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All othar original copiaa ara fllmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or Iliuatratad Impras- slon, and anding on tha iaat paga with a printad or Iliuatratad impraaalon. Laa axamplairas originaux dont la couvartura an papiar aat ImprlmAa aont fllmte an commandant par ia pramiar plat at an tarminant soit par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'lllustration, soit par la sacond plat, aalon la caa. Toua laa autras axamplairas originaux aont fllmte an commandant pai la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'Imprassion ou d'lllustration at an tarminant par Sa darnlAra paga qui comporta una talia amprainta. Tha iaat racordad frama on aach microflcha ahall contain tha aymboi — t^ (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (moaning "END"), whichavar appiias. Un daa symboiaa auivanta apparattra sur la darnlAra imaga da chaqua microflcha, salon la caa: la symbola — ► signifia "A SUIVRE", la symbols V signifia "FIN". Mapa, piataa. charta, ate, may ba fiimad at diffarant raduction ratioa. Thoaa too larga to ba antiraiy includad In ona axpoaura ara fiimad baginning In tha uppar laft hand cornar, laft to right and top to bottom, as many framaa aa raquirad. Tha following diagrama lliuatrata tha mathod: Laa cartas, planchaa, tablaaux, ate, pauvant dtra f limAa A daa taux da reduction diff Arants. Lorsqua la document aat trop grand pour Atra raprodult an un aaul cilchA, 11 aat filmA A partir da i'angia aupAriaur gaucha, da gaucha A droita, at d« haut an baa, an pranant la nombra d'imafjias nAcaaaaira. Laa diagrammas auivanta lliuatranit la mAthoda. Tata o >alure. lA 3 32X 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 1 I - / 'V* « OCCASIONAL HPfPHiP^ ^^7■ L E T T E R S ::'. 'l-'- U P OK' TAXATION; ." !-.::■■. UPON THE MEANS OF RAISING THE SUPPLIES WITHIN THE YEAR, TO ANSWER THE EXPENCES OF A NECESSARY WAR ; ■ . ... ■<■• .1 AND UPON SUCH Measures as would probably tikd to secure Great- Britain and its Natural Depbndencies the Blessing! ©f Peace upon a Durable System* 'if"" By An INDEPENDENT MAN, LONDON: iPrinted for J. Dodsley, in Pall-Mall. ' fm^vimw**^': ■■« TH E Letters contained in this col- ledtion have already appeared in an Evening Paper feparately, without feem- ing to have excited cenfure (except in one inftance, which, as w^iU be feen, was no- ticed in the next Paper without being replied to). This has induced the Author to pub-- lifli them in the following form, with very little alteration in the compoiition. They will be found to contain fonie opinions en- tirely his own, particularly thofe refpe6t- ing contributions from the Shocks, which, being founded on rational grounds of af- Jurance againji risk, upon principles of equity and peconomy, and being joined with others which are all fo calculated as not to interrupt the current by which riches flow, it is hoped they will appear as little liable tp exception as any hitherto offered. Tne other matters he fpeaks of are of the firfl magnitude ; in treating of which he is far from daring to decide what is beji to be done. His early years being fpent in Ame^ rica, where he was many years employed as ^n Officer in the Navy, of cgurfe gives him. [ iv ] fome advantages over the generality of his fcllovv-fubie;^s; and if what hehas prefiimed to fay upon the modes of conciliation with that Co an try, and upon naval fubjc6ls, only furnidi one fmgle hint which may be wrought to public benefit, he will have a fujficient equivalent for all that pain he expe- riences in obtruding his indigefled thoughts m fo homely a drefs. ' \ I ' * • His objedl is truly no other than to pro- mote national fecurity and permanent peaces which to him feems irreconcileablc with our retention of fo many remote, and feveral of them burthenfome,' or unprodudtive terri- tories, bordering upon the dominions of other powerful States ; or holding it as a State maxim, That the Colonies and our Sifter liland ought to be fubjcdt to