Volume 25, Page 266 View pdf image (33K) |
266 Papers Relating to Affairs in Maryland, 1701—14.
P. K. 0. the Assembly made An Act to punish Such like Offenders, & the Utterrers of Such false moneys. And since Money is become so absolutely necessary Wee earnestly begg her Gracious Matye the Queene, will be pleased to intrust Us with a Species of small Copper Coyne, as by our Address Wee have pray'd. My Lords I thinke it highly necessary to represent unto your Lordps that there are two Gentlemen comissionated and Stiled her Matys Receivers within this Province the one George Plater Esqr for the District of Puttexent and the other George Muschamp Esqr for the District of Potomeck, through Mr Platers hands considerable Sumes of money pass yearly; but through the other Mr Muschamps very little, his Collec tion of the p hhd for which he is accountable for Severall years has not amounted to above thirty odd pounds p An num, & yet he as well as the other Receiver have each a Sal lary allotted of one hundred pounds p Annum which they are authorised to take out of the fynes and forfeitures within this Government, which for many years will not halfe pay them, So that these Gentlemen seeme much dissatisfyed tho I thinke Mr Muschamp has little reason, his Office being need less, and might well be supply'd by the other Receiver, without any further Sallary. I have Sent a Sloope well mann'd to North Carolina to demand Some persons who have fledd hence from Justice, and to learne what Law is made there to harbour others from paying their just Debts, which has occasioned great Numbers to flye from this Province thither to the great Det ritnent of Merchants in England & cheating the honest well meaning people of this Country for if they have as I am informed made a law there, to protect any person from being sued during five Years It will give an handle to many knavish people to gaine large Creditts and run thither to defraude their just Creditors, and not only to tend the lessen ing the Number of taxable persons here, but to the depopu lating her Matys more usefull adjacent Colonys, & Plantations. And now as our poverty increases So fresh Villanys are carryed on intirely to Subvert the Government; When I have their answer I will transmitt it to Your honble Boarde, and doubt not, but your Lordps will find out an Expedient to have this pernicious practice Stopt, otherwise many persons will go to North Carolina and her Matys Revenue hence be Suncke to a Scantling. The generality of the people in this Province have good tracts of Land and Stocks of Cattle and hoggs; but being in debt to the Merchts Con signees in England, they Send them little or no goods at all, most of the Shipps comeing from London upon freight, in their Bal
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Volume 25, Page 266 View pdf image (33K) |
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