|
|
L. H. J.
Liber No. 48
April 28
|
We have in this, as we did in our second Bill, lengthened the Time
for keeping up the Troops, from the 25th of December till the Ioth
of February next; before which Time undoubtedly an Assembly will
be called, who will Judge of the Expediency of keeping them up
longer; and hope your Honours will not further press a Measure, so
unconstitutional as your Proposal of keeping them up at the Will and
Pleasure of the Governor or Commander in Chief of those Forces ;
if you should, we never will consent to it.
We have regulated in this Bill the Pay of the Officers, nearly to
what they have in the neighbouring Colonies; and this we did also
in the second. The Governor or Commander in Chief of any Expe-
dition that may be undertaken, we apprehend, will have Power to
form his Companies as he pleases. Those of the Fort and Block-
Houses, we cannot consent to alter, as the multiplying Commanding
Officers will too much increase the Expence.
A Fort-Adjutant and Gunner at the Fort we do not conceive
necessary; and the Arms, when out of Repair, may be exchanged
and repaired at much less Expence than would accrue from keeping
a Gun- Smith in constant Pay, at 2/6 per Day, as you propose.
The Surgeon's Pay we have rated at 6 s. per Day, and Medicines
found him, which will, we hope, be thought a handsome Reward for
his Service, and so it was in our second Bill. We did in our second
Bill, and we have in this, made sufficient Provision against Mutiny
and Desertion, and the Entertainment of Deserters. To the Election
of Collectors of the Duty on Wine and Spirituous Liquors, by the
several Vestrymen and Church-Wardens, we had good Reason to
hope for your Concurrence, as being a Method readily agreed to in
our Inspection-Law; however, as you have twice refused it, we have
now appointed, for Collectors, the several Sheriffs, who, as they are
Gentlemen already appointed by the Government to such considerable
Trust, we conceive, will not be objected to by your Honours; and
they are to give Bond in £400 as you propose; and this we do, urged
by the Considerations abovementioned; nevertheless, insisting on our
undoubted Right to the Nomination of Commissioners or Collectors
of every new Tax or Duty, which may be imposed upon the People
for any Purpose whatever.
We cannot imagine you will refuse to pass a Bill of the Importance
this is of, purely because the Wealthy, Opulent, and Luxurious, are
to pay a Duty on some of the Liquors they will consume, as well as
the Poor, the Laborious, and the Indigent Part of the Community,
on the most they will expend for the Term of Five Years: Nor do
we see the dangerous Tendency of such a Tax, as there is not any
Power given to the Collectors of it to enter the House of private
Consumers on any Pretence; but it depends upon their Integrity to
account for the Tax without Molestation, or pay a Sum certain, half
|
|
