Appendix. 405

are the most unlikely Persons in the World to give them a fair and
impartial State of our Disputes. I am so well acquainted with the
Principles of the Gentlemen whom their Honours have selected for
the peculiar Marks of their groundless Accusations, and with their

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sincere and hearty Attachment to His Majesty's Person and Govern-
ment, that I can venture to declare it to be their warmest Wish, that
his Province were immediately under the Protection and Authority
of the Crown, as the greatest Incident of public Happiness which
could possibly befal the Country. — This is the general Wish of the
People, and the only effectual Cure which can rationally be expected
for our Divisions and Animosities, now inflamed to too great a
Degree to be healed by any other Expedient; and though these Gen-
tlemen have been so unfortunate as to disagree with their Honours
upon many Subjects, yet there is one Point, in which I am persuaded
they will most readily concur with them, the first Time they appear
in a Legislative Capacity, and that is, in an humble Application to
the British Parliament, praying that they will be pleased, (after
making a suitable Compensation to the Proprietor) to place the Prov-
ince of Maryland immediately under the Protection and Govern-
ment of His Majesty, as was done by a former Parliament, in the
Case of Carolina. Are their Honours the Guardians and Protectors
of the Peoples Rights? They cannot give a better Pledge of their
Sincerity, than in endeavouring to put these Rights under the im-
mediate Protection of His Majesty. — Are their Honours jealous
of any Invasion of His Majesty's Prerogatives, from the ambitious
Incroachments of the Peoples Representatives? His Majesty's Pre-
rogatives will be effectually secured in the Affections of His People,
and by the Authority and Dignity of His Government. — Are their

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Honours really in earnest, when they profess so ardent a Zeal for
his Majesty's Person and Government? They cannot give a better
Test of their Loyalty, than by shewing their Inclination, and exert-
ing their Endeavours to place the Province under the auspicious
Influence of His Majesty's immediate Jurisdiction. Let me be per-
mitted then to indulge the pleasing Hope, that the next Meeting of
Assembly will produce a joint Application, from the Upper and
Lower Houses, to the British Parliament, praying that they will be
pleased tp place His Majesty's most dutiful and loyal Subjects of
Maryland under His immediate Protection and Government. But
if Matters are not yet ripe for this grand AEra of Maryland's Happi-
ness, what Step can be taken to alleviate the heavy Load of Misery
she at present labours under? So great are our public Divisions,
that in Matters of the most pressing Exigency, in Circumstances
involving our most important Interests, when our Duty to the best
of Kings, and the most sacred Cause of religious and civil Liberty
have, with one Voice, called upon us to exert the Force of the
Province, Maryland alone has been like the deaf Adder, who re-
fuseth to hear the Voice of the Charmer, charm he never so wisely.

p. 66