Introduction. xli

and asking that Maryland send representatives. The letter requested, that if
Maryland agreed to this proposal, a notice be promptly sent to the Speaker
(pp. 18-20).

On the second day of the session, the day after these letters from Massa-
chusetts had been read, the Lower House unanimously resolved that three of
its members be appointed "a committee" to attend the meeting in New York.
The house then ordered that a message be dispatched by the Speaker to the
committee of the Massachusetts house, then in New York, notifying it of
the action of the Maryland Lower House. Colonel Edward Tilghman, William
Murdock, and Thomas Ringgold were appointed as the Maryland representa-
tives, and a committee of seven, headed by James Hollyday, and with him,
Johnson, Key, John Goldsborough, Hammond, Wolstenholme, and Hanson,
was appointed to draw up instructions for the guidance of the three representa-
tives. In keeping with the importance and solemnity of the occasion it was
ordered that the English Petition of Right and the Bill of Rights be read
(pp. 21-22). The house then resolved that no other business would be con-
sidered at this session except that relating to the Stamp Act (p. 21). Two days
later an attempt was made to expunge this order from the journal without
success, the house voting 38 to 14 in the negative. Most of those voting to
expunge were members of the Proprietary party (pp. 26-27).

On September 25 the committee, headed by James Hollyday, appointed to
draw up instructions for the Maryland representatives, brought in its report.
It advised that the three gentlemen selected repair immediately to the city of
New York to join with the "representatives of the other Colonies in a General
and United dutiful Loyal and humble Representation to his Majesty and the
British Parliament of the Circumstances and Condition of the British Colonies
and Plantations and to pray relief from the Burthens and Restraints lately
laid on their Trade and Commerce and especially from the Taxes imposed by
an Act of the last Session of Parliament Granting and Applying Certain Stamp
Duties and other Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America
Whereby they are Deprived in some Instances of that invaluable privilege of
Englishmen and British Subjects Tryals by Juries that they take care that
such Representation shall humbly and decently but expressly contain an
Assertion of the Rights of the Colonists to be Exempt from all and
every Taxations and Impositions upon their Persons and propertys to which
they do not Consent in a legislative way either by themselves or their Repre-
sentatives by them freely Chosen and Appointed" (pp. 22-23). The report
of the committee on instructions was concurred in, ordered engrossed, and the
next day signed by the Speaker (pp. 25-26).

On the same day that the Lower House had ordered that instructions be
drawn up for the guidance of its representatives, the "House taking into Con-
sideration the Many Grievances the Good People of this Province will Suffer
if an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament of Great Britain for impos-
ing Stamp Duties upon the Inhabitants of the several Colonies of America be
Carried into Execution", ordered that a committee be appointed to "Draw up
Resolves declarative of the Constitutional Rights and Privileges of the Free-