164 Assembly Proceedings, October 2-November 30, 1771.

L. H. J.

Liber No. 54
Nov. n

Assurance to you by Message; And as we cannot see that the long
Prorogation has disclosed any Thing which ought to lessen the
Probability of the final Passage of the Bill now more than at the
last Session on Account of the Clergy we should still hope that if all
other Matters were settled between the two Houses his Excellency
would be on a more mature Consideration of the Point respecting
the Clergy entertain the same Idea the two Houses do as to the
Justice and Fitness of the Alternative being extended to their Dues.

p. 243

There is doubtless by much too great an Inequality in the Livings
of the Clergy; however none of the Parishes are so inconsiderable
but that the worst is too good for the worst Clergyman and the
frequent Opportunities his Excellency has of removing those who
may have indifferent Parishes into much better put it amply in his
Power to reward Merit where he may meet with it; and if by a
probationary State in the small Livings, that Merit is not proved,
the Punishment will be light enough never to remove those who
may be wanting in it. The Lower House intend the same Measure
of Justice to the Clergy as to every Body else; nor will they afford
an Argument of one Example that any Body of Men in the Com-
munity are above any Regulation that the Legislature may think
just and reasonable.
Your Honours are pleased to postpone Officers Fees to all other
Points in Dispute between Us. We think that Subject ought to
have been the first considered. A Course of more than twenty
Years Experience has sufficiently convinced us that the old Table
which has been already altered in some Things is still full of
Errors and Imperfections. All Parties in the Year 1747 we take
it for granted were heartily tired with the Controversy about Fees
that had been then subsisting many Years, and were, no doubt,
glad to put an End to the Dispute by coming into some Regulation
however imperfect
No Principle can be more evident than that Officers ought not
to charge Fees where no Service is done; and your Honours upon
considering the old Table and the Practice under it will find
frequent Occasions to apply this Principle by Way of Correction.
Your Declaration that it is your unalterable Resolution not to
admit of any further Reduction than that very considerable One
which must necessarily result from the Election to be given to
all Persons to pay in Money or Tobacco, and that so far you do,
and shall absolutely adhere to the old Regulation, leaves us little
Room to hope for an Agreement; but you are pleased to say fur-
ther that if any Abuses have really happened in the Charges
under the old Table and an Explanation or Correction should
appear to be necessary for the Prevention of such Abuses in future
you are willing that the old Table shall be explained and corrected
with this View. Permit us then to enumerate some of the Abuses