Reasons
for
the
KING
,
THE
Dutchess
of
Richmond
,
and
the
Farmers
,
To
be
offered
against
the
BILL
for
Transferring
the
Duties
of
Subsidy
and
Aulnage
to
the
Custom-House
.
The
Kings
Title
and
Power
to
let
to
Farm
.
First
,
THE
Aulnager
was
an
Antient
Office
of
the
Crown
,
as
appears
by
Magna
Charta
,
and
other
Statutes
;
and
his
Business
was
to
Measure
between
the
Buyer
and
Seller
;
and
by
the
27
Edw
.
3.
Cap.
4.
his
Fee
is
ascertain'd
to
a
Half-Penny
for
a
whole
Cloath
,
and
a
Farthing
on
half
a
Cloath
:
But
the
Subsidy
which
is
Four
Pence
on
a
Broad
Cloath
,
and
so
proportionably
on
all
Woollen
Manufactures
was
,
by
other
Statutes
,
given
the
Crown
in
Lieu
of
Antient
Customs
the
Kings
of
England
had
on
Wool
Exported
,
as
appears
by
Records
,
and
in
the
2
d
.
part
of
Cooks
Institutes
,
Fol.
60.
and
not
for
any
Office
to
be
performed
by
the
Aulnager
,
as
is
most
falsely
suggested
;
and
altho'
by
the
Statute
of
5
&
6
Edw
.
6.
Cap.
6.
and
other
Statutes
,
the
Office
of
the
Aulnager
is
transferred
to
Searchers
and
Overseers
,
to
be
appointed
by
every
County
and
City
,
with
a
Fee
of
Two
Pence
a
Cloath
,
for
their
pains
:
Yet
by
those
Statutes
the
Aulnagers
Fee
is
reserved
and
made
part
of
the
Revenue
:
And
these
Revenues
(
with
the
moiety
of
Forfeitures
)
have
been
Let
to
Farm
above
two
hundred
Years
,
by
virtue
of
the
Stature
of
the
17
Edw
.
4.
Cap.
5.
which
enables
the
King
to
let
the
same
to
Farm
:
And
the
Seal
now
used
(
which
they
would
insinuate
to
signifie
Nothing
)
is
not
the
Seal
of
the
Aulnager
,
which
was
heretofore
a
Seal
of
Content
;
for
his
power
is
taken
away
by
the
beforementioned
Statutes
;
but
the
Seal
of
the
Collector
of
the
Subsidy
mentioned
in
the
Statute
27
Edw
.
3.
Cap.
4.
and
signifies
only
the
Receit
of
the
Duties
;
and
the
Forfeitures
is
not
for
want
of
the
Aulnagers
Seal
,
but
the
Seal
of
the
Collector
of
the
Subsidy
.
The
Dutchess
her
Title
.
Secondly
,
The
Dutchess
of
Richmond
hath
2000.
l.
per
Annum
out
of
the
profits
,
secured
by
her
Marriage-settlement
,
and
by
Decree
in
Chancery
for
7600
l.
(
by
her
paid
for
the
over-plus
above
her
Joynture
,
and
rent
to
the
Crown
to
the
Executors
of
the
Duke
)
is
a
purchaser
for
valuable
consideration
of
the
remainder
of
a
term
of
Sixty
Years
to
come
,
purchased
from
the
Crown
by
the
late
Duke
her
Husband
in
1664.
under
the
Rent
of
997
l.
2.
s
.
to
which
Rent
the
same
had
been
reduced
by
Fines
,
and
other
considerations
given
the
Crown
,
and
of
a
surrender
of
a
former
Lease
for
60.
Years
made
by
King
James
I.
to
Lodowick
Duke
of
Richmond
for
valuable
Considerations
.
The
Farmers
Title
.
Thirdly
,
The
present
Farmers
,
for
Nine
Thousand
Pounds
Fine
,
are
Purchasers
from
the
Dutchess
,
and
her
Trustees
,
of
the
same
Duties
,
for
Twenty-One
Years
,
from
1682.
under
the
yearly
Rent
of
3138
l.
The
Reason
of
which
Low-Rent
,
was
,
That
most
of
the
chief
Counties
,
As
York
,
Lancaster
,
Gloucester
,
Norfolk
,
&c.
were
out
in
Lease
for
diverse
years
then
to
come
;
and
that
the
Farmers
must
expend
great
Sums
of
Money
,
before
they
could
Repay
themselves
any
thing
(
as
in
Truth
they
did
)
:
The
residue
of
the
Term
being
Twenty-Two
Years
remaining
still
solely
in
the
Dutchess
,
under
the
said
Rent
to
the
Crown
.
