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have been my Disappointment, in seeing both Houses alike
diverted, tho from different Causes and Motives, from the true
objects of their Deliberation and Attention: the one by a
Spirit of Innovation, making repeated Attacks upon my rights
& Prerogatives: the other, by an upright Zeal and Integrity,
in Defending me against Avowed Encroachments, tho' Coloured
with the most plausible pretences. The true business of
Legislation in the meantime stands still, and my Poor Tenants,
as the Lower House very Justly Observe, are burthened with
Expences, productive of no Good to the Province, Whilst a
spirit of animosity and Resentment diffuses itself every where,
and amongst all orders of Men. The Affair of my Ordinary
Licences &c. is what I Principally Allude to, and shall now
Explain myself upon. The Priviledge of Granting and Regu-
lating them is of the very Essence of my Prerogative, and
such as every Lawyer in this Kingdom Agrees I can never be
divested of without my own Consent, which I shall most cer-
tainly never give. But the Lower House will say the Lord
may Licence (tho' I think of late they have held a contrary
Language) & we will appropriate, this the Upper House have
Denyed with equal zeal & force of Argument. I will not
Enter into the reasonings on either side, but when Concessions
obtained from Generosity and Disinterestedness in the times
of General War & Publick Calamity shall only Lay a founda-
tion to Claims by a Body of Men, (who, constituting only one
branch of the Legislature, would Assume to themselves the
Priviledges of the whole) for further Concessions, when the
same necessitys no longer exist, It is time for the Proprietor
to Look to himself. I am sure the Assembly cannot Licence
an Individual of their own Authority, nor can they Dictate to
me who I shall Licence, or whether I shall ever Grant a single
Licence. Equally certain am I that the Regulation of Licences
when Granted is as much out of their Province. But the Inci-
dental Emoluments arising from the Licences, and not the
Empty honor of Granting them is the object. Will they Deny
that my Ancestors have at times reaped these Emoluments
more or less, will they Plead an uninterrupted Usage in the
Assembly to Apply them at pleasure without regard to the
Proprietor. If the Claims of the Proprietor & Assembly have
prevailed at different Periods, & neither Party can Prescribe
an Uniform Usage in their favour, are not such Claims to be
Decided in the Ordinary Methods by Mutual Concessions.
Have they ever Proposed to Split & Divide the Bone of Con-
tention, and If they will not make me advances, how can they
expect any from me to them. The Upper House have
founded my Claim upon Just Principles, that the Support of
Government lyes upon me: But say the Lower House, we
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