consumption of spirit is, no one can readily conceive; and therefore it seems as necessary to prevent or lessen this growing mischief, as it was in time of war to Defend the people against the common Enemy, by whom perhaps fewer lives were annually destroyed; That wheat, Hemp, Flax & other kinds of the Produce of the Field, wou'd doubtless be soon raised and bro't to such degree of perfection, as would at least lessen our Importations & bring our Trade nearer to a ballance, if not turn it in our favour, if the Husbandman was suitably encouraged and some method taken to introduce a more profitable way of cultivation and Agriculture, than has yet been practised here, the Public wou'd soon find the advantage; And from the experience of others, we learn that nothing will prove more effectual to advance & promote such like improvements than Bounties and premiums given at first till those concerned find their account & encouragement from the Profit of the Business. Wherefore your memorialists Pray you wou'd take the Premises under consideration and do therein as in your wisdom & goodness you shall upon the whole Judge will be best for the public advantage & emolument—and we shall ever pray, &c. Joss. Frost Hubartus Neal In Council, June 8th 1763. Read & ordered to be sent down to the Honble Assembly. Province of T. Atkinson, Secy. New Hamp} June 10th 1763. The Committee appointed to consider the subject matter of the foregoing Petition, beg leave to Report as follows, viz. That when the Excise Act Pass'd by this House and Now before the Council shall be pass'd by the Honble Council and Assented to by his Excellency We think it adviseable that then a Bounty be given on fish, hemp, flax & wheat, to be paid out of the money Rais'd by s Excise. Meshech Weare, on behalf of the Comtes This Report Entered June 15, 1763, & the House was prorogued the same day. [NOTE. The MS. Papers which next follow, relate to an attempt to establish a PLAY HOUSE in Portsmouth, in June, 1762;-all which are printed in full, in Prov. Pap. Vol. VI. pp. 831-835, to which readers are referred. ED.] Petition of the Selectmen, &c., of Portsmouth, to hold Town meetings in the State House. To his Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq' Governor and commander in chief, in and over his Majesty's Province of New Hampshire, The Hon" his Majesty Council & House of Representatives for said Province in General Assembly convened, Decem' 15th 1763. The humble Petition of the Select men of Portsmouth in said Province & the Wardens of the first Parish in said Town, shews: That it has been the usual practice to hold the meetings of said Town in the meeting House in said Parish, which has been long complained of by many in the Parish, not only as injurious to the property of particular Persons, by breaking down the seats, dirting the Pews and benches, & carrying away cushions & other injuries, but as a very indecent thing to make an house appropriated & consecrated to the worship of God, the scene for public civil affairs, where the warmest Disputes & Contentions often happen; and woul'd be so estimated by serious Persons of any Religion whatsoever; But especially since a very Large & commodious addition at a great expence of the Parish, has been lately made, the article of Injury is more evident & more frequent; and as the number of parishioners increase the complaint of indecency and Impropriety increases; Wherefore your Petitioners humbly pray, that leave may be granted by a Resolve, that the said meetings of the Town of Portsmouth for the Purpose aforesaid, may be held in the State House, from time to time, and any damage occasioned thereby shall be repaired or made good by the Townand your petitioners as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c. H. WENTWORTH JOHN LANGDON Select men. Another Petition on the same matter. Province of New Hampshire To his Excellency Benning Wentworth, Esq Capt. General, Governor & Commander in Chief in and over his Majesty's aforesaid Province of New Hampshire, The Hon his Majesty's Council for said Province, & Hon House of Representatives in General Assembly convened, April 11th 1764. The humble Petition of the Select men of Portsmouth in the Province aforesaid, whose Names are hereunto subscribed, Sheweth That the annual and other Town meetings for the said Town of Portsmouth have (for many years last past) been held in the North Meeting house there, which hath given offence to many of the Parishioners, who by means thereof have had their Pews dirtied and spoiled and who are also of opinion that the said Meeting house ought to be wholly set apart for the worship of