The Lower House. 249

And sent to the upper house by M^r James Lloyd & Cap^t
Fendall. They return and say they Delivered it.
The Mayor Recorder & Aldermen of the City of Annapolis
praying Leave to be heard on their Pet^o in relation to the
Town Comon appeared in the House, who being heard and
their Allegacons Considered The further Consideracon there-
of is ref err'd till next Sessions of Assembly at which Time it is
Ordered that Lancellot Todd be ordered to appeare.
M^r Tyler from the Comittee of Aggrievances delivers M^r
Speaker the following Report of that Comittee viz:

Monday May 5th 1718.

At a Comittee of Agrievances held at the house of M^rs Mary
Dodd. Were present.

L. H.J.

M^r Robert Tyler Chairman
M^r Charles Wright
Col^o Nathⁿ Hynson
Cap^t Dan^ll Mariartee
Cap^t Thomas Dent

Who the same day represent it as an Aggrievance that a
great Number of the Inhabitants of this Province have been
Subpoenaed to appear at the high Court of Chancery to answer
the Bill of Complaint of Maurice Birchfield Esq^r upon Sug-
gestion that they were indebted to a Certain John Goodwin,
and other Merchants in London, before making any Demand
or giving Notice of Such their Claim Some of which never had
any dealings with the Merch^ts they are Charged Debtors to
others have been large Creditors instead of Debtors and many
th^t were Debtors did by the Merchants own Accounts owe
but very Small and Trifling Sumes Short of six Pound which
by the Laws of the Land are not cognizable in the Chancery
Court Notwithstanding which Such Persons have been obliged
to Make Answers and defend their Suites to their Great Ex-
pence and neglect of their Business in attending of Courts &
when on a hearing the greatness of their Oppressions by such
Severe Prosecucons have been made Appear they have been
Dismissed the Court but could recover no Costs ag^t the said
Birchfield because of his Acting on behalf of the Crown, alto
the trouble and Charge of Such Defence might have been
Saved to the People in Case the said Birchfield or his Attorney

p. 66

had not proceeded after so uncommon and imethodicall a man-
ner ag^t the Severall Defendants without demand or Notice
Severall of them having declared in their Answers upon Oath
that they were never demanded by the Said Maurice Birch-
field Esq^r or any other on her Majesty's behalf to give any

P. 67