xxvi Introduction.

Before proroguing the General Assembly on November 30, 1771, which had
been in session since October 2, Eden again referring to his proclamation said
that he was disappointed by the mistaken construction the Delegates had placed
on his action in issuing it. It was for benefit of the people of Maryland, his
Excellency maintained (pp. 236-237).

It was not until June 15, 1773, that the General Assembly met again and when
it did the relations between the Governor and the legislative bodies were more
friendly. In his opening address to the members of the Upper and Lower House
Governor Eden spoke of the death of Frederick Calvert and the succession of
the new Lord Proprietary, Henry Harford. Eden was pleased that he had been
continued as Governor under the new Proprietary and promised that he will
always try "to promote the General Good of Maryland ....." (pp. 310, 335-

336, 342-344).

In a separate message to the Delegates of the Lower House Governor Eden
said that if this time of the year was unsatisfactory, he would prorogue the
Assembly to a time more convenient for their private affairs. If, however, the
deputies were willing to go ahead, he would concur with both the Upper and
Lower Houses in passing such acts as might be "conducive to the Publick
Utility" (pp. 310, 336).

In reply the members of the Lower House informed his Excellency that
while the time was inconvenient to the private affairs of many of them, yet as
the Governor had thought it proper to convene them, "the peculiar State of the
Province" had determined them to proceed to business. On their part, the
Delegates promised to make every effort to enact such laws as might promote
the general welfare (p. 344). On the following day Eden thanked the members
of the Lower House for their address and added that he sincerely hoped the
welfare of the province may be furthered by prudent and salutary laws (p. 346).

On June 18, 1773, the Upper House replying to Eden's message at the open-
ing session on June 15 said that they were pleased that his Excellency had been
reappointed Governor and that they were sure that he would continue to advance
the prosperity of the colony (pp. 317, 318).

It was not until July 2, the day before the closing day of this session, that the
Lower House in a series of resolutions revived some of the issues which had
embittered the relations between Governor Eden and the lower chamber during
the sessions held in 1771. These resolutions reiterated some of those which had
been adopted bv the Delegates during the two sessions held in 1770: two of
them supported the right of the Lower House to arrest William Steuart and
others the sole right of the lower chamber, with the assent of the Upper House,
to impose and establish fees or taxes (p. 388; Arch. Md. LXII, 301, 431).
And, on July 2, the Lower House again asserted that the Governor's procla-
mation of November 26, 1770, and his instructions of November 24 regarding
the Land Office were illegal and unconstitutional. All these resolutions were
ordered printed in the Maryland Gazette for the next six weeks (pp. 388-389).

Apparently Eden decided that he did not want to renew this controversy with
the Lower House. Ignoring the above resolutions, he decided to prorogue the
General Assembly until October 11, 1773, giving as his reason the absence of so