58 Assembly Proceedings, Nov. 22-Dec. 23, 1758.

U. H. J.
Liber No. 35
Dec. 20

and the Tenants Interest which ought for their mutual Advantage
and Benefit to be Insepirably conjoined, and such Jealousies and
Suspicions, Dissentions and Annimosities as cited as cant but prove
highly Detrimental to his Lordships revenue, discourage the further
Settlement of this province, cast an odious Blemish upon the Char-
acter of his Government, and depopulate the Country
6.^th Because such Bills have passed into Laws in the other Col-
onies, Particularly in New York Pensilvania and Virginia and the
want of such a provision here will deprive this province of the
Benefit accruing to the other Colonies from their better Policy in this

p. 390

Article, and the Act of Parliament for naturalizing of Foreign
Protestants, for the Situation and Circumstances of the Inhabitants
of this Country (except a few Mechanicks, are such that they cant
Subsist without the Allowance of Some portion of real Property
and as Aliens are not Naturalized by the Statute till after a residence
in the Plantations for a Term of years, should there not be that
assurance given them here which they have in the other Colonies
Arising from Acts of Assembly having a Relation or Retrospect to
Confirm their Titles when by the Act of God they may be hindered
from Strictly Complying with all the Terms of the Statute it is not
reasonably to be expected that any of these Emigrants will settle here
7.^th Because the Miscarriage of the Bill .in this House may set
greedy men upon Disturbing the Possessions of Aliens from an
Expectation of the Countinance of the Government and should any
of these Alien Inhabitants be hereafter naturalized (which depends
upon the Probable Contingency of their Living the Time required
by the Statute) they might after being Striped of their Possessions
for want of knowledge or ability or a defect of Spirit to defend
their Rights recover their Lands against Escheat Patentees from
the Legal Operation of their Naturalization, and great oppression
Confusion and multiplicity of Law Suits and other Inconveniencies
may ensue

8 Because a Law to the effect of the rejected Bill would Advance
his Lordships and his Noble Ancestors Laudable endeavours to
settle this part of his Majestys Dominions with usefull and indus-
trious Subjects and add great weight to the Late Generous Instruc-
tions for the Encouragement of Aliens, but no promise no invitation
no proclamation no Instruction will after the Miscarriage of this
Bill be regarded but as an engine or Snare to catch and ruin the
unwary

9.^thly and Lastly because the suggestion is as groundless as the
apprehension is Chimerical, that if this Bill were passed into a Law
some expressions artificially inserted in it may possibly introduce
rule of Determination in the Courts of Law tending to invalidate his
Lordships General Right in the matter of Escheats and if there were