Upon this, Forster, and the two Fowlers, Moses and William, chosen by him to be inspectors, questioned his having an estate, and required of the sheriff to tender him the book to swear, in due form of law, which he refused to do, but offered to take his solemn afiirmation, which both by the laws of England and the laws ©f this province w-as indulged, to the people called Quakers, and had always been practised, from the first election of representatives, in this province, to this time, and never refused ; but the sheriff was deaf to all that could be alleged on that side ; and notwithstanding that he was told by the late chief justice, and James Alexander, Esq., one of his Majesty's council, and counsellor at law, and by William Smith, Esq., cotmsellor at law, that such a procedure was contrary to law, and a violent attempt of the liberties of the people, he still persisted in refusing the said Quaker to vote, and in like manner did refuse seven and thirty Quakers more -- men of known and visible estates. This Cooper, now high sheriff of the said county, is said not only to be a stranger in that county, but not having a foot of land, or other visible estate in it, unless very lately granted, and it is believed he has not where withall to purchase any. The polling had not been long continued before Mr. Edward Vol. I. 18 . .

138 HISTORY OF THE