A. The Assessors are yearly chosen by the People, and if there is any Complaint of unequal Taxation, (which there always will be in every Country) it does not with us lie against the Assessors as unjust and partial, so much as against the Concealment of Estates, and the imperfect Manner of obtaining a Knowledge of them, which is intended soon to be remedied. The Commissioners and Assessors who tax the People are oblig’d, by a Law pass’d in the 6th Year of the present Reign, to lay their Assessments and Accounts before the Justices and Grand Juries of the County Courts, which has accordingly been done ever since that Law passed: Yet no Complaints have ever to this Day been made to the Assembly by any of the Courts, of any Injustice in the Assessors. And it seems extraordinary that this Matter should at this Time be press’d, by the Governor who is never tax’d, and by the Proprietors who exempt themselves from Taxes, while the People, who alone are affected by any Inequality, are as easy as they generally are in any Country. The Assembly, however, have already determin’d to prepare a particular Bill, to regulate the Assessing and Levying of Taxes; but they chose to make use of the old Method in the present proposed Tax, not because they fully approved of it, but because the King’s Service required an immediate Supply, and the Changing of established Modes, in a Matter so interesting as that of Taxation, would, as they had found by Experience in the Attempt made this present Session, take up much Time, and might fail at last. The Mode directed in the £100,000 Bill now before the Governor, is the same that has been used in this Province from the Beginning, and the same that is directed by the Act for granting £60,000 pass’d the last Year, is now practic’d in the Execution of that Act, and all the Officers concerned are well acquainted with it. It seem’d therefore the Method most eligible on the present Emergency, which is become so pressing, that a Compliance with the Proposal in the first Clause, tho’ it should on Consideration be found reasonable, is now impracticable. The Bill expressly mentions, that the Tax is to be on all Estate both real and personal, the Proprietary Estate only excepted.

B. The Committee for Disposing of the Money and Auditing the Accounts, are expresly named in the Bill, and two of them are of the Council.

C. The Provincial Treasurer is required to give in a new Security by the present Bill; the Sum is also named in the Body of the Bill, to wit, £5000 and as the People must not only pay the Tax, but make good any Deficiency however arising, there is no doubt but Assemblies will always be ready to make such Provision as shall be found necessary to secure the Money in the Hands of their Treasurer, by a particular Bill for that purpose.

D. As the present Money Bill is form’d, none of the Money can be issued without the Governor’s Assent and Approbation, and it is in his Power at any time to regulate the Manner in which that Assent shall be signified.

E. The Governors of this Province have always had the Disposal of all Presents to Indians, and the Choice of all Commissioners appointed to make Treaties with them. The Assemblies never claim’d any Power of this kind. The Proprietaries are hereditary Governors of this Province; they have a noble Support in the Quit Rents; they ought therefore to govern the Province in person: But they live in England, make private Estate of the Quit Rents, and send Deputies to govern in their Stead. Their Deputies have also a Support, (which we have establish’d by Law) in the Money arising from Licences, &c. suppos’d to be near £1000 Sterling per Annum. Thus we actually pay two Supports, and yet have not the full Benefit of one Governor: For the Proprietors live at a great Distance, and cannot readily be apply’d to on any Emergency of Government, and their Deputy is so restrain’d, as that he cannot use his own Judgment. When our Lieut. Governors were at Liberty to act as Governors, and to pass such Laws as they found for the Benefit of the People, they have always received from the Assembly additional Yearly Marks of the People’s Gratitude and Respect. Above £30,000 has been given by the Assemblies within these 30 Years, to Governors, out of the Funds which by Law the Assemblies had the sole Disposition of.

F. The Assembly have great Respect for their present Governor, and if he would think fit himself to hear and answer their Complaints, it might probably be very agreable to the Assembly to have an Opportunity of laying them before him. But as there are some of his Council, who are suspected to be the Advisers of all the Measures, and even Procurers of the Instructions to be complain’d of as Grievances; Men who are look’d upon as Enemies to the House and to the People, attach’d to the Proprietors by profitable Offices held during Pleasure, it seems as if it could answer no good End, but rather tend to continue and increase Contention, if the Council are to consider those Complaints and advise the Answers.

G. The Naming of the Treasurer’s Securities in the Body of the Bill, is unusual if not intirely new, and may be attended with Inconvenience: For if the Securities, after consenting to be nam’d in the Bill, should change their Minds when the Law had pass’d, the Treasurer could not act without a new Law naming others; unless those named were compell’d under a Penalty to become Securities, which would seem extraordinary. If the Securities are such as the Governor has no Objection to on Account of Insufficiency it is all that appears to be necessary. And he is the sole Judge of their Sufficiency.