our Parliament, efpecially when it cannot be made appear ta be either to their intereft, or to that of the community at large, that fuch a fyftem ihould continue to exift for the future. *^* It is ncceflary to premlfe, that Letter I. was not fuhlijhed till March 2 ; and the Reader is defired to ob- icrve, that Mr. Eden's Plan * for an additional Land- Tax is the fame as that propofed in Letter XVII. in- ferted in the Whitehall Lvening-Post of Juguji 5. • In his Four Letters to Lord CarliJItt page io8. ' ; '• ■ it ,\> ■ I i OCCASIONAL 'Til i y -' ■;' -i ; TPPW?wp»W"^PPPilF M OCCASIONAL LETTERS, &c. I «-■« (JI-, i.-a LETTER I. ■''■■'■ r- A The followin,'* Letter was prefented to the Minifter upon the day it is dated, and is with extreme dfTi^bncc expoCcd to public attention. It however claims regard, becaufe it , may give confidence to thofe that think we are on the brink of Bankruptcy ; as the Author endeavours to (hew the Stockholder, the Landed Men, and Men of every de- fcription, that if the Taxes are not allowed to accumu- late upon the neceffaries of 1 fe fo as to cramp trade, without immediately afFei^ting their annual income to any conliderable amount, Government may be enabled to defend their rig&ts for many fiiccefljve years, or indeed for ever ; while upon the principle which actuates a Mcr- . chant that infures his property when at riik, they will lend their aid by fubfcribing a part to fecure the re- mainder ; and money will never be wanting, as the public expences will be ever circulating, and there will be al- ways Buyers of the contributive fhare mentioned o be giveu by the Stockholder, as well as People ready and willing to buy the Anticipations of ««-appropriated Re- venue, as the income would be perfe^ly fecure, and the value exaftly calculated, by reafon it would be little liable to flufluation. Property being the only objevit of Taxa- tion, the more fimple the mode of coming at it, the lefs it will coll Government to levy ; and the taxing reccf- faries of life beyond what Trade will heart would be as bad policy, as for a Landlord to rack his Tenants fo as' to make them leave their Farms. And fuch uould be the cafe with our Manufa(flurers ; if the means of fubfiilence is difproportioned to their wages, or the pr'ces their com- modities will produce, they mufl and 'loili quit the Coun- • try, or become chargeable to the Parilhes. . . , ;> To the Rt. Hon. LORD NORTH. My Lord, r.-j ■^fl I TAKE the liberty to fuppofe the time ar- rived when we can no longer extend Taxa- tion upon articles of general confumption, ibr S ' ' ■ • fear I ■'• - -r-^- - ■ ( 2 ) . . . . fear of affc6ling our Manufadurers in fuch 3 manner, as to make it impoflible for them to Jupply Foreign Markets upon fo low terms as their Rivals in Trac'e of other Nations, and when a further extehfion of Taxes Upon Lutury would occafion People of Fortune to fcek a Country where they could enjoy the elegancies of life at an eaficr rate than at home. At fuch a time, the Credkofs of Government wouW fear, left th' Taxes appropriated to pay them their intereft, would fail to produce a fufiicienc amount ; and if we fhould then be engaged in a war< they would likewile fear, that for want of refources Government would be under a neceflity of taking great liberties with their property, or otherwife be in danger of being fubverted and overthrown, and their whole property in that cafe Icji (no fpecies of property fo much depend- ing upon the maintenance of the prefcnt Govern- ment as that which is inverted in the Funds). At fuch a time, they would moft probably wifli to find themfelvcs in a fituation to be able to at^ for themfelves, and give their afliftance to Government. To prepare for fo critical a period (which all men agree muft fooner or later arrive), I would propofe the Proprietors of the Funds fhould be recommended to form a Committee, or Repre- fentative Body, by ballot or Otherwife ; which Body lliould be empowered by Parliament to do what they judged neceffary for the fupport of Government, upon which their whole property depends. The mterefts of the National Credi- tors (Foreigners as well as Natives) being feea to be lb interwoven with thofe of the State, and the Nation in thefituation 1 have fuppofed (that ' f >. 