478 Assembly Proceedings, April 5-22, 1720.

U. H. J.
P. 3

Thereupon M^r Speaker with the members of that House
Attend his Excy at this House where he is pleased to bespeak
them as follows Viz.

Gentlemen of the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly
By a Speciall Instruction from the Right Honble the Lords
Guilford and Propry dated in London 23^d March 1718
The Assembly of this Province Stands Prorogued to this
present month of Aprill, And tho I am not Hon^rd with their
Lordships reasons for this unusuall Method of Prorogation
yet I am perswaded they must have been Extraordinary,
And as I have not their Lordships' Commands ffurther to
Prorogue you, it seems to be their Determined Pleasure you
Should meet at this their Appointed time, Therefore Use the
Opportunity (which in all Probability will be the last I shall
have) to recomend to Your Consideration Sever all Important
affair.s for the good Government and Welfare of his Majestys
Subjects in this Province

Gentl.
You are Sensible the Act Ascertaining the Gauge & Tare of
Tob^o hh^ds Expires on the 29^th day of Sept Ensuing. This
Act Contains three pticulars Essential to Your Ease and
Prosperity
I^st The Provision for the Support of Government.
2^d The Equivalent given in Lieu of your Quitt Rents and
Alienation Fines And
3^d The Regulation of your Tob^o trade the Staple and
Wealth of Maryland
I must here Acquaint you that I have wrote in very pressing
terms to their Lordships for Instructions on the Support of

p. 4

Government, And on the Equivalent for the Quitt Rents, And
tho my Correspondents, inform me my Lett^rs have been de-
livered yet I have not rec^d their Comands thereon Occasion'd
as I presume by the Long Course of Contrary winds which
retard the Arrivall of the Ships Expected from London, So
that I must Confine myself to Offer my own Sentiments on
them.

As for the Support of Government the very mentioning of
it Implies the Necessity of a proper Provision to be made for
Maintaining the Hon^r & Character of your Governour and
Other Judiciall & Ministeriall Officers, with which when Or-
dered to be Laid before you for your Consent your Comply-
ance is not Doubted.