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L. H. J.
Lib. No. 45
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We are far from desiring to wrong his Lordship of what properly
belongs to him, but cannot help complaining of that prerogative
and authority he has lately taken upon himself to Vacate his own
Grants of land to the people of this Province on Account of Sur-
plus or any other matter, as Invasive of our propertys, & a thing
not to be done by any Subject
The Naval Officers of this province we think are or ought to be
Subject, to the laws of it yet notwithstanding the express clause in
the paper currency Act that all contracts to be made from and after,
the publication of that Act should be paid and satisfied in Bills of
Credit, they to this time have Obliged Masters of all Ships or Ves-
sels entering or Clearing with them to pay their fees in Gold or
Silver. Strange! that the holding an Office (the fees and per-
quisites whereof arise from the labour and Industry of a People)
should set persons above the law and Invest them with A Power to
oppress that People
The last thing we shall trouble your Excellency with in this Ad-
dress is a Priviledge lately invented and claimed by the members
of his Lordships council. It is well known that the greater number
of the Gentlemen of that Board are possessed of Offices of the
greatest profit and trust in the Province some being Treasurers,
some Trustees of the Paper Currency and others Naval Officers; yet
those Gentlemen being called upon to give an Account of the Coun-
trys Money refuse to answer in Person alledging it below the dignity
of their House as they term it to appear before the House of Dele-
gates much less any Committee of it We think it the Countrys
undoubted right to call all those who have the collecting keeping
or disposing of the publick Money to Account for it nor can we
foresee any other consequence from this Usurped dignity, than that
the possessors of those Offices may with Impunity commit what
frauds Extortions or Embezzlements they shall think fit by being
adopted into his Lordships Council
These Sir amongst many others too numerous at this time to
Recite are Grievances which the people whom we represent daily
suffer, which call aloud for Redress and which we without a mani-
fest Violation of the Trust reposed in us cannot forbear in the most
humble manner to lay before your Excellency.
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p. 885
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We have taken the liberty to annex hereunto several Reports of
Our Committee of Aggrievances concerning many of the Facts
herein Complained of, and do flatter our selves that after mature
Consideration we shall not fail of your Excellencys Assistance
towards our Relief, was read Approved and Ordered to be ingrossed
To which aforegoing Address were annexed the following reports
viz.
The Report of the Committee of Aggrievances dated in May 1739
about 14 Tunnage
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