At the Council Chamber Whitehall the 21st of November 1749.
By the right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Council for Plantation affairs.
Whereas a report was made to this Committee by the Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, on the 24th of May 1748, upon the Petition of Peter Payne, Maca Scarborough, Simon Bryan, Caleb Wilson, Benjamin Hill and Stevens Lee, in behalf of themselves and the several inhabitants of the Precincts or Countys of Chowan, Perquimons, Pasquotank, Currotuck, Bertie and Tyrrel in North Carolina, complaining of an Act passed in that Province in 1746 entitled “An Act for the better ascertaining the number of Members to be chosen for the several Counties within this Province to sit in General Assembly, and for establishing a more equal representation of all His Majestie's Subjects in the House of Burgesses.”
“That a Copy of the said Petition of Complaint should be transmitted to Gabriel Johnston Esqre Governor of the said Province requiring him to return to this Committee his Answer thereunto in writing with all convenient speed; And that the Complainants or their Agents should be at liberty to take Copys of all records in any of the Public Offices in the said Province touching the matters Complained of as the said Complainants or their Agents should think necessary to support the said Petition of Complaint, &c.
And Whereas in pursuance of the afore recited Order, two Pacquets of Papers have been transmitted from the said Province and laid before this Committee, One of which was delivered by Mr. Abercromby Agent for the Governor, containing the Answer of the said Governor to the Complaint, as likewise the Proofs and evidence that have been taken on his part; And the other Pacquet by Mr. McCulloh on behalf of the Petitioners containing the Proofs & evidence which have been likewise taken on their part
It is therefore hereby ordered by this Committee that all the said Papers be transmitted to the said Lords Commissioners for Trade and Plantations, that they may proceed in the examination of this Affair, and make their further report thereupon to this Committee.