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U. H. J.
Liber No. 36
Nov. 26
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By the Bill now under Consideration entitled "An Act for amend-
ing the Staple of Tobacco, for preventing Frauds in His Majestys
Customs, and for the Limitation of Officers Fees"; a general Al-
ternative is extended to all Persons, whether Makers of Tobacco or
not; to pay for every Taxable, chargeable with the Clergy's dues,
30.lbs of Tobacco or four Shillings. You have already remarked
that this Alternative was in a former Session agreed to by both
Houses. We have informed you the Governor had declared in a
Message, of which we delivered you an exact Copy that he would
dissent to the aforesaid depending Bill, if the Alternative proposed
by it; be extended "without Limitation" to the Clergy. We therefore
proposed the Expedient, that, in all the Parishes on the Death or
Removal of the present Incumbents, the Alternative should take
place, and observed that in the Course of a few Years, the Design
would be accomplished; but if the Regulation should be deferred the
prospect of a general uniform Establishment would be more remote.
The Alternative we meant, and thought we had most clearly ex-
plained is the aforesaid Alternative above mentioned, and contained
in the Bill now depending, intituled "An Act for amending the Staple
of Tobacco for preventing Frauds in His Majestys Customs and for
the Limitation of Officers Fees," and as the Regulation was to be
thus Established by the Bill when passed into a Law, we also could
not but mean, that the Regulation should continue, as long as the
Law establishing it should continue. In Regard to the Clergys dues,
as you are not inclined to continue generally the Regulation of the
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p. 598
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late Inspection Act, The Matter stands thus under our several Propo-
sitions. They may be left out of the Bill entirely, or only as to the
Planters, and be Subject to be discharged in Money after the rate
of 3/9 each Taxable by the Farmers. If entirely left out of the
Bill they will be payable as they now are, and the Condition of the
Planters will not be altered. If Subject to be discharged in Money
by the Farmers this Provision will very much secure them from the
Oppression to which they may be exposed if left to make a Composi-
tion in Money for the 40 Per poll: for when Men are liable to be
called upon for what they have not, they must be under great dis-
advantage in making a Contract to pay in what they have. Or
lastly the present Clergy already Inducted may be paid according to
the late Inspection Act and immediately on the Death or Removal
of any of these Ministers, the people, as well Planters as others shall
have it in their option to pay for each Taxable 30.Ibs of Tobacco
per poll or four Shillings, which is the Alternative Proposed by the
Bill. If this Provision be Established the Ministers now Inducted will
have no reason to complain of Hardship, or Breach of Confidence,
and their Successors will be fully apprized before their Induction
what they are to depend upon
Experience has proved, that when the Settlement of Officers Fees
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