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May 1t please your Lordship
We his Majestys Liege Subjects the Delegates and Representa-
tives of the Province of Maryland in General Assembly convened
having in vain made our Earnest Application to his Excellency
your Lordships Governor in and over this province for the Redress
of many Aggrievances we and those We represent daily Suffer
beg leave with all dutiful Regard and Submission to lay them before
your Lordship and crave your relief therein
We are taxed yearly for your Lordships use twelve Pence Ster-
ling for every Hogshead of Tobacco Exported and fourteen Pence
for every Tun of Burthen of all Vessels trading in or to this prov-
ince and not properly belonging thereto, without any Law that we
know of for so doing which we must take the Freedom to say is an
Incroachment on our Liberties and priviledges, as British Subjects
and what Our Sovereign Lord the King doth not do in any of his
Realms
Our Courts of Justice are in a manner shut up to the People by a
practice lately introduced of taking Judgment Bonds for fees and
by the Cruel and Oppressive practices of Sheriffs and other Officers
in the Prosecution of those Bonds
The setling the fees of Officers by your Lordships or your Gov-
ernors Proclamation is as we conceive making An Ordinance of the
same force with a Law contrary as well to an Express provisoe in
the Royal Charter as against the Right of the Subject, and the more
so as it is done by Advice of your Council many of the Members
whereof have the greatest Share in those fees and to whom it is
chiefly owing that we cannot have a law for setling them.
We are not for abridging your Lordship of any Prerogatives
granted by the Kings Charter but are well Satisfied that to Exer-
cise a power of Vacating your Tennants Grants as is now attempted
is Extending that prerogative further than it ever was Intended nor
can we less Complain of a thing very lately introduced of Exacting
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