having been made on Account of your Petitioner's Absence from
England.

That the said House and premises are of the yearly
Value of £400 and not more.

That your Petitioner's Agent attend the Meeting of
the Inhabitants of Chiswick at the making of the Rate for the half
Year from Michaelmas 1783 to Lady Day 1784 to enquire the
Reason why your Petitioner had been rated for the Year past at
£466 instead of £266 as formerly, when he was told that one
of the Inhabitants having alledged that he was informed that
your Petitioner had given £17,000 for the Purchase of the said
premises, and it having been the Custom to rate Houses, Lands
Etc at the Rate of £4 P Cent. for the Money paid upon purchase
without Regard to the yearly Value therefore he insisted that
your Petitioner should be rated in that manner, and not
according to the yearly Value; But a Majority of the
Inhabitants (thinking your Petitioner over rated), proposed to
Reduce your Petitioner £100 a Year, which your Petitioner's
Agent not assenting to, that then rated your Petitioner at £466 a
Year as before, Referring your Petitioner to apply by way of
Appeal to the Justices at the next petty Sessions, which your
Petitioner's Agent gave Notice he should do, and accordingly did,
and the Overseers attended accordingly, but not having the
Rates ready to produce, It was, by the Directions of the Justices,
agreed that the Matter should stand over to the next petty Sessions
without Prejudice.

That on the 26th. Day of March 1784 another Rate was made
whereby your Petitioner is again rated at £466 a Year.

That at the next petty Session which was held on the 29th.
Day of May last all Parties attended, and the Justices then
assembled, having heard the Allegations of both Parties, were of
Opinion that they had no Power to alter the Rate, unless by the
Consent of the Parties, and therefore referred your Petitioner to
his Appeal to the next General Quarter Sessions.