From Benjamin Pittfield (unpublished)
Philadelphia 3rd December 1787
Sir

I humbly begg leave to solicit Your Excellencies favour respecting a Petition I some time past Presented presented to The Honourable The Executive Council.

My Case is thus, in the Year 1784 I moved from this City to Trenton, with my Family and Store, of Goods, and a few months after I moved a considerable quantity of Goods arrived here, Imported on my Account, for which the Duty was paid, according to Law, and the goods sent up to Trenton after me.

In April last I moved back to this City with what goods I had remaining on hand, part of the above, a List where was annexed to my Petition.

When I applied to the Collector for a permitt to Land those goods, and informed him of those circumstances, he told me he must notwithstanding, charge me with the Duty on those Goods, unless The Honourable The Executive Council, directed him otherwise.

I have since produced such Vouchers to the Collector as to convince him of my being circumstanced as above related, for which I have his Certificate.

I humbly conceive that it is not the Intention of the Legislature, that any Person should pay Duty twice on the same Goods, which will be my Case unless I am so happy as to obtain redress, from The Honourable The Executive Council. I therefore hope Your Excellency will condecend to grant me your Excellincies favor for my Releif, which will never be gratefully acknowledged by Sir Your Excellencies most humble and Obedient Servant

Benjamin Pitfield

His Excellency Benjamin Franklin Esqr
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