THe great and main end of publishing the promulgated Bills so long before your Convention, being (as we are sensible) in order to our Perusal, that we may thereupon have a full Opportunity of Conferring with and Communicating our Minds freely to you (our Deputies or Delegates (of whom we have made Choice, for the Preservation of our Liberties and Properties) touching our Approbation or Dislike of any or all the said Bills. And because of the Difficulty to procure, as wel as many Inconveniencies that attend a Transient Discourse or Verbal Conference, we have made choice of communicating our Sence and Mind to you by this way and manner, hoping we shall not need to doubt, but you will readily endeavour to gratifie the honest Desires, and answer the just Requests of those, whose Choice you are, by whose Power you Act, and with whose Liberties you are Intrusted.

The Thing therefore, touching which we at present give you the [...] of these Lines, is a certain Bil, promulgated for the Assessing and Leavying One Penny per Pound out of the supposed Vaine of every Mans Estate, either Real or Personal, and Two Shillings per Head for those not otherwise Rated; which Great TAX, as it will doubtless amount to a great Sum of Money, for which we know no present Necessity, [...] is there any particularly alledged in the said Bill; so the deep Impression it wil make in our Estates, much of which (as to divers of us) [...] dead [...]n Lands of [...] or profit at present, tho' liable to be highly Rated at the Wills and Pleasure of the [Page 2] Promulgators themselves (and others also, who are Traders in Merchandize, being liable to considerable Losses, by reason of the great [...] and Hazards of these Perillous Times (as some have deeply felt) besides the many other ill Consequences thereof, as the ill foundation it layes for a succeeding Governor, of which you are not insensible) is very grievous, and greatly discouraging to us; and as it may almost Ruin many at present, who having little besides Land, whereon they can scarcely get their Maintenance, and being highly Taxed, may have neither Corn nor Money to defray the same, as well as those others among us, who are uncertain whether we have really any thing of our own, or not; so will you find, that if you once Confirm the said Bill, it will be very Preju­dicial and Detremental to the Free-men (who are the Kings Subjects) both of this Province and Counties annexed, in time to come; for the thing once past, will not easily be Recalled; Besides also, you will find it, (as well as our selves) of dangerous Consequence, and an ill President for the future, for as the People grow in Wealth, and Governours in Power, so shall the Tax be laid Heavier.

And 2 dly. If it be so heavy, and grievous, when there is no Necessity therefore, (as we are sensible of at present) what may we expect will come on us, when there is any Colour or Pretence of a Necessity indeed? And though the annexed Counties may suppose they shall not touch this heavy and grievous Burthen with one of their Fingers, let them assure themselves, that if ever they and we be again as formerly, they will Unavoidably taste of the same bitter Cup.

Consider these things, we desire you, as the Agrievance of the Free-men, by Virtue of whose Love, Trust and Confidence, you are what you are at this Time; neither Argue nor Dispute, for Arguments sake, against the Validity of the Arguments herein used, but let them find that Entertainment and Regard with you, as becomes true and faithful Trustees, who intend to answer the end of their Election and Electors, by keeping their Country free from Bondage and Slavery, and avoiding such Ill Methods as may render Themselves and Posterity liable thereto; for, in short, as we said before, we are not sensible of any present Necessity for [...] Money on this account, especially since (if our Neighbouring Counties [...] our Condition) the Province is more Indebted already than they are easily capable of paying, both for Quit-Rents, and upon other Publick Accounts, and much more is Needful, in order to Publick Buildings, as Prison, Market and Court-Houses, with other Publick Things, unavoidably Requisite, t [...] defraying which Ch [...]rge, we understand not the present Tax to be any wayes intended; And since you well know how little a Time Things have been on the Foot they now are, how long will be their Continuance on the same, is Uncertain (although we may well conclude of no very long Continuance, from the Deputy Go­vernours own words, which divers of us heard him express at the Publication of his Commission, [ That he Hop'd it would not be Long] which [Hope] doubtless he had some just ground for) and seeing nothing is more Certain, than that no great Charges can have accrew'd in this little M [...]nute of Time, therefore be Wary and Cautious: Remember, an ill Foundation is more than half a degree of to an ill Structure: And think not amiss, because [...] [Page 3] plain with you, [...] [...]hat it consists not with your Dignity or Honour to regard the Will and [...] of those who have, through great Confidence in your Wisdom and [...] entrusted their Lives, Liberties and Estates in your Hands, especially [...]ce they presume no farther than becomes honest Free-men, speaking only what Necessity, and the Care of their Posterity compells them to, and That, which being longer delay'd, might come too late, and be said in vain; which we once more hope you will well consider, and answer our Expectations accordingly, by Refusing the Passing of the aforesaid Bill.