7-.'ii H' wc i" J ( 3 ) -we could not proceed one ftep further in taxing cither the Luxuries or Ncceflkries of Life), would it not be for the intereft of the Stock- holders to propffe to remit to Government one or two per cent, of their fcveral capitals, pro- bably annexing conditions refpefting contribu- tions from landed and all other property ? — A grant of two per cent, would produce more than two millions and a half, at the prefent price of Stocks, and each individual would only feel a diminution of a 50th part of his income. The contribution being^iV^w, Public Faith would be fio way violated ; the dread of a total lofs (which I prefumc is the caufe of the prefent very low price of Stocks) would be removed •, the con- tribution would be continually circulating, and every one partaking by himfelf or his connec- tions ; People would feel the effedl gradually ; Foreigners concerned in our Funds would be neceditated to contribute, and thereby much money retained that would other wife go abroad ; People's incomes would be taxed in proportion to the receipt i and if a mode of raifing all fu- ture fupplies had the fame • objeSl^ articles of Luxury and the Neceflaries of Life need not be further taxed, which would remove the motive for People of Fortune, as well as Manufafturers, quitting this Country ; and the money owing from Government being ftill the fame (only the contributive part having changed hands;, the * I mean, if people's annual incomes were in general taxed upon recei'vi/ig, as is the cafe in the Land-Tax. And it is worthy confideration, that by taxing Money in the re- ceipt (its annual produce), all who have property here, and refide abroad, would be made to contribute towards its fe- icurity and defence, ^* ^>... , ^ • - * -- * B 2 National ( 4 ) National Debt (flrangc as it may fcem) would remain one conjlant resource (to be applied to ia war and public comsiwiions only) never to be en- creafcd (in the funding way), nor ever extin- guifheJ. As by my plan, the Stockholder gives a p.irt of his principal, fo our^ht every Trading and in Turing Company. Money inverted in Mort- gages ought to contribute, and tlicLand (or pro- perty upon which it is fecurcd) ought to beeafed in proportion. The Landed Property would then be more equally taxed than at prefent ; and inftcad of funding, people might be invited to Jupply Government by ptirchafmg exemption from Land-TiX for a certain number of years, and by anticipating the «»■ appropriated Taxes. In an- fwer to a Friend's quellion, How will Foreigners agree to the difpofal of their Property ? — 1 fay, they would be only in the fame ftate as the fo- reign Proprietors of India or Bank Stock, who arc bound by the afts of their Directors. The declared purpofe of the meafure recommended, muft be to Jnpport the Credit of the Stock. The Committee's bufinefs is to watch its In- tcrejts^ and to condufl themfelves by prudential confiderations only. They will be ready to adopt any meafure to quiet the minds of the Pro- prietors i and it is prejumed that Stocks will ra- ther rife than fall, when it is feen that a well- concerted plan is about to be adopted, which will connctt tiie Landed with the Monied In- tereft, and hknd them fo together, that they will make a common caufe, and will ht equally Jecure \ and that Government muft for ever have re- fources by calling upon Property only to defend itfdf. Thefe mcafures would be extremely ^^- pukr too, as the Minifter might declare the common ( I ^ ' ( 5 ) (§mm9n People fliould never feel any further im- pofitions upon articles tliey confume. By the advice of a Imall circle of Independent "Men, I offer the above to your Lord(hip*s confi- dcration, and Have the honour to be, &c. IVindJor, Dec, 17, 1778. if .