I Cannot but think it my duty ( perceiving that your Honourable House is considering of means for the preventing and punishing both Pyrats and illegal Traders ) to give you a short hint of the Reasons why they have grown to a greater heigth in the English than in other Colonies on the Main of America , and a Proposal for the future prevention of them .

It may be almost needless to acquaint you that several of our American Plantations are like petty Soveraigntys , having the Choice of Governours , the Power of calling Assemblies , making Laws , raising Mony by some former Grants from the Crown , or at least the pretensions of them .

Each of these , Interest being their chief Mover , are restlesly ambitious of advancing their Estates by drawing away the Trade and Inhabitants from other Colonies that are contiguous to them , and more especially from those that are under the immediate direction of the Crown , as the Proprietary Colonies to the Westward , from the Colonies of New York and New England .

In order to this they vie with each other , who shall allow their People the greatest Privileges , or most exempt them from any Customs or Duties on Goods exported or imported ; which the King's Governments , especially New York , cannot avoid , it being a most necessary Supply for the maintenance of the Government , the guard of the Frontiers from the Insults of those Indians that otherwise would prove fatal in time of War , not only to them but to the neighbouring Colonies .

Hence it is that in all the Proprietary Colonies the People pretend to an absolute exemption from Customs and Duties , but what is laid by Act of Parliament in England , and in most to the Choice of all Officers both Civil and Military , in some not excepting the Council nor the Governour .

These Officers thus annually chosen , endeavour to do nothing that may disoblige their Electors , lest the next year they are deprived of their Dignities .

The Inhabitants of the Plantations abroad are too much addicted to abet and encourage both Pyrats and illegal Traders , as the Persons that they gain no small advantage by corresponding with .

Hence it is that these Criminals meet with their Encouragement , those Officers that should apprehend , being but too negligent of their Duties , and this from personal Advantages and Gains they receive by them , or through fear of the People by whose favour they stand .

The Remedies then seem to be plain and easy , the Bill already read in your Honourable House will undoubtedly give a very great discouragement to Piracy , tho illegal Trade still remains to be suppressed , the Duties accruing to the King to be more effectually preserved , and the Frontiers of the Government better protected against foreign Insults ; which I am humbly of opinion might be done , if in the Bill that yet lies before you for the punishing of Governours , &c. you would be pleased by some Clause ,

To lay all the Colonies on the Continent of America , that carry on the same Methods of Trade , under the same equal Customs on Goods exported and imported , for the maintenance of their distinct Governments , or the defraying a more general Charge .

To cause that the Confusion and Anarchy which now so much prevails in some of the Colonies ( insomuch that the Council in their Letters home complain they are hardly safe in their Persons or Estates ; if by a due and vigorous execution of the Law against Pyrats or illegal Traders , they should incense the People against them ) may be succeeded by an exact obedience to their superiour Officers , which cannot be expected , until a greater Authority than any Proprietary Commission shall appear there .

That to obtain this ( since Property may be alledged by some , and a right of commissionating and sending of Governours , which they seem to be so fond of , that the most plain Arguments drawn from the inevitable necessity thereof , their own Profit and Advantage ▪ the Peace and Prosperity of the People , and the intire Suppression of Pyracy , &c. cannot prevail ) I hope you will be instrumental in finding out some ways to bring all these Colonies to a more immediate dependance on the Crown , by giving the King the Nomination and Commissionating of the Governours and Officers Civil and Military in the respective Colonies , and yet reserving all the Rights and Properties that either the Proprietors at home , or the People there may have to the Lands or Plantations in the said Colonies by virtue of their former Grants from the Crown .