Introduction. xlv

mander of His Majesty's ship Sardeine, "anchored off Newcastle in the Dela-
ware River", which the Governor recommended to the serious consideration
of the members of the house, adding "that I should be glad to learn what
Answer you think would be proper for me to return him". Captain Hawker
in his letter to Sharpe said that at the request of the governors of Pennsylvania
and New York he had taken the stamped paper on board the Sardeine until
a place of safety could be provided, and that he understood some of this paper
was brought to Maryland by the same ship, the Royal Charlotte, and imagining
that the Governor had not yet had the opportunity of making the same appli-
cation to him, and out of respect for him, he had also taken the Maryland
papers on board, and begged the Governor's directions for its disposal (pp.
137-138). The Lower House on the day following appointed a very large
committee consisting of fifteen members, headed by Edmund Key, one of the
leaders of the Proprietary party, to prepare an answer to the Governor's mes-
sage (p. 139). This committee brought in an address to the Governor which
was assented to by the house, in which the house replied that it was "extremely
sorry it cannot comply with your Request that we let you know what Answer
we think it would be proper for you to return him' As it is not agreeable to
the Sentiment of our Constituents that we should give your Excellency Advice
upon the occasion" (p. 140). This was the second time that the Lower House
had refused to give any advice to the Governor on the subject of the disposition
of stamped paper (pp. 35-36).

On November 27 Edward Tilghman, William Murdock, and Thomas Ring-
gold, who had been appointed by the Lower House to represent Maryland at
the Stamp Act Congress in New York, reported back to the house an account
of "the Business by them transacted there," and they also submitted a copy
of a letter sent by them to Charles Garth Esq., the agent of South Carolina in
London, who was selected by the three Maryland delegates to represent the
Province in Stamp Act matters in England, together with the address to the
King and a memorial and petition to the Lords and to the Commons of the
British Parliament. With these the three delegates submitted an account of
their expenses "and of the Business by them transacted there as a Committee
appointed by this House to meet Committees from the other Colonys" (p. 180).
It was not until nearly a year later that the address to the King, the memorials
and petitions to both houses of Parliament, the account showing the expenses
of the three Maryland representatives, the proceedings of the Stamp Act Con-
gress, and the letter to Charles Garth were printed by Jonas Green in pamphlet
form, under the title: Proceedings of the Congress at New-York. This very
rare pamphlet is reprinted in the Appendix of this volume (pp. 327-356). By
a unanimous vote, the Speaker was directed to deliver the formal thanks of the
house to these three gentlemen. The Speaker thereupon declared that the house
had "fully considered the whole Proceedings of the Congress lately held at New
York which you have laid before them and as a Testimony that they highly ap-
prove the manner in which you have executed the Great Trust reposed in you in
every Respect they have unanimously resolved that the thanks of this house
should be given you And it is with great pleasure I now do it as I am sensible