- . • ♦ ♦ P. S. I have faid what two per cent, would probably produce •, but the Committee would affuredly contribute accordingto the exigency, nx\(X according to what other property contributed ; and I let out with prefuming, they would f; e the impolicy of a further excenfion of Taxes whii h Ajlfcci Trade, and thereby reduce the produce of tbofe Taxts appropriated to pay them their Intereji, efpecially at a time when Government would be unable to give them redrefs or afliftance. Rai- ling fuppl'es by my method would let the People fee what the war really cofts th^m. Had this been the cafe in former wars, wc Ihould not have purfued them with a view to extend or add to our Territory bevond the Atlantic, at the ex- pence of a Mortgage of our Property here. But naving attained the criginal ohjek, we fhould have confined our views to the deftruflion of the Enemy's Trade, by which they would have been fufficiently humbled, and our Country rather enriched than impoverifhed. as a Naval War might be eafily fupported without further Funding. In illuftration of the plan above-mentioned, let us fuppofe, that A being pofleffed of icol. Stock, is willing to remit two per cent, of his capital, which B fupplies ; fo that A will leceive intereft of 98, and B of 2. In fuch cafe, and was the war to continue 15 years more, A would " ftili MtahMMMi I'lffii'difii mm ( 6 ) ftill poflefs 60 per cert, of his capital, which is as much as his Stock would fell for now ; where- as, ?f fome effeSluat and great Plan is not ftruclc out, Government, in the prefcnt mode of bor- rowing, would, after a war of but few years, witti accumulating burthens and progrelfive premiums, be totally at a {land ; in which cafe, it muft take from Individuals at difcretion, or the whole fabrick of the State /«//, &nd become 9, prey to the common Enemy. .. < » ■ ■ \ . :.!;.'::,'? / \ '■■ ■: :•..:, i ; I r ,i ., > ■. •J 1 t v./ ' M > ^*:. \ ■■■,,■■ yM:-.i' ..::';;.-. ■■ '. Vi-rV,ji I ■ I. .'. ' "'■;:' .-r^^ V,.,*,. .1..^' '.*-, c.-f .) » . . V .1 ,' I ' LETTER ( 7 ) ■i.-r L E T T E R II. / s f 1^ I WILL not arrogate to myfelf any merit from my Letter which you publifhed March 2, upon the'future mode and objefts of Taxation, notwithftanding it has not been replied to, and on that account, I may conclude it contained nothing very contrary to general opinion. My intention was to fliew the Relburces of this Coun- try to be fufficieni at all times, when Property in the moft direSi way (hould be called upon in aid of Government in fuch a manner, as not to tramp Induftry, nor make it the intereft of People oi any degree to emigrate. I hope it has had fome efFe(St in preventing dcfpoiidency. The Stocks have rifen in their value lince that time ; but I will not be vain enough to fuppofe from any confidence my Letter may have given. Yet, as I know fome individuals who have really becn% more fatisfied than they were previous to that * Publication (and acknowledge // to Ix; the caufe), I may conclude it has had the like effedl upon fome others. Upon that account, I wi(h fome more able Pen would undertake to (hew in what manner Property in general could be taxed fo, as that not only the Necefiaries o2 Life, but the ' Lmuries likewif?, (hould undergo no further Taxation ; for k muft be confidered, that tL^ Luxuries of the Rich give the means of fubfifience to the induftrous Mechanic and ManufaBurer, The views of Government fhould therefore be con- fined to the means of meeting Vroperty with a Tax, in whatever way it may be invefted. ■•:;■,■ iammiinM'm"n \W 1 i I ; I ii-i C 8 ) To illuftratc this, let us fuppofe a means adopted which would bring Annual Incomes int9 vieWy and that then Government fhould demand a proportionable funi from every one towards the exigencies of the State. A perfon poffeffcd of lool. 3 per cents, value 60, giving, according to my Plan, 2 per cent, or the . 