|
46 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
|
N. B. Before the late Law £150 Currency bought £ 100
Sterling and by the Increasing the value of Gold and Silver it
will take £166. 6. 8 Currency to buy £100 Sterling; If these
things are so, They must Damage the Province Considerably.
Viz'
The Act of Bankrupcy as to Credit here. The Act — For a
Pistole and Peice of Eight to pass Value Encreased in preven-
tion of Encrease in Value to the Paper Money. The Conse-
quence must be, the latter will be purchased up by Crafty
Money Jobbers in Pensilvania at Profit more than £133. p
Cent Sterling Gain. And at the same time, the Encreasing
Act for the Gold and Silver is in the Face and Violation of An
Act of Parliament the 6th of Queen Anne — which Act has not
only ascertain'd Foreign Coin throughout the Plantations
under Severe Penalties — But also doth Declare any further
Regulation therein to be in the Crown.
I am concern'd to understand from you, that the Journal of
Accounts did not pass on Account of the Allowance due to the
Council.
I find in the Proceedings and Debates of the Upper and
Lower Houses of Assembly in Maryland in 1722. 1723. and
1724. October the 5th 1723 On a motion made from the Com-
mittee of Accounts relating to the Allowances to be made to
Councillors out of Assembly time, Vizt First. A Messuage
from the Upper House about Councillors Allowances — wherein
The usual Allowances for Attendance as a Council of State
being denyed (by the Lower House) The Upper House
Desired to know why they Denyed Them such Reasonable
and Customary Allowances. The Lower House answer'd —
They find by the Act in 1670-1, Two shillings per Hogshead
was raised the then Lord Proprietor to defray the Expences of
Government and his Quit Rents &c. That in 1674 and 1678
was raised the same Duty for the same uses. That in 1717
one shilling per Hogshead was raised to maintain the Dignity
of His Lordship's Lieutenant Governor. Thereupon they con-
cluded of opinion, that as the Council are a part of the Gov-
ernment chosen by His Lordship, he is to pay them out of the
one shilling per Hogshead. The answer from the Upper
House was — That the Country since 1670-1 and in all Proba-
bility before, Supported the Council of State — Either by raising
an Impost for that purpose or by Assessment upon the Inhabit-
ants; which was by Impost until the King assumed the Gov-
ernment, Then the Legislature Assess'd the Inhabitants, and
so continued during the Government of the Crown. When
the Proprietary Government was Restored they still assess'd
the Inhabitants for the Support of the Council. The Case
being so: If you doubt, we desire a Conference — That we
|
|
 |
