The assembly's rejoinder, justifying the requisition they made of his instructions; and intimating, that an appeal to the crown was the only method left them of being continued in the use and benefit of their birthright, and charter liberties.
The governor questions their right to have these instructions laid before them, and endeavours to put them beside their point, by magnifying the preparations of the French, &c.
The assembly order the papers which had passed between the proprietaries and them to be printed, which till then they had avoided.
Their unanimous resolutions concerning the proprietary instructions, in which they declare it as their opinion, that the said instructions were the principal if not the sole obstruction to their bill: also the most essential points contained in their reply to the governor's charges against them.
The assembly make their appeal to the crown, inform the governor thereof, signify their inclination to adjourn till May, and give his instructions the _coup de grace_.
The governor's expostulatory message thereon.
He demands a copy of their minutes; they order him one when the printed copies were _finished_, and adjourn.
Upon Braddock's arrival in Virginia, they are re-assembled by special summons: the demands made by message on that occasion.
The governor reprimands them for having published Sir Thomas Robinson's letter in their minutes, and for not delivering him a copy of those minutes so soon as he had required them.
Orders and counter-orders to the printer of these minutes.
Two messages from the governor; one communicating a design of general Shirley to build a fort _within the limits_ of his majesty's territories near _Crown Point_, to which the assembly is required to contribute; and the other, notifying first the arrival of Braddock's forces, and then the expectations entertained at home, that the colonies would raise an additional number of forces, furnish provisions, &c. all terminated with a kind of menace of the resentment of his majesty and the parliament, in case of a disappointment.
_Twenty five thousand pounds_ granted to the king's use, to be raised by an emission of paper-bills to the same amount, and to be sunk by an extension of the excise for ten years.