50th part of his capital for ever, which is equal to il. 4s. although he feels but the lofs of the , Intereji of that fum in his annual income, viz. i.s,,2Yd. yet he has been a means of furnilhing , Qovernment with more than three millions Stock, fuppofing the National Debt 150 millions. This mode of Stockholders giving their property would make people fliy of purchafing Stock, if thoie who had money in hand to difpofe of did , not find that, turn their thoughts which way they would. Government had taken care to meet them with a proportionable Tax. To do which, till a better mode is pointed out, allow me to mention (another Plan differing from my former, in which there would be no occafion for anticipating the unappropriated Revenue) that of all receipts for ret annual proceeds of Money, Houfes, Land, Eaiployments, &c. being obliged to be given upon Stamp Paper, of a value proportioned to the amount, or otherwifc Jiot to be valid *( Property, however, to be taxed i ^. ■. i \iJkk. \.ix ^ ..I', w »«!.■ • By this means people would not have it in their power to evade the Tax, as they would put themfelves in the power of their Tenants, &c. and would be liable to the penal coniequences, which might be made for forfeiture of Leafes, &c. Tl m * ( «J ) LETTER IV. "' ' Jpriliy, 1779. I BEG leave to diUte a little upon what I advanced in my laft, where I faid tlie words ** Dependence" and " Independence" ought to be entirely dropt relative to America, and •* Equality" fubftituted. I ventured likewife to fay, " Were our Rulers even now to adopt *' that language, we Ihould engage the majority " of that Country in our favour." In faying fo, I fpeak not at random; and as I truft it is all the People of either Country wilh, and the Sovereign can defire, I yet hope to fee it tal^c efFedl very fyddenly. It furely will appear to every one to be the intereft of both Countries to be leagued together under one Sovereign, each People retaining their diftinft Rights^ and nei- ther, as a People, fubordinate to the other. — -»• Cicero fays in his Epiftles, " * In every new •* Alliance it muft be confidered, what arc the " firft fteps to be made, and by what recom- ^' mendation the palfage is to be opened to •' Friendlhip." In this cafe, let us freely and without referve declare, that an American-Briton is, and ought to be, as free as a Native Briton ; that this Country is ready to fhake hands upon terms of PERFECT equality. There yet fubfifts fo natural an affinity between us, that I do not fear but, notwithftanding what has paffed, America will believe ps fjncere, and moft he.artily • (picero Ep. ad fara. 13^ 10. accept ' I ' ( 14 ) accept the propofal. Wc i.lready have gone as far in fact by the Propofals made to them by onr Commiflioners, only that we have not yet thought proper to 1'peak out explicitly. Tht;re wanted the prclimin..ry decli: "ion, " You ihall be free and c^ml, and not fub^^d: to Great Britain as a People, but make part of the Em- pire, and we will be afibciated together for mutual benefit." Americans and Britons ferved together lall war •, we then fought and conquered together, and were perfedlly friendly as indivi- duals J even then the People fllt the fubordi- nation they were under to this Country * : and I alTure you, the thinking men among them fore- told the flruggles that would happen for equa- lity ; and they did not dcfpair but it would be brought about without the dreadful confe- cjuences that have happened, as they hoped the jullice and expedilncy of the meafure would operate to effed, and they thought this Country would not venture to rifk a total fcparation. — Union and Equality be now the terms propofed; America will then foon diflblve her connexion • The Author is a proof in his own perfon, that fhe Americans resisted the idea of fabjeftion to our LAWS even before last War ; the Merchants of Bofton having employed two of their ableft Lawyers (Otis and Kent) to defend the Captain and Crew of a floop that refilled a boat fsnt from a man of war (the Vulture iloop) in which he was fen t to examine the veffel for contraband goods; and notwithllanding the velVel was found to have fuch goods