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L. H. J.
Liber No. 50
April 26
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as Tenants of Land in Fee Simple. We apprehend that if it be
attended with any Inequality, it will be in very few Instances, which,
as they appear, may be remedied hereafter.
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p. 114
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Uncultivated Lands, 'tis true, yield no present annual Profit, but
they are generally reserved in that State by the Owners from a
Prospect of reaping considerable Advantages thereby hereafter; and
as they are of Value, we suppose the Owners would regret the Loss of
them, and should consequently be Taxed for their Security. But to
prevent the Burthens falling on any Part of the Owners Estate, by
the Payment of a Tax for such Lands, they may be sold, and the
Money put out to Interest, which would yield Five p Cent, at least.
The Tenant's Power to Retain, we think, is plainly enough ex-
pressed, and adequate to the End of giving it; and tho' some Incon-
veniencies may arise from it, we apprehend, they will be but rare,
and we don't think it would be proper, at this Time, to go into an
Alteration of the Bill on that Head; if found to be a considerable
Evil, it may be remedied hereafter; or if we can be made sensible,
that the Clause is any way deficient for the Purposes intended by
it, we would readily agree to amend it. The Oath appointed to be
taken by the Clerk of the Loan-Office is so nearly in Substance and
Words the same with that in the £40,000 Act, that we cannot think
it needs any Alteration : Had you mentioned wherein you thought it
materially varied, we should probably have agreed with you in amend-
ing it. The former Bonds of Officers have been heretofore made
liable where a new Duty has been imposed on, and a new Trust re-
posed in them, of a Nature similar to the old, and not to be attended
with any very considerable additional Labour, on a Presumption, as
we suppose, that their Securities would have no Apprehension in such
Cases of being made liable for a Breach. The Power given the
Assessors by our Bill, so nearly resembles that given to the Assessors
by the Land Tax Bills at Home, that we cannot be apprehensive
of any Inconvenience flowing from it, as we have no Reason to
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p. 115
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doubt the Execution of it with equal Justice and Impartiality; and
we presume the Experience of our Mother Country will justify our
not admitting any Alteration in it.
If ready Money lays at Hazard, it should be put some Way into
Circulation, and then it will be of the Use Money was intended for.
If there be Quantities of Plate so hidden from the World by any
Person, that even his Domestics are unacquainted with it, it is become
an useless Treasure; and it is Time it should some way be rendered
useful to the Community, tho' the Owner may not choose to use it
himself. There is little room to apprehend Rapine by the Discovery of
our ready Money and Plate, by Means of this Bill; and we should
consider, that through Fear of parting with a little, we may permit
our Enemies to seize the whole of our Property.
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