56 PAST AND PRESENT OF IV . Reaolved, That the address of this House, In answer to His Excellency , the Lieutenant -Gov ¬ ernor's speech, at the opening of the session, is loyal, respectful and constitutional. V. Resolved , That the refusal of the Lieuten¬ ant-Governor to receive such address Is without precedent, and tends to deprive His Majesty's loyal subjects In this Island of the most regular and constitutional channel, through which their wants or grievances can reach the throne. VI. Resolved , That this House, notwithstand¬ ing the refusal of its address by the Lieutenant - Governor , has proceeded to the consideration of the public affairs of the Island, and has passed various bills, yet It has never lost sight of Its most undoubted right, which it is the duty of the House to assert, and maintain unimpaired. VII . Resolved . That the refusal of the Lieu¬ tenant-Governor to receive the said address is a direct infringement of the rights of this House, and a breach of those ancient privileges which were asked by the speaker, and acceded to by His Excellency , In the usual form, at the opening of the session. VIII . Resolved , That an humble address be presented by this House to His Royal Highness , the Prince Regent , with a copy of His Excellency , the Lieutenant - Governor 's speech to it, at the opening of the session, and the address of this House in answer thereto, which His Excellency has refused to receive, and also of these resolu¬ tions, and praying His Royal Highness will be graciously pleased to take such order in the mat¬ ter as may insure to this House the future exer¬ cise of its rights and privileges, now refused to it by Lieutenant - Governor Smith . IX. Resolved , That His Grace, the Duke of Richmond , governor-general, and commander-in- chief of the forces in British , be respectfully requested to transmit such address to His Royal Highness the Prince Regent . The House was then adjourned till 6th January. When it met, on that date, a message was received from the Lieutenant - Governor , stating that he had sent a copy of the address concerning the chief justice to the secretary of state for the colonial depart¬ ment, requesting an early decision on the subject. With reference to the sheriff, the Assembly were certainly the proper judges of his conduct as returning officer, and he would not offer any opinion on that subject, but the Lieutenant - Governor was not aware of any impropriety committed by him as sheriff, and trusted the House would not ex¬ pect him to make any change in that office until the regular annual period, now not distant. The special committee appointed to pre¬ pare an address to the Prince Regent , in con¬ formity with the Assembly 's resolutions re¬ specting the Lieutenant - Governor , having reported the same, the House adopted the report. The address was drawn in terms of the resolutions, a copy of which was to be forwarded with it, and closed with a prayer that His Royal Highness would be gra¬ ciously pleased to adopt such measures as might secure to them the future exercise of their constitutional privileges. It was ordered that the speaker do, by letter, respectfully request His Grace, the Duke of Richmond , to transmit the said ad¬ dress to His Royal Highness , the Prince Regent . This, however, was by no means the end of the Assembly 's complaints and criticisms of Mr. Smith 's conduct. The following day they resolved that it was a gross abuse and misapplication of the public money on the part of Lieutenant - Governor Smith to pay to the acting receiver-general certain men¬ tioned sums, for escheating two townships, as these sums were issued without warrant from the revenue of the Island arising from certain acts, and being directed to be laid out on public roads and ferries, and such other uses as the Lieutenant - Governor , with the advice of His Majesty's Council, shall from time to time order and direct. The same day the Assembly adopted an¬ other address to the Prince Regent , request¬ ing that he would "direct that this House