The Upper House. 263

House of the 31^st of October 1724 to your message of the same
date in the printed Volumes of Our proceedings (since you are
pleased to Disown them) page 57 together with the great
Burthen of ffees that the Purchasers are loaded with and the
price of the Land being doubled since the Revolution we
must needs think would have Given a total Obstruction to the
Purchasing and taking up of the Back Lands had not the rise
of Tobacco & great Expectacons that lands would rise pro-
portionably (as it usually does) given unexpected life to it.
We therefore think his Lordships Interest and the peopling
and improving the ffrontier Parts of the Province are much
Concerned in this Affair and no injustice can be said to be done
his Lordship by it who has no part in that ffee nor any to the
Officer who without that 400^ls Tobacco has a large ffee & more
than the Value of his Service setled on him by the Bill as it is
now propos'd
As there is an Absolute necessity for Distinction to be made
in the Comissarys ffees, between those of large and small
Estates so we cannot think but that halfe ffees to them, in
Estates of 50 £ as mentioned in the Bill is as well setled as
can be, for were it only to Affect Estates under 20 £ the ffees
that must necessarily Accrue to the Comissarys will when
Tobacco bears a large price in the Country, sink so deep into
such an Estate that it would sweep away the greatest part of
it for taking Care of the rest. We cannot find any necessity
for special Commissions in general to issue to the Deputy
Commissarys for passing Accounts above 50^£ as heretofore,
and as it would certainly be of great Ease to the people to
have their Accounts of dec'ds Estates made up and past in
their Countys, and the person passing them being under the
same Obligation of returning such Accounts and in all respects

U. H. J.

doing his duty therein as in Case of Accounts of Estates under
£50 we cannot think but the Deputy Comissarys passing
such Accounts where no doubt or Controversy arises, will be
as well as if he had a Comission from the Office Empowering
him thereto, especially since those Accounts will still be
Subject to the same Contest of all parties interrested as the
Accounts now are which are passed by the Commissarys
Generall; and therefore must desire you to pass the Bill
with that Provisoe as it stands therein. We propose the
Continuance of the Act as it now stands in the Bill and pre-
sume at the Years End the Drawing a reviving Bill will not
take up much time or be so great a Charge to the Countrey
but that they may bear with it.
Signed p Order M. Jenifer Cl. Lo. Ho.

p. 93