388 Assembly Proceedings, October 4-November 26, 1763.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 52
Nov. 22

Books for the Use of the Assembly Office, and that M^r John Hall
and M^r Johnson do prepare & bring in the same.
An Ingrossed Bill Ent.^d an Act empowering Richard Richardson
of ffrederck County to Sell and dispose of the Lands which belonged
to his deceased Father Richard Richardson and to Apply the Money
arising therefrom to the Uses of his Said ffathers will was read and
Assented to & Sent to the Upper house with the paper Bill by M.^r
Magruder & M^r Henry Baker.
An Ingrossed Bill Ent.^d an Act for imposing an additional duty
of two pounds p poll on all Negroes imported into this Province
was read and Assented to and Sent to the Upper house with the paper
bill thereof by M^r Thomas & M^r William Adams
The Bill Ent.^d An Act for laying out and erecting a Town at Elk-
ridge Landing was read the 2^d time and will pass and was Sent to the
Upper house by M^r Plater and M^r Johnson
The following Message (Viz^t)
By the Lower House of Assembly Nov^r 22, 1763
May it please your Honours
As your Honours have been pleased to Say your Message of the
19.^th that you are Satisfied that the establishment of a College or
Seminary of Learning in this Province, on a good foundation would
be productive of many great advantages to the Inhabitants, we are
much Surprised that instead of endeavouring to perfect the Bill we
sent you up for that purpose by proposing Amendments to Such parts
as you thought imperfect and very exceptionable you should detain it
so long in your House as to make it in your Own Opinion too late
for us to enter into a full Consideration of any you might make
without protrating the Session to An unreasonable Length
The Bill we think is plain and Simple and as we sent it up to you
above three weeks ago, there has been full time enough for the two

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houses to have Settled And adjusted any difference of Sentiments
they could have entertained about it, and thereby have brought it to
a happy Issue this Session

But whatever might have been your Honours Motives for post-
poning the Consideration of a Matter so important to such as are
Comparatively very Trivial we are of Opinion altho it may be too
late to bring it to perfecton at this time that it may answer a very
good purpose to return us the Bill with your Objections now

You wave it at present, you say till the Affair can be maturely
Considered

It is our Intention to publish the Bill with any Objections you may
be pleased to Offer against it and as we Conceive this will be putting
the whole into a proper Channel not only for the mature Considera-
tion of Ourselves but of the Public; and as it will thereby undergo