520 Assembly Proceedings, April 23-June 5, 1740.

L. H. J.

Lib. No. 46

the Duties of their Speaker as well as be much more worthy of your
Approbation.
To which his Excellency was pleased to Reply that he could not
but Commend the Conduct of the house and Approve of him as
Speaker.
When afterwards M^r Speaker proceeded in the following manner
Sir as it is your Excellencys pleasure to Confirm their Choice it
is now become my Duty to Accept the Office and in the discharge
thereof I shall Endeavour to Approve my selfe an Equal freeman
Zealous in the Interest of the Lord Proprietary as well as in that of
my dearest Country.
I am now on Behalf of that Honourable House which placed me
here to Require the free use of all those their accustomed Rights
and privileges as they hitherto have and as they ought to be Enjoyed
in Assembly all freedom as to our Persons all freedom of Speech
and A free and Easy Access to your Excellency's Person In all
Cases of Importance that may require it.
I shall Trespass upon your Patience Sir but for one moment
longer untill I Observe
That I take it to be A fact universally allow'd that there never was
a Legislature of this Province if Considered in Every its distinct and
Severall branches Composed of more Able and more Eminent Mem-
bers than is the present and that no Assembly of this Province was
ever calld together at A Juncture that required the utmost Exertion
of such Extraordinary Qualifications more than does the present
that never more was Expected from A Session of Assembly or Ever
did the Publick Affairs of the Province much more Require some-
what to be done in order to heal the differences and reconcile the
Jarring Interests of the Lord proprietary and his faithfull Tennants.
May then Sir A happy Event Result from our Consultations May
the Effects of our proceedings Every way Answer the great Occasion
and the great End of our being Called together May they Contrib-
ute Greatly Contribute Sir to the honour of his Lordship the Satis-

p. 4

faction of your Excellency and the peace and well being of the
People of Maryland.
The Governor made the following Speech ( See page 424. )
M^r Speaker and the other members returned to the Lower House

p. 7

M^r Speaker reassumed the Chair
Ordered that M^r Speaker Issue his warrant to the Secretary of
the Province to make out writs of Election directed to the Sherriff
of Ann Arundell County to Elect A Member to serve in this As-
sembly In place of Cap^t Thomas Gassaway Deceased one other
Directed to the Sheriff of Calvert County to Elect A Member In place
of Coll^l John Mackall Deceased and one other Directed to the Sher-