- Transcription
Plantations General
<Circular Letter to the Governors of His Majesty's Colonies in America, containing Directions upon the Memorial of the Lords of the Treasury, relating to the defective State of the Laws for regulating the plantation Trade &c>
1763
Octr. 11th.
To Thomas Boone Esqr. Governor of South Carolina.
Sir
The Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury having represented to his Majesty that they find upon a consideration of the present state of the Duties of customs imposed on his Majesty's Subjects in America that the Revenue arising therefrom is very small and inconsiderable having in no degree increased with the commerce of those countrys and is not yet sufficient to defray a fourth part of the expence necessary for collecting it, and that through neglect, connivance and fraud not only the Revenue is impaired, but the commerce of the colonies is diverted from it's natural course and the salutary provisions of many wise Laws are in great measure defeated, His Majesty has commanded us to require and enjoyn you in the strictest manner to make the suppression of the clandestine and prohibited Trade with foreign nations and the improvement of the revenue the constant and immediate objects of your care, and by a vigorous discharge of the Duty required of you by several Acts of Parliament and a due exertion of your legal authority to give the officers of the revenue all possible protection and support, and that you do from time to time transmit such observations as occur to you on the state of the illicit and contraband trade and on the conduct of all persons whose Duty it is to prevent the same, in order that the necessary directions may be given for punishing such persons as shall appear to be guilty of any misbehaviour and for correcting all abuses for the future.
We do therefore recommend these his Majesty's commands to your most serious attention, not doubting but you will acquit yourself in the execution of them as becomes a faithfull and vigilant Servant of the Crown. We are
Sir
Your most obedient
humble Servants
NB A like Letter was sent to the Governors of No. Carolina Georgia Virginia New Yorke New Jersey Massachusets N. Hampshire Nova Scotia Maryland Pennsylvania Connecticut Rhode Island Jamaica Barbados Leewd. Islands Bermuda Bahama Grenada Quebec.