Almighty God; and this hath lately produced no small contention : That with a view to quiet the said contention and prevent any future offence, It was at the last annual meeting for the said Town, Voted, as follows, viz. 46 "That the Selectmen be desired to Petition the General "Court at their next session for leave to hold their Town "meetings in the State House, And if the Prayer of their "Petition be granted, that the said selectmen be and are hereby desired, to appoint their next Town meeting (the next "annual meeting included) to be held in said State House; "And if they cannot obtain leave of the general Court as "aforesaid, Then to meet at the North meeting House as " usual." Which vote occasions this application to your Excellency and Honours; And your Petitioners to Pray that for the reasons aforesaid, the Selectmen of the said Town of Portsmouth for the time being may have leave, and be legally authorized by the General Court to hold their future Town meetings in the State House. JOHN LANGDON SAM PENHALLOW Province of In the House of Representatives, May 8th 1764. New Hamp This Petition being read Voted, That the prayer of the within Petition be granted in the following manner; Viz. That the Town of Portsmouth have liberty of holding their Town meetings for the future, in the lower room of the State House, provided the Town at their own Expense will finish in a decent and hansome manner the Room upon the lower floor of the State house finding all the materials for plastering, ceiling and whatever is necessary that the same may be finished in a workmanlike manner, and cause the same to be so finished in a Reasonable time. A. Clarkson, Clerk. Portsmouth Petition in regard to certain election returns. Province of To the Honourable House of RepresentaNew Hampshire tives for said Province in General Assembly conven'd;-May 4th 1775. The humble petition of the subscribers, freeholders in Portsmouth, in s Province, Sheweth : That before the last election of Representatives for this Province, Writs issued to several new Towns in said Proyince, which had not heretofore sent Representatives, to choose persons to represent them in General Assembly;-in consequence of which Writs, these towns did elect Representatives; And as there is no Legal Authority vested in any seperate Branch or Branches of the Legislature of this government to issue such writs, we apprehend the exercise of such authority, therefore, not only unwarranted by the British Constitution & the Laws of this Province, but in its consequences subversive of both, and pregnant with many alarming evils (1). Wherefore we being deeply sensible of the great importance of preventing so unconstitutional a procedure, most humbly pray that the honourable House may take into their wise and immediate consideration, whether the persons so chosen, are entitled to a seat there. And your Petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray, &c. H. Wentworth Danl. Peirce John Newmarch Thos Hart David Griffith George Gains George Hart Elisha Hill Benja Akerman Saml Beck Caleb Currier Nah. Ward H. Sherburne (1) See Journals of the House," on the foregoing, in Prov. Pap. Vol. VII. pp. 373, 378, 383-385. ED. Jos. Allcock William Cotton Peter Man Mark Nelson Benja Mackay John Gregory Thos Prince Saml Jackson Alexr Monson E. Butler John Furbur James Grouard Robert Ham Joseph Akerman Saml Moses Theodore Moses Noah Peirce Nathaniel T. Griffith Province of POWNALL, IN VERMONT. New Hampshire J Petition. To his Excellency Benjamin Wintworth, Capt. Generall and Commander in Chief in and over his Majesties Province of New Hampsher in Newengland, and to the Hon his majesties Council in the Same. The Humbell petition of the Inhabitants of the township of POWNALL, sheweth: That we your petitioners mete the sacond tusday of Jenerwarey Instant, In order to hold our An" Meting, to chues town officers and to do as derected by Chartor; But Esq' Samwell Robinson's reading our Charter at the opening of s meting, he being Moderattor, we found we had maid A mistake throo Ignorance off the day; therfore Durst not proceed to do the business of the day; so your humble petitioners pray, that this fault may be forgiven, and that for this present year your Excellency & Honours would be graciously plesed to appoint us the fortenth in febu' or such a day as in your grate Wisdom and Goodness you shall see best, promising for the time to com to fully observe and walke by your Charter orders; And your petitioners shall as in duty bound ever pray. Deated pownell the 18th Jene A. D. 1763. Witness, Isaac Vanarenem Robert Watson Silas Pratt Elieser Mash Thomas Train. |