n the
one hand, or too great anxiety to reduce claims which appeared
exaggerated on the other, might have led them into error.

"Having thus wound up the business in the spring of 1789, they presented
their twelfth and last Report on the 15th of May; and likewise, pursuant
to the order of the House of Commons of the 10th of June, 1789,
presented a statement of them to that House, comprising the whole of
their proceedings in one view, specifying what had been granted by
Parliament and what still remained for consideration; but as the
inquiring into these claims was not completed, and the Minister thought
proper to give way once more to strong applications from various
persons, who had been still prevented from preferring or prosecuting
their claims under the former Acts of Parliament, the Commission was
renewed once more, and it was not till the spring of 1790 that the
business was finally settled and adjusted by Parliament. In the
beginning of April, in consequence of an order of the House of Commons,
on the 31st of March, 1790, the Commissioners laid before the House a
statement of the claims and losses of the American Loyalists up to the
25th of March, 1790, with the terms already granted, and of what
remained for the consideration of Parliament.

"The general result of this was, that the number of claims preferred in
England and Nova Scotia was 3,225--

"Of which were examined 3,225
"Disallowed 343 }
"Withdrawn 38 } 934
"Not prosecuted 553 }

"The amount of the claims preferred was L10,358,413.

"The amount of the claims examined was L8,216,126.

"The amount allowed in liquidation thereof amounted to L3,033,091.

"Of which had been provided L2,096,326.

"There remained for consideration of Parliament L936,764.[131]

"The amount of pensions paid to 204 Loyalists, on account of losses of
office or profession, was L25,785 _per annum_, besides annual allowances
to 588 persons, chiefly widows, orphans, and merchants, who had no means
of livelihood, but had lost no real or personal estate except debts due
them,[132] and which had not been gone into for reasons before given.

"As many of the Loyalists who had received pensions or allowances are
since deceased, the Lords of the Treasury, by his Majesty's direction,
have continued some part of those annual payments to their widows.

"Thus had the nation extended an inquiry for seven successive years into
the losses of those who, from motive