Faithful and inoffensive subjects, struggling under unparralleled oppressions, and withont the means of Law, Justice, Defence or Security, may be permitted to hope their Earnest importunity will incite the Compassion and the Care of Government; especially when it is the misfortune of your Petitioners to be persuaded that if these reasonable Expectations should unhappily become frustrate, they must very Soon fall victims to the Inhuman Tyranny of the Rioters, and that, if they escape with life, the least that can befall them must be to be driven with their Helpless Families, from their Habitations in the Greatest misery and distress.

Your Petitioners therefore appealing for the truth of the Facts above asserted to the affidavits and papers hereunto annexed, do humbly beseech your Honour to take their Deplorable case into your wise Consideration, and to grant them that speedy relief and protection of which they stand in so much need.

' And your Petitioners shall ever Pray Bensn Hoven. 1774 Septemb' 1. Read in Council.

878 CONTROVERSY RESPECTING THE \

ESQR' HOUGHS LIFE THREATENED.

Danrex Warxer of Durham in the County of Charlottee Being of-Full Age Deposeth and Saith--

That on the First day of August Instant Benjamin Hoof Esq? of Socialborough Came to my house being as he informed me very much Threatened and abused by Some of the Mobb (to wit.) John Smith and one Enos Raws and We being Sitting at Dinner at my house, there Came one Dan, Howlet of Shaftsbury in the Northeastern District of the County of Albany and made Enquiry if the Said Benjamin Hoof was there ; and Further added that he |had] some business with him. The deponent Further Saith the Said Hoof Answered him and asked the Said Howlet what Business he had with him, the Said Howlit answered he wanted a Warrant, the Said Hoof asked him where he lived, and the Said Howlit Said he lived at home; and then the Said Howlit begun with very Rough Discourse, Saying that he had not Come to Quarrel, but that he had come as a forerunner, to warn him and that there was but one Step, Between his the Said Howlets life and M Hoofs and Swore by God they would have him dead or alive Soon with much other threatning Words, Signifying that the Said Hough must Relinquish all Pretentions of acting as an officer, and if he did he did not know but the Said Hoofs life might be Spared, but uncertain, and then.made Towards the Said Hoof, and assaulted him in a very Rough manner by Pushing threatining Swearing in the most inhuman manner So