Introduction. xix

that legislative body (p. 41; Arch. Md. LXI, 139, 331-332). During the session
held during May and June, 1768, there was initiated a movement to pay Duckett
for transcribing in a book the votes and proceedings of the Lower House for
the years 1704-1715, inclusive (Arch. Md. LXI, 405).

The Upper and Lower Houses would instruct their respective Clerks in the
performance of their duties (pp. 28, 291, 298, 387, 390). Clerks of both
Houses signed addresses (pp. 22, 73, 402).

LOWER HOUSE RULES

After the Lower House met in November, 1769, they ordered that the rules
of the last session should be observed during the present session (p. 40). The
same action was taken at the session which opened on September 25, 1770
(p. 209). On October 18, 1770, the Lower House adopted new regulations gov-
erning the conduct of legislative proceedings. While they were in session, no
member was to leave and no outsiders were permitted to talk with a Delegate.
The Speaker of the House was compelled to make known the contents of all
letters addressed to him (pp. 260-261).

While the Assembly which met in 1769 sat from nine in the morning until
one o'clock in the afternoon, that which convened on September 25, 1770, sat
from eight in the morning until the same time in the afternoon (pp. 40, 208).

COMMITTEES

Committees of one or more members were appointed by the Lower House
for various purposes. Because of the small membership of the Upper House,
committees were not as necessary, and, with the exception of the committees
instructed to prepare addresses to the Lord Proprietary or the Governor, none
were appointed (pp. 5, 172).

In the Lower House committees were used not only for this purpose (pp. 40,
74, 267, 378), but also for preparing addresses to the Upper House (pp. 40,
69, 221). During the three sessions held in 1769 and 1770 committees were
appointed by the House to enquire what laws would expire during each session
(pp. 40, 209-210, 387), to consult with the members of the Upper House (pp.

46, 173, 209, 378), to enquire into the facts of a petition (pp. 52, 79, 211,
216, 224, 228, 270, 293, 295, 381-382, 384, 396), to tax the fees and expenses
of a complaint or petition (pp. 76, 116, 289, 402), and to prepare bills (pp. 47,
54,224,230,376).

There was also a "Committee of Grievances and Courts of Justice" (pp. 41,
210, 375). This committee was required to publish in the Maryland Gazette
the time and place of their meetings (p. 45). One of such notices appeared
in that newspaper on November 23, 1769. It stated that the committee would
sit for the purpose of hearing complaints or grievances "as any of the good
People of this Province think proper to make, at the Stadt-House, at one
o'Clock, every Day during this session" (Maryland Gazette, Nov. 23, 1769).
A similar notice appeared in the Maryland Gazette on October 11, 1770.

Committees were sometimes appointed at one session but not at another.