The
Recompence
Insufficient
.
These
Three
Rights
appearing
thus
to
be
as
legally
and
well
vested
respectively
,
as
any
mans
Estate
in
England
,
and
that
under
the
security
of
the
said
Act
of
Parliament
,
enabling
the
King
to
grant
the
same
,
to
Farm
;
The
Prosecutors
of
the
Bill
will
not
appear
Bare-faced
to
pray
them
to
be
destroyed
:
But
as
by
the
Title
of
the
Bill
appears
,
they
call
it
only
,
A
Bill
to
Transfer
the
Duties
to
the
Custom-House
,
and
to
give
a
Recompence
for
the
same
to
the
Crown
.
By
which
very
Title
of
the
Bill
they
Discover
themselves
;
for
if
it
were
only
to
be
Transferred
,
and
not
Lessened
,
or
taken
Away
,
What
need
a
Recompence
for
the
same
?
But
to
Shew
that
this
Bill
is
not
a
sufficient
Recompence
;
To
the
Crown
.
First
,
Not
to
the
Crown
,
for
it
takes
away
the
said
Rent
to
the
Crown
,
and
gives
nothing
in
Lieu
thereof
.
To
the
Dutchess
.
Secondly
,
Not
to
the
Dutchess
:
For
the
Bill
does
Impose
little
or
no
Duty
on
the
Commodities
Exported
,
more
than
they
now
pay
,
but
some
of
them
considerably
Less
,
as
by
the
particulars
of
the
Duties
now
payable
,
compared
with
the
Bill
appears
.
Eases
the
Home
Consumption
,
to
lay
it
on
the
Exportation
.
Thirdly
,
It
Discharges
all
the
Commodities
consumed
at
Home
absolutely
from
these
Duties
,
which
by
Law
the
Makers
are
now
to
pay
,
and
gives
a
Duty
to
be
paid
by
the
Merchant
,
only
on
the
goods
Exported
,
which
in
the
times
of
Peace
,
and
best
Trade
,
were
never
above
a
Third
part
of
the
Woollen
Manufacture
made
in
the
Kingdom
;
and
not
only
in
time
of
War
must
be
far
Less
,
but
also
by
the
Increase
and
Improvement
of
Woollen
Manufactures
in
Forreign
parts
,
the
Exportation
must
yearly
Decrease
.
This
,
and
the
former
Reasons
,
are
Demonstrations
,
That
what
the
Bill
gives
,
must
fall
Short
greatly
above
Two
parts
of
the
true
Value
,
besides
the
Uncertainties
.
The
Charge
at
the
Custom-House
as
great
as
Now
.
The
Prosecutors
of
the
Bill
would
supply
this
by
pretence
,
that
the
Expences
of
Collecting
are
now
great
,
and
will
be
saved
by
the
Method
of
the
Bill
:
Whereas
they
well
know
,
that
the
Charge
at
the
Custom-House
,
will
be
very
great
:
But
if
they
intend
it
should
Depend
upon
the
Collection
of
the
Customs
,
and
by
the
Custom-House-Officers
without
Charge
,
there
is
no
such
provision
made
by
the
Bill
,
nor
what
Officers
shall
Collect
and
Account
for
it
,
nor
can
it
be
expected
that
ever
a
just
Care
or
Account
can
be
had
from
Officers
without
an
Allowance
;
and
it
s
hoped
,
The
Customs
but
Temporary
.
they
would
not
have
an
Estate
of
Inheritance
depend
upon
what
are
but
Temporary
(
as
the
Customs
are
)
;
for
should
they
Cease
five
times
the
Value
of
these
Duties
upon
exportation
would
not
pay
for
the
Collecting
.
Two
Bills
of
the
same
kind
,
have
been
brought
before
Your
Lordships
,
but
Your
Lordships
did
not
think
sit
to
pass
either
of
them
,
and
the
same
Reasons
still
remain
.
The
Dutchesses
Pet
'
to
the
H.
of
Com'
rejected
,
&
not
Read
.
The
prosecutors
being
sensible
,
those
Bills
were
not
a
Compensation
,
have
obtained
some
small
Additions
of
Rates
to
be
added
upon
such
Commodities
Chiefly
;
of
which
,
little
is
Exported
,
which
likewise
(
if
the
House
of
Commons
had
been
pleased
to
have
Heared
the
Persons
interested
upon
their
Peritions
,
which
they
Rejected
without
being
read
)
would
have
been
Demonstrated
to
that
Honourable
House
,
that
the
said
Bill
was
no
manner
of
Compensation
,
either
in
Value
,
or
in
point
of
Remedy
.
