The Lower House. 335

A sufficient Number of Delegates to compose a House being con-
vened at the House prepared by M.^r Joshua Frazier for the Use of
the Public; M.^r William Paca, a Delegate returned for the City of
Annapolis, and M.^r Nicholas Thomas, a Delegate returned for Talbot
County, attended on his Excellency to acquaint him therewith.
Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer and George Plater Esq.^rs of the
Upper House, attended by Doctor Upton Scott, Clerk of the Upper
House, came into the Lower House and the aforesaid Delegates took
the several Oaths to the Government required by Law, signed the
Oath of Abjuration, repeated and signed the Test in the Presence
of the two Gentlemen of the Upper House.
Daniel of Saint Thomas Jenifer and George Plater Esq.^rs from
the Upper House acquaint the Members of this House that the Gov-
ernor requires the Attendance of the Members of the Lower House
immediately in the Upper House
The Members of the Lower House went to the Upper House.
His Excellency required them to return to the Lower House and
choose a Speaker. They returned, and unanimously made Choice of
M.^r Matthew Tilghman a Delegate returned for Talbot County to
be their Speaker, and placed him in the Chair.
M.^r John Hall and M.^r Paca were sent to acquaint his Excellency
that this House hath made Choice of a Speaker
George Steuart and William Fitzhugh Esquires from the Upper
House acquaint the Members of this House that the Governor re-
quires their Attendance in the Upper House to present their Speaker
The Members of the Lower House went to the Upper House and
presented to the Governor M.^r Matthew Tilghman as their Speaker.
His Excellency approved the Choice and made the following Speech
Viz^t

Gentlemen of the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly
I am apprehensive that the Meeting of the General Assembly at
this Time, may be rather inconvenient to your private Affairs, tho'
after the unusual Length of your Recess occasioned by the Death
of our late Lord Proprietary, and the peculiar State of this Province;
in Consequence of that Event, you may perhaps deem it expedient to
embrace this Opportunity of enacting such Laws, as may promote

L. H. J.
Liber No. 54
June 15

the general Welfare. I have already communicated (in publishing
my Commission and issuing the Writs of Election for this Assembly)
the Succession of M.^r Harford to the Proprietaryship of this Prov-
ince; I have the Honour to be continued Governor thereof, with his
Majesty's most gracious Approbation of my Conduct heretofore,
which I shall be supremely happy in meriting a Continuance of, as
well as of the Confidence reposed in me by my Appointment; and
you may be assured, Gentlemen, that it will ever be, as it always has
been, my Wish, and Endeavour to promote the general Good of

p. 304