The Lower House. 231

within that Time impracticable but we are ignorant of any Reasons
that could Occasion the long Intervention from Nov.^r 1763 to last
March within which Time Circumstances of a peculiar Nature re-
quired a Meeting of Assembly which was prevented by repeated
Prorogations

It is incumbent on us as the Representatives of a free People to
remonstrate against that Measure especially as it prevailed at a Time
so very critical to the Rights of America at a Time when the good
People of this Province ardently wished for an Opportunity to ex-
press by their Representatives in Assembly their Sense of a Scheme
then entertained by the British House of Commons of imposing
Stamp Duties on the Colonies and for Want of which their involun-
tary Silence on a Subject so interesting and important has been
construed by a late Political Writer of Great Britain as an Ac-
quiescence in that intended Project

At the same Time that we make this free Declaration which is
prompted by a genuine Sense of Duty to those we represent permit

L. H. J.
Liber No. 52
Dec. 13

us to assure your Excellency that with the Hearts attached to no
other Object than the public Good we are determined to avoid every
unnecessary Measure which may tend to interrupt the Harmony w.^ch
has happily subsisted throughout the whole Course of this Session
between the several Branches of the Legislature And we cannot
help expressing our Apprehensions that if we should be now silent
at some future Time when it may be the Unhappiness of this Prov-
ince to be under the Government of a Gentleman less favourable in
his Inclinations to the Interests of America than yourself the Occa-
sion which has laid us under the disagreeable Necessity of troubling
your Excellency with this Assertion of Our Rights might be made
use of as a Precedent for promoting Measures prejudicial to the
Rights and Privileges of the good People of this Province
Which he read in his Place and afterwards delivered in at the
Table
The said Remonstrance was read a first and second Time by the
Clerk and approved and Ordered to be Ingrossed
The House adjourns 'till 2 of the Clock

P M

The House met

Thomas Ringgold Esq.^r brings in and delivers to M^r Speaker the
Remonstrance to the Gov.^r Ingrossed which was read and assented
to and signed by the Order of the House by the Hon.^ble Speaker

Ord.^d That Tho.^s Ringgold Esq.^r and Col.^o Lloyd do acquaint the
Gov.^r that this House hath prepar'd an Address to be presented to
him and desires to know when and where he will please to receive it.

20

p. 330