on beard, and was condemned as an illicit Trader with the In- dians, and in refilling killed two of the Crew, and wound- ed feveral; yet, by management, the murder was deemed Manflaughter by the Jury that decided upon it at Halifax ; notwithltanding the Inhabitants of Halifax, fince its firll ^ilablilhment, have ever fubfillcd on the Bounty of Great Liitain,^ with ( 15 ) with Fran''c, upon a principle of prudence; the People will not bear to be lliackled with Treaties that hinder them from emi^racing their Country- ■ men, near Rf.i.ations, and old Friends; Com- merce will regain its former chaiinrl ; they will dread the confequence of aprj^randizing France upon the ruin of this Country, as in the end they would be involved in our fate ; and Peace would very foon follow their acceding to the Terms offered ; or if not having them on our fide, we fhould have nothing to fear. .1 *■ LETTER V. that The Pamphlet alluded to in the following Letter, fpeaks of the Lettor to Lord North of the 17th of December, in the following terms : ** A Letter to Lord North has appeared in the Evening ** Papers, which feems worthy of notice." He afterwards fays, " The Writer appears to have hit *' upon a Plan which, under fbme well-concerted Reg ila- ** tions, we could wifli to fee carried into execution." After which he gives the Letter as it was publifhed, and concludes : ** Thus ends this Writer's Letter. It is left to the •* judgment of others, whether to adopt his method of letting •* the Debt remain as it is ; or ours, of wiping out to a cer- •* tain amount; or, whether either will be regarJed." • with ^ay 13, 1779. I HAVE juft call my eye over the publica- tion called, Obfervations on the National T>ebt^ &c. printed' for MelT. Dilly, and am happy to find my Letter to Lord North of the 17th December laft meets the Author^s appro- *•-'■* .'- --^.- '.,s, ,- ■ '-: --.■•';- bation, ( >6 ) fill bation, cfpecially as I conceive him to be what he ftiles himfelf, A fincere WelUwiJber of his Country \ and that with as humble an opinion of his abilities (and I hope and believe with as pure a defign as myfelt ) he neverthclefs ventures to fubmit his opinions to the Public. As he takes no notice of my fubfequent Letters, I prcrume his publication wasmade prior to their appearance ; but having left my Addrefs with his Publiihers, I hope to be favoured with his fentiments (in a private correfpondcnce) upon what I have advanced. In the mean time, I defire you will exhibit the following elucidation of my Scheme of Contribution (I will not call it Taxation), We muft fet out with fuppofing, that Govern- ment have Hxed a refolution to fund no more Debt, for the reafons I advanced (December 17), or for any other reafons of due weight. Say then that it is made known to the World, that the policy of the State in future will be to call upon all kind of Property to furnifti, in the mod equal manner, a certain proportion to be applied to fuch purpofcs as have no other ten- dency than general fafety and fecurity. Let the Proprietors of Stock know, that they now poffefs a Property which will rife very high in its value, becaufe all the money required will be raifed within the year, and confequently the circulation will bring to tbeir Market thofe People who formerly had a (hare of the New Funds annually created. '\. But they muft be told, thpy are not to expeft to enjoy the advantage at the expence of other Property ', for that as their Market would fill with Buyers, fo as to raife.the Funds far above J i hat \his of as res he I icir ith his »on , I ion lie ( 17 ) ptir, MfCTt they nor, as well as other Praperty, to give an aid to Government, fo they muft of neceffrry fand they may well afford it) con- tribute towards the wants of the State. 