The
present
clear
Yearly
Value
of
the
Duties
.
It
hath
been
and
will
be
made
appear
unto
this
most
Honourable
House
,
that
the
Yearly
value
of
the
said
Duties
Amounts
to
7000
l.
and
upwards
,
clear
of
all
Charge
,
and
that
the
same
is
received
only
for
such
Manufactures
as
are
Legally
Lyable
to
the
Payment
of
the
said
Duties
;
and
that
the
Rates
given
by
this
Bill
,
The
Rates
now
given
,
not
a
Compensation
.
will
Amount
to
nothing
near
that
Value
,
besides
the
Charge
of
Collection
,
and
all
Contingences
of
Trade
and
otherwise
.
It
is
also
Objected
,
that
the
Grievances
in
the
Collecting
these
Duties
are
so
many
and
great
,
That
the
Office
and
Seal
of
the
Aulnager
and
Collector
of
the
Subsidy
,
ought
to
be
taken
away
.
To
which
it
is
Answered
.
Answer
to
the
Complaints
in
Collect
ing
the
Duties
.
THat
nothing
has
been
done
,
but
what
the
Law
Directs
for
Recovering
the
Duty
;
and
if
any
Person
has
suffered
,
it
was
the
Default
of
not
paying
the
Duties
(
or
else
using
indirect
means
to
avoid
the
payment
of
it
)
there
being
no
power
to
Search
or
Seize
any
Goods
,
until
they
are
Exposed
to
Sail
,
or
Sold
.
The
persons
Interested
willing
to
submit
to
a
Regulation
.
But
if
the
present
Legal
way
of
Collecting
be
inconvenient
,
that
is
neither
an
Argument
to
take
away
,
or
lessen
the
Right
,
but
only
to
Regulate
the
manner
of
Collecting
;
and
all
persons
concerned
,
are
willing
to
consent
to
any
Reasonable
Proposals
for
Collecting
thereof
,
so
the
Legal
Duty
be
continued
and
secured
.
The
present
Duties
adjudged
Legal
.
That
there
is
no
Duty
taken
or
Demanded
,
but
what
is
expresly
settled
by
Acts
of
Parliament
,
and
by
Antient
Records
of
300
Years
'
and
upwards
,
Adjudged
upon
them
,
and
particularly
by
all
the
Judges
of
England
,
2
Jacobi
1.
And
by
Lord
Chief
Baron
Hales
,
and
other
Judges
;
and
which
pursuant
thereto
,
were
Collected
long
before
the
Dutchess
or
Farmers
were
Concerned
.
The
Consideration
of
the
Duties
,
Beneficial
to
the
Kingdom
.
If
they
mean
the
Seal
of
the
Aulnager
to
be
taken
away
,
that
is
so
already
;
but
if
they
mean
the
Subsidy
,
how
comes
that
to
be
a
Grievance
now
,
which
has
been
paid
almost
350
Years
,
and
for
the
best
considerarations
?
viz.
The
increase
of
our
Manufacture
,
by
hindring
the
Exportation
of
Wool
,
whereby
the
Wealth
of
this
Kingdom
has
so
much
increased
.
The
True
Reason
of
the
Bill
.
But
the
True
Reason
of
this
Duty
being
a
Grievance
,
is
the
Great
Contributions
that
have
been
raised
,
and
Subscriptions
that
have
been
obtained
by
some
persons
that
are
the
Prosecutors
of
the
Bill
,
upon
the
Express
Conditions
that
the
Duty
shall
be
taken
from
the
Clothier
,
and
laid
upon
the
Merchants
;
and
to
Support
this
Undertaking
,
have
obtained
Petitions
and
Letters
,
to
that
purpose
;
and
now
presume
,
by
their
circular
Letters
,
to
obtain
the
like
to
Your
Lordships
,
And
the
Dangerous
Consequence
of
it
.
to
incline
Your
Lordships
to
the
passing
of
the
Bill
:
Well
knowing
,
if
they
once
absolve
the
Clothier
from
payment
,
and
lay
it
upon
the
Merchant
(
as
the
Bill
doth
)
,
it
will
be
such
a
Burthen
on
Trade
,
that
it
is
to
be
Feared
,
a
Future
Parliament
may
see
greater
cause
to
take
the
Duty
Transferred
to
the
Custom-House
wholly
away
,
and
Consequently
all
the
Estates
therein
utterly
destroyed
.
Wherefore
it
is
humbly
hoped
the
Bill
shall
not
pass
.