The Lower House. 361

Which Bill was here read and with the Amendments passed for
Ingrossing
Col^o Hammond from the Upper House delivers M^r Speaker the
Bill Entituled An Act to vest an Estate in Fee simple of and in a
Tract of Land called Ropers Neck in Benjamin Howard and to
settle other Lands of equal Value in Lieu thereof, Indorsed. (See
pages 238 and 241.)

Which Bill was here read and passed for Ingrossing
M^r Mathews from the Committee of Aggrievances &c^a delivers
M^r Speaker the following Report

By the Committee of Aggrievances and Courts of Justice
May 28, 1739

Your Committee humbly conceive that his Lordship or his Agent
in his name issuing Instructions to his said Lordships Receiver of
Land Rents, to take, Levy, and Receive of and from his Majestys
liege and Dutiful Subjects, Alienation Fines on all Lands devised,
and by Colour of which Instructions and order the said Receivers
having Extorted from many his Majestys liege People such Fines
was a thing unheard of since the Settlement of this province by
British Subjects till within three years last past

L. H. J.
Lib. No. 45

Your Committee most humbly Conceive that such Acting is
Against Law, Custom, Reason, and the express Tenor of the Grants,
made by his Lordship and his Ancestors of Lands to the Good People
of this province And their predecessors, and which your said Com-
mittee conceive to be not only an Innovation, but an Invasion on the
rights of the People, and a great Aggrievance and oppression, but
the same is humbly Submitted to the Consideration of your Hon-
ourable House.
Signed p Order of the Committee S Bordley, Cf

On Reading the Report the House referred the Consideration to
the Morrow Morning.
M^r Attorney General Claiming An Account from the publick for
several fees that Accrued due on Prosecution of Sundry persons
Accused of Murder and House Burning and on the supposed Bor-
ders of this Province.
Resolved in the Negative

p. 857