xliv Introduction.

to pay any expenses which the delegates might incur over the £500 appropri-
ated (pp. n, 29). The Lower House thereupon accepted the latter amend-
ment and the ordinance was passed (pp. 29-30). The Lower House doubtless
felt that to incorporate in the ordinance the requirement that the Maryland dele-
gates make a report of the proceedings of the Congress to the General Assembly
was a reflection upon their good faith. But the bickerings between the two
houses over the ordinance did not stop with its passage. After its adoption by
the Upper House the journal shows that it was returned to the lower chamber
(p. 12). Just why this legislative procedure so upset the Lower House is not
entirely clear, but that it was in some way considered an infringement of
rights or customs, is revealed by this parting shot fired on the last day of the
session in the form of a message from the Lower House, "it not having been
usual for Ordinances to be returned from your House to ours after Assented
to by you we herewith return the ordinance you sent us that the proceedings
thereon may be as usual" (pp. 33, 13).

Just before adjournment Governor Sharpe sent separate messages of the
same tenor to each of the houses asking what disposition he should make of
the stamped paper which was daily expected to arrive. In his message to the
Upper House he said "that the Master of the Vessel who may have Charge
thereof will desire me to give Orders for its being Landed and Lodged in some
place of Security, especially as the Person appointed to distribute the Stamps
here, I understand left the Province. I should be glad to know how you would
Advise me to Act on Such Occasion" (p. 13). In the message to the Lower
House he added that in view of the recess the paper might arrive before he
had an opportunity of again consulting it. The Upper House in an address in
reply said that "As the Treatment of the Person said to be appointed Distribu-
tor of the Stamps for this Province, lately met with on his Arrival from Eng-
land and the Behaviour of Numbers of the Inhabitants of these Colonies ....
Affords great Room to apprehend that if the Stamp'd Papers destined for this
Province where there is no Place of Defence or Security in which they could
be Lodged were to arrive and be landed this time an Attempt at least would
be made to destroy them". In order to prevent this indignity to the legislature
of Great Britain, the Upper House advised that the commander of one of his
Majesty's ships on the Virginia station be requested to receive it until proper
provision for its care be afforded, or orders be received from the Ministry
(pp. 13-14). The Lower House on the other hand refused to give any advice
whatever to Sharpe saying "We should think ourselves extremely happy were
we in Circumstances to Advise your Excellency on so new a Subject, But it
being a matter of Importance and such as we do not think ourselves at Liberty
to Advise in without the Instructions of our Constituents which we cannot
now Obtain we hope your Excellency will think us excuseable for declining to
offer you any Advise upon the Occasion" (pp. 35-36).

Discussion of Stamp Act matters first came before the November-December,
1765, session on November 4, when Governor Sharpe transmitted to the
Lower House a message dated December 2, and with it a copy of a letter dated,
Newcastle River, Delaware, October 27, 1765, from James Hawker, Com-