The Lower House. 569

I take it therefore to be absolutely necessary to set their
machinations in so Clear a Light, as I hope will for the future
Silence their Clamours or Expose those Disturbers of the
Publick Tranquility to the lash of those Laws, that were long
Since provided against them.

L. H. J.

I shall not now entertain you with an Historicall Relation of
Obtaining the first Grant of this Province, nor yet, mention
the Administration of the Government under the late Lord
Proprietaries Believing it will Suffice that I Acknowledge, the
Papists had more than an equal Share with the Protestants in
holding judiciall and Ministerial Offices here from the date of
the Charter 1632 to the year of our Lord 1691 when their
late Majestyes King William and Queen Mary were pleased to
send you a Governour, of their appointment, after this Mary-
land Continued happily Governed for twenty-four years the
Respective Governours in that Space receiveing their Com-
mission and Instructions immediately from the Crown of
which I had the Last Honour. But so soon as his Present
Sacred Majesty condescended to Restore the now Lord Pro-
prietor (on his professing himselfe a Protestant) to His
Hereditary Government, the Papists Instantly laid in their
Claim, to be also restored to their former pretended Previ-
ledges which when offered to me for my Approbation by their
Principal Agent, was Dismist with this Answer I would op-
pose it to the utmost of my Power. Hence our troubles took
their rise.
Upon the first Insurrection of the Rebells in Great Britain
against His Majestyes person and Government, Those of the
Same evil disposition here were so elated with the hopes of
their Imaginary Success, and so open and dareing on that pre-
sumption that I was early Obliged to check and restrain their
ffollys by a Proclamation published the 14^th ffebruary 1715 to
which I referr you for my reasons of so doing.
On the tenth of June following (the Supposed Birth day of
the Pretender) the Great Guns of this City were fired off late
in the Night these Offenders were soon Discovered by a
Reward published in a Proclamation and afterwards punished
according to their Demerits.
Soon after these Transactions M^r Charles Carroll a profest
Papist arrived from London with a Commission of so Strange
a Nature that under pretence of being his Lordships Agent, it

p. 6

Included with His Instructions, many Essential parts of
Government. These he Produced to me wherein he had power
given him to Receive all the Money raised for the Support of
Government and Even that for purchaseing armes for the
defence of the Country.

P. 7