MOST VVorthy Senators, I having seriously confider'd what His Majesty had and did do for us in the greatest of Hazards, and, being a Brewer, made Observations on the great Abuse done to him in the Revenue of Excise; which tended not only to a present Loss to the Crown, but to the bringing the Revenue and Trade to little, as appears, and the Ruin of unconceivable numbers of good Families; I did in 93 offer the Lords of the Treasury, to make that Revenue cleare first 50, then 100000 l. per Ann. more than the then managers did, and thereby make his Majesties loving Subjects more easie than under that management, and that without putting the King to a penny mere charge than he then was at, nay further, to give my own Time, and to forfeit first Estate, then Life, if I did it not. But to set forth how I were sent from one to another, tost about, and ordered to wait from time to time, with the bantering Reflections, needless Questions, with being threatned to be sent to Prison by one of the now Lords of the Treasury, as they were most unbecoming his Person, Places, and Character, [...] too many and not fit here to mention, a fair Hearing face to face being most to be credited, a [...] will give clear light how the King and Publick have been & are served by persons, &c. contrary to the 12 k. 2. c. 2. and the true intent of a statute made in the 5 and 6 year of Edw. 6. c. 16. and the Oath, &c.

I did in the year 95, give His Majesty an account of his Loss and the grievance of his People thereby, and set forth in my Petition, that his Majesty lost to term it, &c. at least 50000 l. per Ann. and what was the cause thereof.—His Majesty at a convenient time was graciously pleas'd to take the same Petition into Council, and made a Special Order thereupon, and commanded the Lords of the Treasury to make a speedy Inspection into the truth of the matters in the Petition alledged, and commanded that they should give him an Account or Directions therein whether the same were true or false: but this Petition was taken from the Clerk by one of the Lords of the T. as he told me; but to set forth the stirr I had to hear where it was, how when hearing, I offer'd him not only to spend my time but 500 l of my own money, to serve the Publick. How I was ordered to wait from time to time; how when promissed me their Answers, they only made me a proposal contracy to an Act of Parliament, as appears by their own minute Book, and as soon appeared by what Brewers of great worth offer'd them they could not perform. But to set forth how I went to Kensington to acquaint his majesty with the Proceedings, how by their believes of the Truth of my Allegations, and the fair promises of one of the Lds. of the Treasury to do the King and his People Justice, I was sent to his Friend and per­swaded from acquainting the King, would be too tedious. Well at last according to his Majesty's Com­mand, a Hearing there was with the Commissioners, who in short, as the most modest excuse for the loss of 50 or 100000 l. per Anr. did consess the Allegations in the Petition were true, but excused themselves as be­ing ignorant thereof as a Child: But to set forth how I offered the Lords, in presence of the Commissio­ners, to make it appear the next day, (if Impower'd) That there was such that cheated hie Majesty of 50 odd Barrels of Strorg out of 70 odd, 3 times, and somtimes more in a week. How the Lords said they were satis­fied that the Allegations in my Petition were true; How they order'd me to desire 2 more (one of which was Ld. Mayor of London not long since) to come to them in order to receive Powers to manage, &c. What a Jest we were made of notwithstanding all truth appear'd to the believes, confession, and satisfaction, of all concern'd. But the King and Publick shall have Justice, if it agrees with the Interest of some Persons and their Friends, while I doubt not of the Honor and Honesty of others of the then and now Lords of the Treasury, but the greater number may out-ballence the lesser.

However those ignorant Gentlemen were rewarded with a safe return to their Places, while his Majesty was not thought, &c. to be informed of the truth, according to his Royal Command on the Petition, (to which I refer this Honorable House and my self for more certainty;) unless by a non-Language, and the Loss of some hundred thouland Pounds thereby. Yet the Commissioners will hardly complain of their over much judgment, little or many times no attendante or service, the taking the most effectual way to bring a Trade and Revenue to little; nor the charging their Messenger, that if I mist but one hour of pay­ing my Excise. to seize my Brewhouse and all that I had; nor yet of my zeal for the good of the Publick, which was rewarded with my being left in their hands, and the unjust Refusal of my money when tendred within time; and their having my Brewhouse seiz'd the next day when the Office was shut up that no money could be paid; a poor management, and a bad reward. Good Friends are best known in time of need. While we have the unparraled Privilege of an Honorable House of Commons to judg [...] their own and the Nations Grievances, 'Tis pity that 50 or 100000 l. per Ann. the keeping up of Trade with the real Good of the Publick, should not be of equal Esteem with the Interest of a few private Persons. There is those of unspotted Reputes in the Brewing Trade, and worth many thousands of pounds, that promi­sed me to, but dreading my usage, dare not acquaint his Majesty with his Loss, and the intolerable Grie­vance of the Publick thereby, of whom this Honorable House will be fully satisfied when knowing them.

I Having acquainted his Majesty with most of these particulars by word of mouth and writing, before and since his last return from Holland, (but it cannot be though he should understand all the Trades out of which his Revenues arise, so as to know whether or what Persons are rightly Qualified for the manage­ment thereof;) by reason of which the Publick suffers, and Trade and Revenues come to fall and sinck.

And since his Majesty's Special Order in Council availed nothing as to the procuring himself and People Justice, I am advised to lay all my Proceedings before this Honorable House, who need not further be put in mind of his Majesty's willingness and readyness to accept of your Advice and Information in matters which so extremly concern the Good of the Publick.

I had given this Honorable House this short Account sooner, as I was advised, but being put off from time to time by, &c. and being desired by a very worthy Person one of the Commissioners of Excise, to wait upon the Commissioners at the Excise Office, some of whose worths needs not to be spokan of; I was told by one of them, that he did believe no person was so fit or capable to prevent the Frauds of the Brewers as one bred up a Beewer was. I told them that as in 93 and 95 I offer'd to serve the Publick at my own Charge, but being so ill Requited, as being forc'd out of my Trade. in the loss of some thousand Pounds, by having my Brewhouse seiz'd when I tendred my Money at the Excise Office the day before, I could not now spend my time for nothing, but if they would make it worth my while to [...]ngage in it, I would ingage to manage it with half the Charge, and put an effectual stop to the Frands of the Brewers. They offer'd me a Warrant to one of their Officers, I suppose to Instruct him, and promis'd to reward me according as they should think I deserv'd, or words to that effect. For me to learn a peron a Trade which cost me so dear, for what they shall think fit, seems to me very unreasonable. I want [...] such Service, but [...] if there were [...] Commission, [...] who being a Brewe [...], know, how to manage that part, in [...] [...] contr [...]d [...]ct [...] [...]feriour [...] therto relating, w [...]ch no one of the present Comissioners knows how to [...] [...]ither, with su [...]mission, can it reasonably be expected [...] should; which is the great reason of the Fall of the Excise.

The premises thus in short hinted, the consideration thereof is most humbly offered and [...]itied [...] just and Honorable Assembly, who if thinking the same worthy the time, trouble, and [...] into these Affairs, I shall be most glad to give my time in procuring to m [...]utmost [...] Publick, in giving such Light into Affairs as may be of lasting advantage to th [...] [...]

Your Petitioner humbly prays, for your [...]wn satisfact [...]n and [...] VVorks of Darkness, you would bear [...] [...]bated, [...] the Publ [...] be promoted, and himself and all his [...] House.