44 Early New York Pajier Currency. 



of the fall session of 1745, that such a measure was before 

 the house of commons. The credit of our bills was quite 

 unimpaired and it was not conjectured that any objections 

 could be urged against them in parliament. ]$o copy of the 

 bill under consideration had been seen here, and it was 

 not until after the adjournment when one was borrowed 

 from a neighboring colony, that the last clauses which were 

 especially offensive, were fully comprehended. Indigna- 

 tion was at once aroused in every mind, for to use the 

 words of the committee, " If all the parts of the legisla- 

 ture in every colony and plantation should be obliged and 

 enjoyned (as by the said clauses are directed) to pay strict 

 obedience to such orders and instructions as should from 

 time to time be transmitted to them or any of them by his 

 majesty or his successors, or by or under his or their authori- 

 ty, it would establish such an absolute power in the crown, 

 in all the British plantations, as would be inconsistent with 

 the liberties and privileges inherent in a Englishman 

 whilst he is in a British dominion." 



Without delay a meeting of several members of the 

 council and merchants resident in New York was called, 

 and it was determined not to allow such measures to go 

 through parliament without at least a protest. Funds 

 were advanced to employ a solicitor and counsel iu Lon- 

 don to oppose the bill before the committee of the house 

 of commons. The general assembly at its next session 

 fully recogznied these proceedings, officially acknowledg- 

 ing the services of the agents, and refunded the amounts ad- 

 vanced for their services. 



To defray the expense of carrying on the war against 

 the French and Indians,in conjunction with the Eastern 

 colonies, a law was passed in 1746 (May 3) to raise a 

 supply 0I> <£13,000 by a tax on estates real and personal, 

 and to emit bills of credit for the like sum. The amount 

 was to be canceled in three years by an annual tax, in the 

 proportion indicated in the following table: 



