364 Assembly Proceedings, April 24, 1716.

Lib. R. U.

quently those that are not the best able to bear this burden
that will by this means reap the benefit of My Lord Proprie-
tary's favour and Generosity — I hope it will be Considered
that a Particular ought always to give way to the Publick good
It is therefore of these wealthy Gentlemen that I now address
myselfe to. Pray Remember the Poor
Jn^o Hart.

Lt Coll Richard Tilghman and Coll Thomas Smith from the
upper house deliver Mr Speaker the paper Referred to in his
Excellcys Speech which is ordered to be Entred as follows
viz.

A Coppy of the Clause menconed in his Excellcys
Speech and Inclosed from his Lordship
to his Excellency

And forasmuch by the Enlargement of the Tobacco hhds
from the Gage of thirty Inches in the Diameter of the head to
this prsent Gage, a Larger quantity of Tobacco will be Ex-
ported in each hhd whereby the duty and Imposition on
Tobacco by the hhd will be Evidently retrenched and lessened
unless a Just regard be had to the preservation of them in
their usuall worth and value which this present Generall

p. 239

Assembly is highly obliged to the said Impost or duty being
to be applyed and paid to the Lord Proprietary in Consideracon
of his great goodness and Condescention in takeing his aliena-
tion ffines and Quitt Rents in Tobacco att two pence p pound
as his noble Ancestors have heretofore done for the greater
Ease of their Tennants in the payment of their Rents and the
better to incourage Cultivation of Tobacco and Settlements
of the remoter parts of this their Proprietorship and the better
to Enable his Lordship to Support the Government of this his
province — and forasmuch as the Imposition formerly settled of
two Shillings p hhd is now determined on the death of Charles
late Lord Proprietary soe that the Rents due to the prsent
Lord Proprietary are payable in money and that it would not
only tend much to the disappointment of his Lordship in the
due receipt of his Rents But also the manifest disadvantage
of such Tennants as should hold their Lands under Conditions
of such punctual payments as the Tenure of their Grants
require and to the disinheriting many who would be obliged
to Surrender their Estates for want of ability to Comply
therewith which in all probability would put a great Check to
the future Cultivation of the remote and fforrest Lands of this
province and be a Cause to Severall of those remoter Inhab-
itants to desert their (yet but poor) Improvements, all which