xx Introduction.

There were in this 1764-1765 period a number of well trained lawyers serv-
ing in both houses of the Assembly. Eight of these had received their legal
training in London in the Inns of Court. Three of them were in the Upper
House. There were four in the Lower House, in addition to the Clerk of the
house, who had also received his legal training in London. The Upper House
members who were Templars, were Stephen Bordley (1709-1764) of An-
napolis, an Inner Templar, a Councillor and the Attorney-General; Daniel
Dulany the Younger (1722-1797) of Annapolis, of Clare College, Cambridge,
a Middle Templar, a Councillor, and the recognized intellectual leader of the
American bar of his time; Richard Lee (1705-1787) of "Blenheim," Charles
County, a Middle Templar, a Councillor, and later for several years President
of the Council. In the Lower House were Robert Goldsborough (1740-1798)
of Cambridge, a Middle Templar and later a distinguished Maryland judge;
John Hammond (d. 1784) of Anne Arundel, a Middle Templar; James
Hollyday (1727-1788) of "Readburn" Queen Anne's County, a Middle Tem-
plar, who in 1765 refused a seat in the Council, preferring to remain in the
Lower House; Edmund Key (d. 1766) of St. Mary's County, a Middle Tem-
plar and an Inner Templar, and the successor of Stephen Bordley as Attorney-
General. The Clerk of the Lower House, Michael Macnemara, had received his
legal training at Gray's Inn, London, to which he was admitted in 1723. It
may be added that John Brice of Annapolis, appointed one of the commis-
sioners of the Loan Office in 1765, was also a Middle Templar.

The Lower House at once proceeded to organize in the orthodox manner,
although organization was not actually completed until it met again in Novem-
ber after a month's recess. Ringgold and Hanson appeared before the Gover-
nor and the Upper House, and reported that there were a sufficient number of
delegates present to form a Lower House. Lee and Ridout from the Upper
House accompanied by Dr. Upton Scott, recently appointed clerk of the Upper
House to succeed John Ross, proceeded to the lower chamber and swore in the
delegates in the usual manner. Hammond and Ridout in the name of the Gov-
ernor then summoned the members to appear in the upper chamber where the
Governor directed them to return and choose a Speaker. The Lower House,
after selecting Robert Lloyd of Queen Anne's County Speaker, sent John
Goldsborough and James Hollyday to inform the Governor of their choice,
who indicated his approval. Hammond and Lee were then sent by the Upper
House to require the attendance of the delegates to present the Speaker. After
Lloyd had been formally presented, the Governor gave his official approval of
the choice. Michael Macnemara was appointed Clerk (p. 4). Robert Saunders
was appointed Serjeant-at-arms and Cornelius Howard Door-keeper and took
the required oaths of office (p. 17). John Duckett and Turbutt Wright were
appointed clerks to the several committees of the Lower House, (p. 22).

In this brief opening address Sharpe said: "Having Reason to think it
would be very agreeable to you to be Convened as soon as the unlucky Cause
[smallpox] which made me decline meeting You last Spring was removed I
have called you together before the day to which the Assembly stood prorogued,
hoping that my doing so will Convince You of my desire to gratify You and
afford You an Opportunity to promoting the true Interest of your Country".