The Lower House. 165

which we apprehend have happened in the Charges of the Officers
under the old Regulation. They are the charging Fees by the Com-
missary General for Services done by the Deputies, and for which
they are paid. The Charge for recording Papers by the Secretary
and County Clerks in Actions discontinued, abated, struck off, or
agreed, when they need not, nor generally have been recorded.
The extravagant Charge of the Surveyor and Examiner General
on Resurveys, and of the Surveyor on Warrants of Survey out of
the Provincial Court; the additional Charge of Order in the Com-
missary's office to almost every Act done therein, when the old
Table makes the Allowance only for Orders in Testamentary Causes.

For the Prevention of these Abuses principally was the new Table
framed and to correct the Allowances in some Instances where they
were beyond all Moderation; therefore as the Subject Matter of the
Bill in which is included the Regulation of Fees is the real Object
of this Conference the new Table most certainly is the proper Sub-
ject now to be considered in Order to discover how far it has pro-
vided against the Abuses that have crept in under the Old. There is
a great Difference we apprehend between the Amount of Fees
properly chargeable under the old Table and the Amount of Fees
charged according to the Practice of charging
If when you say that you will not admit of any further Reduction
than what must necessarily result from the Election to be given to
all Persons to pay in Money or Tobacco, your Honours mean a
Reduction only of the Amount of Fees as properly chargeable ac-
cording to the old Table. If you esteem the several Charges above
enumerated to be erroneous and are willing to make Provision
against the Continuance of such Charges in Future, some Fruit
might still be expected from this Conference, as we make no
Doubt of being able to shew to your Satisfaction that in these
as well as many other Particulars great Abuses have been committed.
In this Case we are willing to confer upon both the Tables in Order
to strike out one more perfect which we are persuaded might be
affected to the Satisfaction of both Houses; as we can with Truth
assure you we are not desirous of reducing the Incomes of the Officers
beneath what might be worth the Acceptance of Gentlemen of the

L. H. J.
Liber No. 54
Nov. 11

first Distinction. If on the contrary you are of Opinion that the
Mode of charging Fees as used and practised in the above enu-
merated Particulars is agreeable to the old Regulation and do not
mean to admit of such a Reduction of the Amount of Fees as would
be occasioned by an Alteration and Correction of that Mode of
charging; nothing further can be expected to be done, and we shall
desire an immediate End may be put to the Conference.
The Order of the Day being read; the Consideration of the Peti-
tion of Gilbert Barrow is further referred till To-Morrow Morning
The House adjourns till To-Morrow Morning 9 O'Clock

p. 244