Introduction. xxix

House journal of the preceding session with the original entries (p. 322); evidently errors had been made in copying the rough notes of the clerk into
the official libers. Various important standing committees were next appointed
with very much the same popular leaders on them as were at the last
session (p. 294).

Three new members appeared in the Lower House at the 1763 session: viz.,
Nathan Baker, elected to fill a vacancy from Cecil County, and although there
seems to have been something wrong about the return of his writ of election
this did not, however, deprive him of his seat (p. 343); Henry Steele, from
Dorchester County, chosen at a special election to fill the place of Charles Golds-
borough, "called to the Upper House" (p. 293, 374); and Edmund Key from
St. Mary's County, who had been chosen at the regular election in the fall of
1761, but had only just returned from London, where he had studied law and
was a member of both the Middle Temple and the Inner Temple (E. Alfred
Jones' American Members of the Inns of Court, 1924, p. 114). Baker was of
the Popular party, Steele and Key were of the Proprietary group. When later
in this session Baker, as the residuary legatee of a certain Jethro Brown sought
special legislative relief, action upon his petition was postponed until the next
session (p. 376).

The members of the Upper House who were usually present at the daily
meetings of the 1763 session were Benjamin Tasker, Benedict Calvert, Stephen
Bordley, Daniel Dulany, John Ridout, Philip Key, and Charles Goldsborough,
the two last named having been appointed to the Council since the 1762 session
of the Assembly. Edward Lloyd and Richard Lee appeared only at a few
meetings towards the end of the session. Samuel Chamberlaine, Charles Ham-
mond (p. 273), and Robert Jenkins Henry were ill and unable to be present.
Philip Thomas, who had sat in the 1762 Assembly, had since died.

The opening speech of Governor Sharpe to both houses was a brief one.
He congratulated the members upon the restoration of a peace so advantageous
to the future security of these colonies, and also upon the "auspicious birth
of a Prince of Wales"—the future George IV. He said that he had called
the Assembly together because the Tobacco Inspection law was about to expire
and that it was necessary to amend and continue the old inspection act for the
advancement of this staple, upon which the whole trade of the Province was
dependent. He also called upon both houses to examine into the condition
of the public funds and to consider the pressing back claims which the militia
and other public creditors had against the Province. He closed with the wish
that they would avoid measures tending to interrupt the harmony which should
subsist between the two houses (p. 291). The Upper House promised its com-
plete cooperation. The Lower House in its reply to the Governor's speech
rejoiced with him at the conclusion of the late glorious peace and upon the
birth of the Prince of Wales. It promised to give serious consideration to the
matters brought to its attention by the Governor, to act in a way most conducive
to the interests of its constituents, and to avoid as far as possible, every measure
tending to interrupt the good understanding between the two houses (p. 295).