366 Assembly Proceedings, June 17-July 8, 1746.

L. H. J.
Liber No. 46

that you might be Enabled to gain the several Ends you aim at; Tho
what Success this invidious Insinuation will meet with Your Excel-
lency may learn from a Late Instance of the like kind in an even
memorable Speech delivered at the Dissolution of a late House of
Delegates and afterwards as industriously propagated over the Pro-
vince and which the People effectually answered and shewed a Proper
Regard to by sending the very Members again whom that Speech
was designed to Affect
We really Sir could not have guess'd at the Little Regard you
have shewn for our Privileges or Characters which as Represen-
tatives of a Free People are in a Parliamentary sense sacred and
which we are determined to preserve so to the utmost of our Power

[Query
" genteel
Appella-
tion"]

notwithstanding the geteel Appentation which is given the former
of " Extravagants Declarations " which, whether it proceeded from
the Vanity of the Frog or the stupidity of a Certain Animal cloathed
in a Lyons Skinn in the Fable the Pen-man of your Message who is
acquainted with fable as well as Privilege can best determine. And
really May it Please your Excellency to speak freely We are so far
from being satisfyed that any part of our Remonstrance is false that
we are fully convinced it is in every part of it true as well with regard
to the words spoken as to the Occasion of speaking not only from
the Declaration of M^r Smith himself concuring Testimony of several
Members of this House who were then present. And as we have in
this Case so we shall in every other Instance of like sort endeavour
to preserve the Rights and Privileges of this House inviolable being
well satisfyed that the natural Consequence of the Loss of our Privi-
leges will be the Loss of the Peoples Liberties since those who are
not free themselves cannot well preserve the Freedom of others;
which perhaps may be the cheif Reason for the late Attempts upon
the Privileges of the House of Delegates and therefore dont imagine
we are to take nothing for privilege but what you are pleased to call
so. To conclude we shall give your Excellency no Further Trouble
on this Head but Hope as it is out of our power to obtain such use-
full and necessary Laws as are Loudly called for and the just Right
of the People to have that a speedy Period may be put to this Session
whereby the People whom we Represent may not be run to any other
fruitless Expence

p. 630

The House adjourns til To morrow Morning 9 of the Clock.

July 5

Saturday Morning July 5, 1746

The House met According to Adjournment and the Proceedings
of Yesterday were read M^r Harris and D^r Buchanan ordered to ac-
quaint the Governor that this House hath prepared an Address to
him and desires to know when and where he will Please to receive