1 would j3awn my life, that when this is firfKciently known, all peoplfc will fee that a due proportion being found between the Monied an^ Landed Intereft, that no Pcrfons would be agarnft fupply- ing Government, by a diminution of their income in the annual proceeds, fnch as could be obtained by having Receipts upon Stamps in proportion to the amount, rather than by an increafe of Taxes upon confumable Commodities, afFefting both Rich and Poor. The fimplicity of d\c Mode of raifing the Money recommends itfelf ; and, as I have faid, no evafion can (with iafety to the i*arties) take place. ,, It is Property alone that can fumifli Money j and who would not rather pay two per cent, on receiving his Rent, Intereft, or Annuity, C^c. than allow Government to lay 3 per cent, upon •what he is obliged to confume, one-third of which neceffarily goes to the numerous Receivers, in the form of Salaries, &c. The proportion the Stocks ought to pay would be known after the frft year by the effe^ ; and if when Land paid four fhillings, the Stock-holder was to give two per cent, and Government had the Three Million Stock it would produce to difpofe of (which would nut be a third of what has come to Market in a year). Stocks were yet to rife from the glut of Money at that Market, the contribution ought then to rife to a larger amount : — fo that a Man poflefled of a given Turn, looking every way to lay it out, Ihould be at a difficulty to find any manner of employing D it '''Ml li! l!m Ml 11 1 1 I! i; '■', ' ;! Ll i ( 18 ) it more beneficial than another. The chief atten- tion then would be to place it where he could have his Dividends moll regularly paid. This he would find to be from the Stocks ; and this only would occafion them to be fold propor- tionably dearer than Land, and produce fome« thing lefs than Money lent on Mortgage. This Mode would prevent the cry of the mafTft who feel feverely every encreafe of Taxes upon the Necefluries of Life, and who, never- thelefs, mufl not be left to perifh, as they are the Pillars of the State. To make the Fabric lafling, they muft have due attention paid them.— Live they mufl, or the Land will remain uncul- tivated, and Manufadures ceafe of courfe. It will therefore be lefs felt to lay down your Money at receiving, than pay a higher price for the numerous articles now oecome NecelTaries of Life. :V :.( ■I t ■'->i ■' U .i ...4 J • i ■ .ff ''ftv i 'nf:: .t'fi 1 ^ »■ ' 1 . j; •-,"? i, ' -- >u- ii :'.:• .•' ; ..pMi"-- n.;- i: vinc^^- LETTER- \ . -- '■■■ . r,< ,,, ( 19 ) LETTER VI. [The following Letter appeared in the U'hiuball Ewnhg* J*efi^ and JH he-re inferred with the AnAver, tb fhew thac the Author is far from defiring to with-hold other People's fcntiments and, upon a liberal plan, would rather meet than elude thofe who differ with him in opinion ; the matters he trcati of being meant to be rather propofed for abler Meu to difct^J'ty than infided upon as Political Dogmas ; tind this he defires may be uhderilood throughout.] May 22, 17/9. AS the Scheme of • ♦ * in your Paper wants elucidation, you are defired to infert the following : -« - '^m --^^ t • a-^* T « '' The Scheme of * * • to raifc money for Government on Stock Property, fcems to many to be the mod dangerous affair that ever wa» propofed to the Public. To give a Prime Mini- Her leave to dip his hands in the Stocks, with- out having fomething better than a parliamen* tary check on him, is next to giving your Pro* perty away ; and to fay Minifters fliall go fo far and no farther, is talking ridiculouHy. Thff Scheme muft have the fandion of Parliament \ and when that is once obtained, who Hiall Hop a venal Majority, who are ready to fwallow all they can get, and laugh z'\ the Public ? It i9 matter of great wonder Dr. Price, or fome other able Calculator, does not help * * * to per-^ feft his Scheme, or expofe to the Public the cloven Foot of a Minifterial Tool. * * A Honest ENc^yiRBR. I d .1 D 2 LETTER 1 I ( 20. )^ - n i . 