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Mr Speaker communicates to the House the following Message,
and Estimate of the Amount of his Lordship's Quit Rents, viz.
Gentlemen of the Lower House of Assembly,
In Answer to your Address concerning the Quit Rents, I have
received the Account herewith sent you, from my Lord's Agent, of
the nett yearly Amoust of them in the several Counties: Besides
what is now received there are as I am informed, considerable sums
in Arrear, which will certainly be received as the Land is chargeable
with them; there are a great many Certificates in the Office which
are not yet carried to the Rent Roll, a great many still in the Hands
of the Surveyors, and warrants located for great Quantities but not
yet executed; when all these are added, which will be in about a
Year, they will increase the Amount of his Lordship's Rents very
considerably.
My Lord; upon the Expiration of the late Revenue Bill, found his
Rent Rolls in very great Disorder and Confusion, which put him
under the necessity of allowing very great Discounts to those who
farmed the Rents in some parts of the Province, and Ten per Cent
Commission to Receivers: But when the Contracts with the Farmers
expire, as the Rent Rolls are in good order, the Sheriffs can afford
to collect the Rents for Five per Cent, because they will have the
Power of Distraining, and the incident Fees.
When all these Things are considered, and that the Rents have
increased in five years past to the Amount of almost four Hundred
Pounds per Annum, it is very probable that the Rents, in a very few
Years, will exceed £6000 Sterling per Annum, clear of Charges;
and that they will still continue increasing is certain; His Lordship
is very sensible of this; whence it is evident, that nothing can induce
him to condescend to so low a Composition, but a Consideration of
the Difficulties his Tenants are under to raise Sterling money, and
an Inclination to do every Thing in his Power for their Ease.
T. Bladen
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 46
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Somerset and Worcester Counties are so intermixed, that the
Amount of each cannot be distinguished, but the whole conies to, by
the Receivers Accounts nett, after Deduction of Commission
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p. 506
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£759..16..6
Dorset, Ditto 360.. 0..0
Talbot, Ditto 274.. 5.7
Queen Anne Ditto 278.. 1..0
Kent, Ditto 243.. 8.. 1
Cecil, Ditto 189.. 4..7
Baltimore Ditto 605..11..1
Anne Arundel Ditto 432.. 9..1
Calvert, Ditto 115...15..4
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