Die Saturni, May 18th, 1776. Ante Meridiem
Mr.[John] Randle also delivered the Bill for renewing and prolonging the Provision Act, Concurred to by the Council, but not assented to by the Governor, with a Message from His Excellency as follows, vizt.: ー
I am directed by His Excellency to acquaint Mr. Speaker and the House of Assembly that he can by no means give his Assent to the Bill for renewing and laying on an Embargo on all kinds of grain, flour, &c. &c., without the following Exception: That if any kind of grain or flour is or may be wanted for any of His Majesty's Navy or Army, or any Vessel actually employed in the Government Service, on such necessity any kind of grain or flour may be Exported; anything to the contrary in this Bill or Act nothwithstanding.
Ordered that the following Message be sent to His Excellency the Governor in answer to the one just received, viz.: ー
May it please Your Excellency: ー
We have this Moment received Your Excellency's Message to our House acquainting us that Your Excellency cannot give your Assent to the Bill for renewing the Provision Act unless a Clause be therein inserted in the following words: "That if any kind of Grain or Flour is or may be wanted for any of His Majesty's Navy or Army, or any Vessel actually employed in the Government's Service on such necessity, any kind of Grain or Flour may be Exported; any thing to the contrary in this Bill or Act notwithstanding." In answer to which we will beg leave to observe to your Excellency that if any of His Majesty's Ships of War or any other Ships in the Government Service shou'd come to these Islands in want of Stores for the Prosecution of any Voyage they may be destined for, full and ample provision is made for them under the General Direction of the Bill now under Consideration. Shou'd more be required, the Legislative Body, it is to be presumed on a proper Representation of the matter will be ever ready to testify their Loyalty to their Sovereign by giving all assistance to Government that can be done with security to the Inhabitants of these Islands. This it has ever appeared to us they have been ready and desirous of doing, however it might have been represented to the contrary. Your Excellency well knows that this is not a Provision Country, and that the Difficulty of our Situation in respect to the obtaining Supplies necessary for our subsistence obliges us to give as little Latitude as possible for a possibility of evading the Intention of the Bill in question. Shou'd the Clause proposed be inserted, we conceive it wou'd be incompatible with that security we shou'd endeavour to preserve to the Inhabitants of these Islands, as at present we are not permitted to enter the Ports of America from whence we have hitherto drawn our Resources, by which so far from having it in our power to provide for Fleets and Armies, we might be compelled by hard necessity to quit These Islands for some Country that might furnish us with the necessaries of Life. It is with concern that we find ourselves under the necessity of declining the insertion of the Clause proposed for the Reasons we have already given to Your Excellency. We therefore hope that the Bill will be favored with Your Excellency's assent in it's present State as it cannot operate to the prejudice of His Majesty's Service, and as the safety of thousands of the poor Inhabitants might now be said to depend in a great measure on the Will of Your Excellency.
By Order of the House,
May 18th, 1776.
Cornelius Hinson, Speaker.
Whereas the Bill for renewing, prolonging and amending the Act for prohibiting the Exportation of Provisions. which this Day passed this House and has been Concurred to by His Majesty's Council, has met with some Obstruction from His Excellency the Governor. In order to remove any Doubts or Objections which may remain in the Breast of His Excellency relative to passing the same; therefore unanimously Resolved that if any of His Majesty's Ships of War or any other Ship actually employed in the service of Government should arrive at these Islands, and should be in want of more Provisions than are by the said Bill allowed, this House on application will ever be ready to grant a further allowance consistent with the safety of His Majesty's Subjects of these Islands.
Ordered that the said Resolution be laid before the Council for Concurrence.
Moved that a Message may be sent to His Excellency the Governor desiring a months' adjournment.
Ordered accordingly, and that such Message be carried by the following Members: ー Thomas Fitt, Stephen Outerbridge, Esqrs.
Then Mr. Randle, Deputy Secretary, attended, read and delivered a Paper from His Excellency the Governor, as follows, viz.: ー
Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the Assembly: ー
I think I am fully justified for refusing my assent to the Bill if you will not amend it by the proper Clause proposed. As I suppose many of your House cannot be ignorant of the Idle pretence made use of for pursuing out to Sea the small Sloop on the 3d of September, and the Insult the Master of the Vessel met with which I had sent to Sea with Dispatches to His Majesty, And likewise the Disappointment that Captain [John] Tollemache, of His Majesty's ship the Scorpion, met with in not obtaining the Rice he had actually agreed for with two several Gentlemen.
As I cannot call the General Assembly upon every occasion of the kind which Assembly might neglect to give their attendance as heretofore.
George James Bruere.
18th May.
Mr. Randle, the Deputy Secretary, attended with the following Message, viz.: "I am directed by His Excellency to acquaint Mr. Speaker and the Gentlemen of the Assembly that he adjourns their House to Monday, the 24th June next."
