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L. H. J.
Lib. 41.
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general Advantage which Shipping ought to be to the Nation.
Hence we presume it comes to pass that they have made this
Scruple about the Size of the Hogsheads of this Province ex-
ceeding that of Virginia. We have enquired into their Gauge
and find ours now used exceed but two Inches in Diameter of
the Head being equal in Length and for justifying our Size
we humbly offer this Reason to your Majesty: That the
Tobacco generally made in Virginia is a more substantial
thick waxy Leaf and by Consequence weighs heavier and
contains greater number of Pounds in one Hogshead of their
Size and their Tobacco than in one of our Size filled with our
Tobacco which is more light and chaffy insomuch that they
(as we compute) ordinarily get three thousand two hundred
Pounds of Tobacro carryed home as cheap as we get two
thousand two hundred which only Reason being taken into
your Majesty's Royal Consideration we hope will induce your
Majesty to suffer us to hold the same Gauge which is so trivial-
a Damage to the Storage of Ships that we wonder any should
trouble your Majesty with it: But if any hereafter (through
Greediness) make their Hogsheads above the Gauge we are
willing either to subject them to greater Penalties or the Com-
manders of Ships may make them pay an higher Freight
proportionable or refuse to take or agree for the Freight of
them.
Now Dread Sovereign having as we think truly stated the
Case of this Province your Majesty will discern who bears the
Burthen and consider we cannot but justly complain when we
see our Hhds cropp'd and defaced and the Tobacco by great
Parcels taken out of the Cask which should defend it and
thrown into Holes and Corners and most abominably abused
in Quality so liable to Plunder and Pillage and other Damages
too many to particularize to your Majesty whereby it comes to
pass to our too certain Experience that our Tobacco comes
very light home and being consigned to the Owners of the
Ships by the Artifice aforesaid, by whom such Damage ought
to be repaired, and the Owner himself the Agent that should
demand it, we go altogether without Redress being so far
from the Spot and Scene where such Abuses are acted. This
puts us upon making the Law against cropping, which yet
proves but of small Effect to restrain it but hope we have
hereby shewn Reason to incline your Majesty now only to
favour this Bill but any other that may be devised to secure
our Goods from such Rapine and Plunder, and in a special
Manner to extend your Royal Favour to support us; which
Favour we stand in need of above all your Subjects because
we think we are the most imposed upon by the Owners and
Hirers of Ships and the least able to help ourselves. And we
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