Introduction. xlix

as from the Representatives of the People of this Province could not be received
at the Secretary of State's Office by reason of its containing a Paragraph
concerning Grievances the Majority now agreed to prepare another of which
I enclose you a Copy & M^r. Ringgold was I understand desired to transmit
it to M^r. Franklin who has it seems offered to serve to the utmost in his power
during his stay in England" (Arch. Md. XIV; 53).

At the March-April, 1762, session the matter of an address of condolence
and congratulation to the King again came before the Lower House, and a
committee headed by James Tilghman with eight other members was ordered
to prepare and bring in such an address. On April 19, the address was brought
before the Lower House, approved, and ordered engrossed. It was adopted
on April 24, the last day of the session. Since the last session was held the
King had been married, so that not only condolences upon the death of the
King's grandfather had to be offered, and the new sovereign to be congratulated
upon his accession, but he must also be congratulated upon his marriage to an
"illustrious Protestant princess", and upon the "Prospect that our Posterity
will be subjects to your Royal Offspring" (p. 173). No reference to the
desirability of the Province having an Agent in London nor to the other con-
troversial questions contained in the rejected address of 1761, are to be found
in the present address, but the Lower House took a fling at the Lord Proprietary
and the Governor, when it directed that the address was not to be presented
to the King by the Proprietary, the usual channel, but ordered that a committee
of six headed by that uncompromising popular leader, Edward Tilghman, and
composed of five other aggressive members of the Popular party in the As-
sembly, "do transmit the Address to His Majesty to Mr. Benjamin Franklin
in London to be by him presented to His Majesty" (pp. 132, 146, 148, 173.174).
In a forthcoming volume of the Archives it will be shown that the country or
anti-Proprietary party of Maryland was in close touch with Franklin, who, at
this time was the Agent of Pennsylvania in London.

In the Appendix will be found printed a letter from Frederick, Lord Balti-
more, to Governor Sharpe, dated from London, April 22, 1762, saying that he
had presented to the King and Queen the address of the Governor and the
Upper House, which their Majesties "were pleased to receive very graciously"
(p. 572). This was obviously a belated acknowledgment by Frederick of
the address of congratulation and condolence adopted by the Upper House at
the April-May, 1761, session of the Assembly, which had been sent him to
present to the King (Arch. Md. XXXI; 538).

PARISHES, CHURCHES, AND CHAPELS

Petitions for legislation were presented at the 1762 session from six parishes.
Four of these petitions resulted in the passage of the legislation requested.
In two instances the desired legislation was not granted. The following were
the four acts relating to churches and parishes which were passed. Coventry
Parish, lying in Somerset and Worcester counties, was one of the original
parishes that had been established under the act of 1692, and covered a wide