Affairs.
Whitehall, Dec 22d 1757.
My Lords,
Pursuant to your Lordships Order dated the 16th of November last, we have taken into Our consideration the humble Petition of the Members of his Majesty's Council of North Carolina humbly praying for the reasons therein contained that his Majesty would be graciously pleased to appoint and direct an allowance to be paid to them out of his Majesty's Quit-Rents in consideration of their great Fatigue and expence in attending his Majesty's Service in Council and in the several Courts in which they sit as Judges and we beg leave to acquaint your Lordships
That we have lately received a letter from Arthur Dobbs Esqre his Majesty's Governor of North Carolina in which he verifies the several
allegations contained in the said Petition complains of the great delays and difficulties which for want of a proper allowance to the Petitioners, he meets with in procuring their attendance from the remote parts of the Province and recommends their Request not only as reasonable in consideration of the Hardships they at present labour under but as necessary for the good of his Majesty's Service and the due administration of Justice.For these reasons and as the said Governor has also informed us that his Majesty's Quit rents in North Carolina are daily improving and will if properly collected soon be able to discharge all the arrears now due from them as well as to pay the whole Establishment of the Province, although the present request be granted We are humbly of Opinion that his Majesty may be graciously pleased to allow an appointment out of his said Revenue to the members of the Council in the said Province.
And as we find that six hundred pounds was the yearly Sum originally allowed to the Judges of the General Court of the Colony of Virginia, we conceive that the like sum being fifty Pounds per year to each Member of the Council may be a proper allowance on the present Occasion. But we would humbly submit it to your Lordships, whether it may not be proper in order to render this appointment effectual to the Ends for which it is granted, that the Receiver of his Majesty's Quit rents in North Corolina should be directed to pay it to such Member only of his Majesty's Council as shall produce to him the Governor's Certificate of their having duly attended the several Duties of their Station.