170 Assembly Proceedings, March 17-April 21, 1762.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 52
April 23

Gentlemen, When did I aver that there has ? You did indeed your-
selves, by your first Address, put in for at least a Share of the
Reprehension contained in the Secretary of State's Letter; for my
Part I did no more than Caution you against the Measure which late
Lower Houses had pursued, lest the not granting Supplies at this
Time (whether through the Fault of the Upper or the Lower
House, it was the same Thing) might be attended with fatal Consc-

quences to the Province. But rather than engage any farther in a
Dispute, which can answer no End to protract the Session, and
increase the Public Debt, already exorbitant, I will admit, that the
Words "Your Province will not obstinately persist" (in the Earl
of Egremont's Letter) must refer to the Gentlemen of the Upper
House alone, and that the Persistency of the Lower House in re-
solving again to offer a Bill, which the Upper had rejected eight or
nine Times, without obviating the Objections the Upper House
had made to it, is an Instance of the latter's Obstinacy. Nevertheless
I cannot help thinking, that rather than bring on the Province or
the Inhabitants in general, his Majesty's Displeasure, it would have
been better for your House to have at this Time waved the Dispute,
and offered a Bill on some or other of the various Plans, by which
Money has been heretofore raised in this Province: At least such a
Proceeding, would have manifested an earnest Desire on your Part
to comply with his Majesty's Requisitions, and quite the contrary

p. 77

on the Part of the Upper House, had they refused a Bill for granting
Supplies to his Majesty, on a Plan which they had never objected to,
when Money was thereby to be raised for other Purposes.
Hor.^o Sharpe.
April 23, 1762.
[Although the letters from Loudoun to Sharpe, quoted in full in
the above message, have been previously printed in volumes IX and
LV of the Archives, they are reprinted here, so as not to break the
continuity of Sharpe' s argument}
The Report from the Committee to inspect the Public Offices,
was Read the second Time, and the House Concurs therewith.
Benedict Calvert, Esq; from the Upper House, delivers to Mr.
Speaker, a Bill, entituled, An Act for destroying Crows and Squirrels
in Baltimore County; thus Indorsed, By the Upper House of As-
sembly, 23d April, 1762. Read the second Time, and will Pass.
Which was here Read, and Passed for Ingrossing.
The House adjourns till the Morrow Morning 9 of the Clock.

April 24

Saturday, April 24, 1762.

The House met according to Adjournment: The Members were
called, and all appeared as Yesterday, except Mr. Hammond and
Mr. Henry Hall. The Proceedings were Read.