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330 Correspondence of Governor Sharpe.
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Letter Bk. IV
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favourite Assessment Bill without any material Amendments.
I informed you in my Letter of Yesterday's Date that the As-
sembly had again met to as little purpose as heretofore; here-
with you'll receive a Copy of the Speech I made to both
Houses at the opening of the Session together with their
Addresses in answer to it, I likewise send you a Copy of a
Message that I sent to the Lower House the 9th Inst with a
Letter which I had just received from Mr Secy Pitt & have
thereto annexed the Answer which they presented to me the
11th Inst. On the l6th they sent their Supply Bill (carried by
a Majority of 28 agst 19) for raising £60000 on their old Plan,
to the Upper House whence it was returned with a negative
the same Day. The next morning a member moved for
A Bill for granting a Supply of £50000 for His Majesty's
Service by a Tax upon Land a Tax upon all the Taxable
Inhabitants of this Province, an additional Tax upon all negro
Taxables, a Tax upon all Ferries & Pilots to be Lycenced,
An Additional Tax upon all Wheels, a Tax upon all Lucrative
Offices, Places of Profit, Benefices & Professions, a Tax upon
all Clocks, Watches Saddle Horses &c which was rejected by
a Majority of Voices 23 agst 12. Upon this I sent a Message
to the House desiring them to let me know whether they
would or would not agree to raise the necessary Supplies by
some other Bill beside that which the Upper House had then
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p. 32
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refused for the fifth time, that I might immediately advise
Brigr Stanwix of their Resolutions. Upon the Receit of my
Message, of which I also send you a Copy, those who were
for another Bill moved that a Categorical answer should be
forthwith given agreeable to my Request but the others
opposing it 'twas Resolved to postpone the Consideration of
my Message, & in the mean time to proceed to the Hearing
of a Controverted Election & to other Matters not at all rela-
tive to His Majestys Service, Upon this the few of those
who were willing to grant Supplies that were left declared
that they would stay no longer since it was evident thai the
House would do nothing but Mischief & make Remonstrances
or Resolves to inflame the People, whereupon the Gentn of the
Upper House unanimously pressed me to put an End to the
Session & at their Request I prorogued the Assembly with a
Speech which you will see in the inclosed Gazette. I am very
sorry the Attorney Genl delayed so long to give his opinion
on the State & Papers that were submitted to him, not that I
think his opinion will be at all regarded by our People for I
am satisfied they will never grant any Money otherwise than
on their own Terms, especially since the Pensilvania Assembly
have at length brought Governt Denny (whether by orders
from his Constituents I know not) to assent to the Supply
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