Minutes of the Board of Revenue, 1768-1775. 417

resign to M^r Jenifer whom he has not appointed, To refuse the
one would be flying in the Face of his Authority, to do the
other would be a breach of Trust. How far M^r Jenifer's
Security may weigh I cannot determine, my personal Security
may be as good as his, and M^r Morris a Gentleman worth
f 40,000, and my Brother, Chaplain to the Duke of Montague, a
Pluralist with an Estate in Expectancy, would have given any
Security required as soon as they arrived in London in the
Winter, and Letters had passed between my Lord, M^r Ham-
ersley and those Gentlemen upon the Subject, my removal
therefore appears equally unexpected and precipitate.
I think it extremely hard that His Lordship's good inten-
tions should be frustrated with regard to me in every respect
and put in execution with regard to every other Person tho'
scarcely known to him by name. M^r Hamersley repeatedly
assured me that I was destin'd to the Commissioner's Office or
part of it, or for the Naval Officer's place of Patuxent. If the
immediate Commission be not already filled up, it remains to
be filled up, and half the Commissary's Office is as much vacant
now as it was then, and I may hope that your Excellency would
exert your Powers in one case as in the other.
I should be extremely sorry that my Lord's Affairs should
suffer thro' me. They have not yet suffer'd since I have had
them for eight months in my Hands, nor do I think they will
suffer at all if I keep them four months longer 'til His Lord-
ship's pleasure is known. I am very clear that no man can Act
legally as Agent but upon my voluntary Resignation (if then)
or by Deputation from me. I beg you will pardon the freedom
of my Pen on this occasion being, with great Consideration,
Sir, Your Excellency's most obed^t &
most humble Servant.
Bennet Allen.

Lib. No. 86

On the above Letter being laid before the Board by the
Governor, and on Consideration thereof, as well as of the
Depositions of Mess^rs Jenifer & Stone: It is the opinion of the
Board, that M^r Allen be again called upon to render an Ac-
count of all Sums of Money received by Him since his Ap-
pointment to the office of Agent and the Remittances made by
Him, and unless M^r Allen do comply with this Order, it is
their further Opinion that the Attorney General do put his
office Bond in Suit: But that M^r Allen may have no Colour
for Complaint of rigorous Treatment, the Board recommend
that the Attorney General may be instructed to call upon M^r
Allen, explain the Irregularity and Indiscretion of his Con-
duct and advise him to comply with the order of the Board,
27

p. 40