xxviii Introduction.

was passed at this Assembly. Some of those thus afforded relief are known
to have been in prison for more than five years. The nature of the dispute
between the two houses and the abortive attempt to secure more humane legis-
lation will be considered later in this introduction (pp. lix-lx).

The usual joint committee was appointed by both houses to report upon
the condition of the Loan Office. Provincial funds set aside in the sinking
funds to take up outstanding bills of credit (paper currency) when they should
fall due, were invested either in bonds (loans) on real estate by the Loan
Office, or in the capital stock of the Bank of England held for the Province
by trustees in London. The report of this joint committee of the two houses
reveals the healthy financial condition of the Province. At this time when
paper money in so many of the colonies was at a great discount, the bills of
credit of Maryland showed no depreciation and there was a large balance in
the sinking fund. Students of Maryland finance in the colonial period will
find this report on the condition of the Loan Office discussed in detail in a
later section of the introduction (pp. lx-lxii).

As usual, at this session a special committee appointed for the purpose,
reported on the condition of the arms and ammunition of the Province. The
report, like its recent predecessors, told of the shameful neglect of the arms
stored in various places in Annapolis. The report will be found discussed
elsewhere (pp. lxii-lxiii).

The struggle between the two houses of the Assembly in regard to the adop-
tion of the Journal of Accounts had prevented for several years provision
being made for back pay to certain Maryland soldiers, officers of the late war,
who on account of notable service were especially deserving of consideration.
Petitions were presented at this session urging the claims of various officers.
The committee appointed by the Lower House passed upon these claims, and
in a report to the house stated to what allowances they were severally entitled.
The bill passed by the Lower House providing for the payment of certain
expenses incurred in the late war was rejected in the upper chamber, which de-
clared that it would not receive its assent because there were other creditors of
the Province equally entitled to payment. These claims by officers are discussed
more fully later (pp. lxv-lxvii).

On December 20 the Lower House sent an address to the Governor calling
his attention to the fact that the treasurers of the two shores had been very
remiss in their duties, and had presented no accounts either at the last, or the
present session, although it was notorious that they had in their hands large
sums of money belonging to the public, raised under acts requiring accounts
to be laid before the Assembly at each session. The Governor was requested
to order the bonds of the treasurers to be put in suit for this neglect (p. 260).
At this time the Treasurer of the Western Shore was Charles Hammond, and
of the Eastern Shore Edward Lloyd. Both were members of the Council.

On November 15 the Lower House appointed two special committees to
report on controversial subjects involving the relations between the Lord
Proprietary and the people. A committee of ten headed by James Hollyday was
ordered to report its opinion by what right the Lord Proprietary took to him-