The Upper House. 79

it may often happen that Merchants may have Publick Allow-
ances or be intituled to some part of the 40 p Poll, and then
if the proviso was not made they must be Obliged to take Flax
and Hemp in payment for those publick dues.
But waving all further debates of this Kind we desire you
will be pleased to consider the evil Consequence that must
needs ensue if the Act for Ascertaining Officers fees be suf-
fered to expire for then there will be no rule between the
Officers what charges shall be made for the Services done by
the Several Officers but they will be left to their own dis-

rrption to charge what they please which will lay a foundation

for endless disputes between them & the People and produce
innumerable Law Suits to the Great Prejudice of the People
and much to the Advantage of the Officers who will thereby
increase their fees Besides Gentlemen we think that the Price
we have proposed for Hemp and Flax is reasonable Con-
sidering the Great Scarcity of Tobacco & the Great Price that
in all Likelyhood it must bear this year therefore hope you
will consent to make the Amendments Proposed in the Bill
Signed p order S. Skippon Cl Up Ho.

Sent by James Bowles Esq^r
Read the Message relating to the Commissarys General &
Secretarys Bond and the following Answer prepared thereto
viz.

By the Upper House of Assembly November 4^th 1724.
Gentlemen.
We have pursuant to your desire in your message of the
second Instant Ordered our Clerk to give Esq^r Brooke one
of the Commissarys General An Account of your Opinion
of his right to the fees of that Office & have Also Advised
the Secretary of the same in relation to his Office who answers
he has unhappily been under the misfortune of only consider-
ing the first Law for repairing the Records without regard
to the Supplementary Act to the same Purpose which is the
true Reason that he has not yet complied with what the said
Law required in Giving Bond for securing the Records of that
Office but that he will immediately Comply in entring into
such Bond with Security as the Law directs
Signed p Order S. Skippon Cl Up Ho.

Sent by M^r Tasker.
A Message and Bill Entituled a Supplementary Act to the
Act for Encouraging the making Hemp and Flax within this

U. H. J.
p. 162