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Show - ."" -----.-.-~..‘ _ ‘3 12 known to be intoxicating in it's nature,-and in pro, jurifdic'tion hath been matter of very great grievance, heart-burnings and complaint; "hole portion to it's extent, is ever prone to wantoneis ; power and authority, fays Plutarch, awaken every paflion, and dilcover every [arc/2t vicee-what a coa gent temptation is here placed to ininare the mofi , virtuous ? But it there be one depraved pailion inthe bolom, as power gives {cope and opportunity, judges hold their commillions 12y f/JI' fuzz/(re ofec‘i/l and plea/arc; and whole large lalaries are a moit powerful incentive to the defire of-tvcl/pkq/[m ALL all who»; [/ch (fa/wild. Another pafliige in this fiatnte makes Idler/y how loon will it be called forth into licentious ex- void ALL errife? Shall I be thought going too far ; ihall I trefpafs upon the bounds of truth and decency, if " or carrying any goods, &c. to orfrom the har- I fay, that some of his Majelty's wmmflmed oflicers, in his fleet, or lhips ot‘war ; SOME ollicers of his cuf- tom: are not (Haggai/Jez- worthy offuch high confidence and truit ? Are there not infirior cammiflioned affirm in the King's ihips ; are there not many of the LOWER oiliccrs of the cufloms, who have neither {trength of underttanding or integrity of heart to weild inch a mighty power ? Nay, may not 1 add, that SOME raw ( into whole hands peradventure, the ei‘tate otiia good fubjeci and opulent merchant may chance to fall) are deititute of all icnle, mmm/ and humane? \Vhile contemplating this iiilrjeEt,-w'liile the mind fiac'tive, and heart warm-how apt are we to forget, that the illuitrious Houfes, who gave their function to this altoniihing law, are dignified as learned and venerable ;-and the Prince that gave his flat, denominated--" 'rnr: WISEST AND "ST or KINGS" ? Declining an entrance upon matters heretofore difculfed by abler heads, I have omitted all obfervation on the rig/22‘ and policy of the claims and laws CONTRACTS, " for configning, ihipping, " bour ot Bolton, whit/J HAVR " " " " ESL-ZN math: or entered into, or which (hall be made or entered into, to long as the 1nd continues ii force, relating to any {hip which ihall arrive at laid town or harbour after the Iirlt day of june". Jurit'prudents and the {ages of the law for cenu tnries have taught, that r'etrqpeflive or pgflfaflo flatutes, were not only militant with the-principles of found morals, but thoic alto ofpoiitical wifi‘iom. But the Parliament, who by the bold figure of comm mon lawers, are ltiled ormzipofwzt, here wzforrw a tiiiiereiit doctrine. The engliih coloniil, replete with loyalty to his fovercign ; the defeendant from Britain, animated by love for a mother-conntryJ reprelres the excurlions of his nnderl'tandlng and paflions: but the iubied or native of another flan: will feel no inch reitraint. [It has {ml/"137cm! to fend his merchandize to this port, cxpcfts l.-i.: returns in the commodities of the country in compliance with his obligations, his treatinrs are of Great-Britain over the colonies ; upon the fame moving with hazard upon the ocean, with hopes warm for gain. The lhip(in which pcrradxen- principle, I waive entering that copious field which is prefented, by that part of the prefent act, which provides for the recovery of all. forfeitures and pe- , atter many a toil andjcopardy, reaches the deitined. port. But how are. his hopes bafilcd~--~how will he nalties in the courts of admiralty-whofe extended jurifdic'tion tnre he hath rifqn‘ed his life as well as fortune) Iw |