The Upper House. 175

Monday May the 5^th 1718

Att a Comittee of Aggrievances Held at the House of M^rs
Mary Dodd.
Were Present

U. H. J.

M^r Robert Tyler Chairman

p. 102

M^r Charles Wright
Coll^o Nath" Hynson

Cap^t Daniel Marriartee
Capt. Thomas Dent

Who the same Day represent it as an Aggrievance that a
great Number of the Inhabitants of this pvince have been
Subp^a to appear at the High Court of Chancery to answer the
Bill of Complaint of Maurice Birchfield Esq^r upon a Sug-
gestion that they were Indebted to a Certain Jn^o Goodwin and
Other merch^ts in London before making any Demand or giving
Notice of such their Claim some of Which never had any Deal-
ings with the merchants they are Charged Debtors to. Others
have Been Large Creditors instead of Debtors and many that
were Debtors did by the said Merch^ts Own Accounts owe but
very small and Trifling Sums short of Six pounds which by
the Laws of the land are not cognizable in the Chancery Court
notwithstanding which such psons have been Obliged to make
answer and Defend their Suites to their great Expence and
neglect of their Business in Attendance of Courts And when
on a hearing the greatness of their Oppressions by such severe
psecutions have been made appear they have been Dismissed
the Court But Could not recover no Costs ag^l the said Birch-

field Because of his Acting on Behalf of the Crown Altho the
Trouble and Charge of such Defence might have been saved
to the People in case the said Birchfield or his Attorny had not
Proceeded after so uncommon and immethodical a manner
against the sev^ll Defend^ts without Demand or notice sev^ll of
them having Declared in their Answers upon Oath, that they
were never Demanded by the said Maurice Birchfield Esq^r
or any Other on her Majestys Behalf to give any Account of
the Matters in the Bill untill they were served with Subp^a to
answer the same of which they declare the said Maurice
Birchfield might have had the utmost Satisfaccon they were
able to give upon Subp^a to testifie or request made without
being put to the unnecessary Charge to Answer the same
It is therefore the Humble Opinion of this Comittee that
the said Maurice Birchfield Esq^r or others Concerned in the
pscution af^d have made an undue Use of his Majestys Name
and Authority to the Oppression of his good Subjects here
and that such Proceedings could never be Agreeable to the
Design of the Trust reposed in him or them
Signed p order
Philip Hammond, Cl Com

P. 103