360 Assembly Proceedings, May 24-June 22, 1768.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 52
June 7
p. 509

To his excellency Horatio Sharpe esquire governor and commander
in chief in and over the province of Maryland.
The humble address of the house of delegates.
May it please your excellency
In answer to your excellency's message of Monday last, we are
of opinion that the offer of a reward for apprehending Negroes,
who are well known, and charged with felony, may probably in its
consequences, induce a very heavy expence on the public and tend
to lessen the activity and spirit with which they have been gener-
ally pursued, unless extraordinary rewards should be almost as
constantly offered as crimes committed. It seems, from your ex-
cellencys Message, that negroes Phil and Daniel, are probably
countenanced by white people, and thereby, if at all, will escape
the public justice; from thence we are apprehensive, that an ex-
ertion of the magistrates power, may most effectually obviate
Schemes so prejudicial to the community. Which is read and
ordered to lie on the table
John Ridout esquire from the upper house, delivers to M.^r
speaker, the petition of the visitors of Kent County free school;
the petition of captain Pearis; and the petition of Samuel Cook-
son; which were severally indorsed: June 17.^th 1768: Read and
referred to the consideration of the lower house of Assembly.
Sign'd by order U. Scott clk up: ho:

Which petitions are severally read here and ordered to lie on
the table.
The house adjourns til to morrow morning 9 o'clock

June 8

Wednesday, June 8^th 1768.

The house met according to adjournment. The members were
called and all appeared as on yesterday.
The proceedings of yesterday were read. M.^r M Tilghman
appeared in the house.
On motion, leave given to withdraw the petition of the in-
habitants of Caecil County, preferred to this house and rejected.
The order of the day being read, the house took into considera-
tion the letter from the speaker of the house of representatives of
the Massachusetts Bay; and M.^r speaker is requested to write a
respectful answer in the name of the house, to the same.

On reading the late acts of parliament imposing duties on the
colonies for the sole purpose of raising a revenue; Unanimously
Resolved, that a loyal, dutiful, and humble petition be prepared
to be presented to his Majesty, on the subject matter thereof:
Ordered that M.^r Murdock, M.^r Johnson, M.^r Ringgold, M.^r Hall,