The Lower House. 359

An Act to prevent the Injuring Harbours &c. severally Indorsed
(See page 240.)
Which Bills were here read and passed for Ingrossing.
The House adjourned until two of the Clock in the afternoon

Post Meridiem
The House met again according to Adjournment
M^r Philip Hammond a member returned for Ann Arundell
County appeared
M^r Benjamin Pearce a Member returned for Cecil County in the
Room of M^r Thomas Johnson dec'd appeared M^r Denton and M^r
George sent to the Upper House to see them qualified by taking-
the several Oaths to the Government required by Law by signing
the Oath of Abjuration by repeating and signing the Test
Who Return and acquaint M^r Speaker they saw them qualified
M^r Mathews from the Committee of Aggrievances delivers M^r
Speaker the following Report
Your Committee Observe that the fees of the several Officers and
Ministers of this province their Deputed Ministers, Servants, and
Officers are in themselves, as now paid, Excessive, Great and Op-
pressive to the Subject and that the said Fees are under no Regula-
tion of any law of this province that appears to your Committee
That the said Officers and Ministers their Deputed Ministers, Ser-
vants and officers by power of A Proclamation of the Right Honour-
able the Lord Proprietary dated the 14^th day of April 1733 and one
order of Council dated the 23^d day of April 1735 and one other
Order of Council dated the 15^th day of July hereunto annexed, do
charge, Levy, Raise, and Receive from his Majestys Subjects of this
province such Fees so as aforesaid Burthensom, Great and Oppres-
sive, to the Discouragement, Ruin and undoing of many of his
Majestys Liege Subjects, and even the said colour of power is Ex-
ceeded by the Unlimitted Will, and unbounded Avarice of many of
the said Officers Ministers and their Deputies.
Your committee humbly Observe that by the Royal Charter, the
Resolves of your honourable House, and the Common Custom of
this province, the Subjects here are Entituled to the Customs, Com-
mon Law and the Securative Statutes of the Rights and Liberties
of the Subjects in our Mother Country Great Britain and by which
custom of Great Britain such like Fees of the Courts of Justice and
the several Officers have been setled by Acts of Parliament agreable
to which
Your Committee further most humbly Observe that from the
Earliest Times since the Settlement of this Province by British
Subjects, such Fees have been adjusted and Regulated by Acts of the

L. H. J.
Lib. No. 45