My Lords & Rt honble Gentlemen
I have sent a Sloope well mann'd to North Carolina to demand some persons who have fledd hence from Justice, and to learne what Law is
made there to harbour others from paying their just debts which has occasioned great numbers to flye from this Province thither to the great detriment of Merchants in England and cheating the honest well meaning people of this Country, for if they have as I am informed made a law there to protect any person from being sued during five years. It will give a handle to many knavish people to gaine large creditt and run thither to defraud their just creditors, and not only tend to the lessening the number of taxable people here, but to the depopulating her Majties more usefull adjacent Colonys and Plantations. And now as our Poverty increases so fresh villanys are carried on entirely to subvert the Government; When I have their answer I will transmit it to your honble Board, and doubt not that your Lordsps will find out an Expedient to have this pernicious practice stopt, otherwise many persons will go to North Carolina and her Majtys Revenue hence be suncke to a Scantling.