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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Minutes of the North Carolina Governor's Council
North Carolina. Council
August 23, 1771
Volume 09, Pages 24-25

-------------------- page 24 --------------------
[From MS. Records in Office of Secretary of State.]
COUNCIL JOURNALS.

At a Council held in the Council Chamber in the Palace at New Bern Friday 23d August 1771—

Present
His Excellency the Governor.
The Honble James Hasell Esquire.
The Honble Martin Howard Esquire.
and
The Honble Samuel Cornell Esquire.

His Excellency exhibited to the Council the two under written Proclamations proposing they should be entered on the Journals of this Board. It is Ordered accordingly

George R.

A Proclamation.

Whereas it has been represented to us that exorbitant fees are demanded and taken in the Publick Offices of several of Our Colonies, to the great oppression of our Subjects, and the scandal of our Government, and whereas such unwarrantable and dishonourable practices are objects of our highest indignation and resentment. It is our will and Pleasure and we do strictly enjoin and require all Publick Officers whatsoever within our Province of North Carolina in their respective stations not to demand or receive any other fees for Publick business transacted in their Offices than what have been established by proper Authority On pain of our Royal displeasure, of being removed from their Offices, and prosecuted with the utmost severety of the Law.

Witness our trusty and well beloved Josiah Martin Esqr our Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over our said Province at New Bern the 22d day of August 1771. In the fifth year of our Reign

JO. MARTIN.
By His Excellency's Command,
Wm Palmer, D. Sec.
God save the King.
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North Carolina,

By His Excellency Josiah Martin Esquire His Majesty's Captain General, Governor and Commander in Chief in and over the said Province.

A Proclamation

Whereas by His Majesty's Royal Proclamation of this date all Public Officers are strictly enjoined not to demand or take any other or greater fees in their respective Offices than what have been established by proper Authority—I have thought fit to publish this Proclamation hereby requiring all Public Officers of this Province forthwith to affix in their several Offices, Tables of their fees, to the end that all persons may know the same. And I do hereby further require the said Officers to certify to me without delay that they have complied herewith and that they do at the same time deliver in to me copies of the Tables of their respective fees so affixed up in their several Offices, signed by the Principal or his lawful deputy in each Office in which they shall distinguish those that are appointed by Law from such as are authorized by Custom only, And herein they are not to fail as they shall answer the contrary at their Peril.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the said Province at New Bern the 22d day of August in the eleventh Year of His Majesty's Reign, Anno Dom. 1771.

JO. MARTIN
By His Excellency's Command
Wm Palmer, D. Sec.
God save the King.