this Province on
behalf of themselves and their brethern", which was also rejected because
it was signed by "Two Clergymen only in a Matter regarding the whole Body
of the Clergy" (p. 48).

As usual, a number of private petitions were presented to the Assembly.
Several of these were offered by executors or administrators requesting legis-
lation that would facilitate the settlement of estates. One of these referred to
the estate of William Paca, a prominent Baltimore County planter, and in-
volved the value of certain mortgaged properties; action upon it was deferred
until the next session (pp. 54, 112, 122). Action upon petitions to facilitate
settlement of the estates of Tobias Stansbury of Baltimore County, and of
Robert Freeland of Talbot County, were also referred to the next session (pp.
55). The administrator of the estate of Gamaliel Butler of Annapolis asked