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Days before you, and requiring Alterations in principal Points, from
which we were determined not to recede, we could not imagine, there
was the least Probability of bringing about an Agreement at that
Time, and therefore we declined protracting the Session by any
Procedure from which we could expect nothing but a fruitless Ex-
pence. From like Motives we declined going into a Conference gen-
erally on the Bill now before you, in Consequence of your Message
of the 8.th Instant by Daniel Dulany Esq; or to engage to confer on
the Amendments you might propose, before we had them before us
in one View; esteeming any Conference expedient in Proportion only
to the probable Event. But having considered your last Message,
which narrowed the Subject to the general Propositions contained
therein, we agree that the Bill be expressed in other Terms, to give
an Allowance of four per Cent, on the Payment of cropped Tobacco,
if you still think any further Expressions necessary. That in Case of
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L. H. J.
Liber No. 54
Nov. 12
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Payment in Money, the Clergy may receive on 32 instead of 30 per
Poll, and that in Case it is not sufficiently certain, Lawyers flees be
more fully expressed to be the same as in the last Inspection Act.
Your other Propositions that tend to alter the Bill we do not agree to,
and are of Opinion that an annual stated Income of £6oo Sterling
is too much for the Trouble and Risk in executing the Secretary's,
Commissary's or Land Office, or in a comparative View with the
private Estates within this Province, or the Numbers and general
Circumstances of the Inhabitants: But even was the Sum proposed
in our Opinion a fit Quantum, we should be utterly averse to fixing
a Salary, and taking the flees to the Publick; not only because we
should fear an entire new System might involve us in fresh Diffi-
culties, but from an Apprehension, that any Officers who depend
upon a known fixed Salary, without having an immediate Benefit
from any particular Instances of their Duty, would not be so ready
in undertaking, or diligent in executing them, as they would be, if
they were to have a present Advantage from them. The immoderate
Amount of the ffees of Officers, as charged under the late Regulation,
and the very many Abuses in those Charges which have fallen
within our Observation, have determined us unanimously to reject
that Regulation, which we never will again consent to. We have by
the proposed Regulation in the Bill endeavoured to obviate the Pre-
tences for what we esteem Abuses, making, in our Opinion, a very
ample and generous Provision for Officers, and in the dependent Pro-
visions taking that Care only which by Experience is found necessary
against illegal and oppressive Charges; yet should you still think
that the ffees as regulated by the Bill are not sufficient, or that any
other Parts of the Bill to which you have proposed Alterations need
Amendments, we are willing to join with your Honours in a Con-
ference thereon, and will appoint Conferees to meet such of your
Honours as you may think proper to nominate for that Purpose.
Signed by Order Jno Duckett Cl. Lo. Ho.
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p. 163
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