7he Lower House. 331

that the said Bill shall not pass and Resolved That the said
Act be not revived as it now stands Signed p Order
Rich^d Dallam Cl. Ho. Del.

Sent up to the Council by M^r Mariartee and M^r Covington
They return and say they delivered the same.
Committee of Laws enter the House and delivers M^r
Speaker Bill for Payment and Assessment of the publick Levy.
Which was twice read and ordered to be indorsed

By the House of Delegates 17^th December 1708

Read the first & second Times by especial Order and will pass
Signed p Order Rich^d Dallam Cl. Ho. Del.

Sent up to his Excellency and Council for Concurrence by
M^r Mariartee & Capt. Crabb
They return and say they delivered the same.
The Honble Col^{o
William Holland, Colo
William Coursey
and Thomas Greenfield, Esq enter the House and deliver Mr
Speaker the following Message}

By the Council in Assembly December 17^th 1708.

Upon communicating to his Excellency your Resolve not to
revive the Act for the better ordering and regulating the
Militia he was pleased to declare he could not have expected
any Persons who had the least Respect for their Country would
ever consent to leave it defenceless especially in this Time of
War and if you are jealous of the fifty thousand Pounds of
Tobacco being made use of, by the Governor and Council his
Excellency says he depises so mean a Thought that should
ballance with the Safety of the Province and as he never made
Use of that Tobacco so had no Thought of it. And we being
well satisfied it's highly necessary that Act be kept in force,
without which the Government will not be secure in Case of
any Disturbance recommend to you to reassume the Consid-
eration thereof, and pass the Bill as agreed to.
Signed p Order W Bladen Cl. Co.

L. H. J.

The foregoing Message being read and debated in the
House Put to the Question whether the House shall reassume
their Vote or not ? Carried by the Majority of Votes in the
Affirmative. Ordered the Bill be read, and being read and de-
bated Put to the Question whether the said Bill shall pass or not?
Carried by Majority of Votes in the Affirmative
Ordered the said Bill be indorsed

p. 209