The Lower House. 75

Tobacco, in the present Levy of the same County, as appears by the
said paper under the hand of the Clerk of the said County and seal
thereof. Thereupon required such of the said Justices as were in
Town to Attend your Committee; and acquainting them of the Com-
plaint and representation aforesaid, for answer said That what was
done Was by Virtue of an Act of Assembly, and Custom of the
province in such Cases; and were very desirous to have the matter
heard before your Honble House, that the power given to Magis-
trate's of County Courts by the said Law may be ascertained. Your
Committee therefore humbly submit the whole matter to the Con-
sideration of your Honourable House.
Signed per order W^m Wilkins Cf
The following Representation was annexed to the report Viz.
To The Honble the Committee of Grievances. The representation
of sundry of the Freeholders and Inhabitants of Prince George's
County Humbly Sheweth.

That the Justices of Prince George's County Court did, in Novem-
ber Court last, make one order of Court, to levy on the taxable
Inhabitants of the said County the sum of 100000 pounds of To-
bacco, to be paid at two several Assessments, to repair the Court
House of the said County; which Order your petitioners conceive
is not warranted by Law, and Apprehend may be of dangerous con-
sequence to the rights and Liberties of your petitioners, and others
the Freemen of said County: That in Consequence of said order
51944 pounds of Tobacco has been actually assessed in the levy laid
in November Court aforesaid: That your petitioners and others
the Inhabitants of the said County, finding themselves Charged with
their Several proportions of said Levy, did some time last February
give in a Remonstrance to Commissioners appointed by the said
Court, to contract with workmen to make the repairs aforesaid ;
desiring by the said Remonstrance, that the said Commissioners
would forbear to agree with any workmen 'till the meeting of the
Assembly, to whom your Petitioners purposed to Complain of the
order of Court aforesaid; and for sundry other reasons in the said
remonstrance mentioned, as in and by the said remonstrance lodged
in the Honble House, will more fully appear. But some time after
this, the said Commissioners did Contract to repair rebuild and

L. H. J.
Liber No. 46
May 19

enlarge, the said Court House; and that the same has been some
Time since actually begun all which Transactions have been carried
on, under the Colour of an Act of Assembly of this province enti-
tuled an Act to enable the Commissioners of County Courts to levy
Tobacco to defray the Charges of their respective Countries; which
Law, we humbly conceive, gives no such powers or warrants any
such proceedings.

p. 763