Appendix to Council Proceedings, 1696—1729.  605

    ity of the Country, the Conversion whereof into money, and C. P.

    from money into Bills, must be a Vexatious, Expensive,

    and allmost an Endless an Insuperable task; I shall say no

    more at present, but pray for the Continuance of the

    Agreement.

     The next Concern you and the people in point of money

    Interest are Engaged in, is the 15 pence for the Support

    of Government; The people are but too sensibly apprized,

    that that Support is in their own free Choice, to the which

    you Cannot Oblige them.

     And Surely it is the greatest Advantage that can be had

    over a Government, and things can never go well in the

    plantations, whilst the Planters are so generally proud, pet

    ulant and Ignorant, and have the Common necessary Sup

    port of Government so much under their thumb

     This Supriority, as I may term it, of the people over the p.

    Government, seems Unaturall, and is I am sure repugnant to

    the very End for which Government was Instituted, Viz. An

    Authoritative Influence for the good order of Society.

     I am in hopes, that the present Contest on this Subject with

    relation to New England, will so far be determined next Ses

    sion of Parliament, as to Vindicate the rights of Government

    in Generall, and awe such as have not yet, thô they may be

    ready to play the New England Game; It would be Extreamly

    happy for your Ease and Quiet, should the Parliament in

    Some Vote or Law include all the Governments in the Plan

    tations so far as to provide an Establishmt Certain for the

    Support of the Several Governments; As I know not here

    how affairs of that nature do or may stand at home I shall

    give you a short Sketch of the footings on which, the Support

    of Government hath hitherto stood in this Province; Lord

    Cecilius had 12 pence pr Hgd. During Life our Grandfather

    Lord Charles had the same, with the Additional Extension

    for and during the life of his Eldest Son Cecilius in case he p. it

    survived him, Viz, for their two Successive Lives. After the

    Revolution, when the Crown assumed the Governmt; The 12

    pence pr Hgd. for Support of Government was by Act of As

    sembly taken away from our Grandfather, and Vested in the

    Crown, for that use for Ever; This was in 1692 Govr Cop

    ley's Time, after Various revisals and renewments of the Laws

    by Orders of the Crown, I find in Govr Seymours time, Viz.

    in Sept. 1704 was Enacted An Act, Entituled

     An Act for Settlement of an Annuall Revenue on her Maj

    esties Governour within this Province for the time being.

     Whereas by An Act of Assembly &c formerly made &c.

    and so recites the Act for settling 2s pr Hgds on the Lord Pro

    prietary Viz 1s for acceptation of Rents in Tobacco at 2 pence