'ti Hill Ml I ; .1: li' I' I : 1 LETTER VH. fj; t-sN?"': {A , A/rt/25, i77(). I MAKE no dbubtbut that tRe Honefi Enquirer is a very well-meaning Gentleman ; but I much fear> his difcernment is by no means equ^\ to his honefty. In the prefent inftancc, he has been extremely hafty in drawing a cOnclufion, without the leaft attention to the prcmifes. Let him be pieafed to recolleft, that the offer of the Stockholders (fee my Letter of Mahh \) \% tov be entirely rolontaiy •, that they are to ^c Mafters of the conditions upon which their cpn- tributicftt is to bte given : his objeftions will then vaniih into air. 5** has no right to expeft fo ablfe an Advorfary as Doctor Price^ (he hopes to have himwon bis fide) \ neither is he the Hireling- this Gentlemar* would ihfiniilate. AtvHoneft Enquirer will ttc/cr fail of doing juftice when' He has it in his power; and the Printer of tftefc Letters will facisfy any Enquirer (equally unreferved) of thic perfe6k Independency of ♦ * • i ihiiik them will ienft^in no doubt of m^ being of a diffei^nt complexion from Ivhat your late Correfpotident conjeftures, if he will give this^and che following Letters the fiiaaHeft at*'*' A v;^J jif k.-J ' tit- '2.tr-K. 1 C -J. LETTER :1 ,- 1 !!■ ( «"' ): VJ L E ys: 7a«T.. az T T E R VIII. ^^ ,il4;»r25. 1779- ''inHlS Seflion of Parliament h&s plainly evin- X. ced the truth of what I prefained to inti- mate {Dec. ly) concerning an approaching^ra in the National refoucces ; and upon confider- ing the mighty efforts to obtain fufficient to pay ; the lnter.i0{oxi\Y\ of the laft Loan, it nfHift tery pl'ainly appiear how neccflary.it is for {ome great - and effij^ua^ |?lan to, be put en train fuited to that immraUeled cxpencc A^ith which the opera* tions' ox Governoicpt ^e carried into execution. It eaimot be much longer that fuch \p90r cX" pedient$.aSi w^ haye lately fallen uppfl, ; will pof- > libly furhilH Intercfl: and Doucevws upon future . Loans.. : ,^;,- ; 5jBivt!p.O: . .. ; :. • st. To chfure. future fupplics> I .hnye propofed . : equitable contributions from every fpecies of Property,, and which can. be eafily and fatisfac- -• torily/ obtained, if the propofed Committee of ^ . StockTiolders do but |akc^place, Mk Plan is ; fafSy will always be adequs^te, and will affuredly j hiive the Multitude in its favour. It will net en- i creafe Couftrinfluence» nor create new Offices; it will ceaTc with the neceflity that ca»|fed it, and 1 leave every man a ceitaln income when Peace is t reftored. And as I have'faifi in former Letters, : we (Hall feek peace and fecurity more than extent ' of dominion, as we fhall not i)e fo likely to be it deceived into an opinion ^\ formerly, that while \, we a;e puftiing the War beyond the original objcdV, * we arc obtaining by conquelt what will com- ' pcnfate /or our expences, but fhall fee we are '* quitting thC; fubitance in purfuit of a fhadow ; - - , for ( «2 ) :f!i lliiii! ! 1 n >Ji. n for our eyes will be open to what the War really cofts us. ■ At prefent, like Spendthrifts, we only enquire how much more Intereft we have to pay. Wc now allow Minifters to borfow (for us) at fevea-, per cent, whereas if Individuals were to fupply Government with the grofs fum wanted, in due proportion according to their property, they . themfelves might be fupplied with their propor- tion at four or five at the moft. .'. If I poffcfs Property, I can borrow (upon it),;,^ ought to be liable to pay towards its defence, and '^ need not employ Minifters to borrow for nie. If" I have none, they ought to have no demand, ex- ^ cepting that perfonal fervicc i owe the Commu- nity in which I ftand as an individual, and to defend which, upon an equitable call, both tich'} and poor ought to be, and are liable. % In endeavouring to obviate difficulties in rai- - fing money, 1 have it in view to alter the mode in fuch a manner as to afFeft the People of For-|.j tune cnly. They only have, or had, any views in^* reducing America to fubmifllon : The Manu*r.^ fadurer, the Mechanic^ and the Huibandman,*-:^ entertained no hopes of bettering his condition •^> by fuccefs in this hopelefs mcafure. ' [ Why then should they feel the iffecTK^' BUT FOR A MOMENT ? — They all to a man would wiih to fee the Americans on a level with them- •' felves i and this is all the Americans have de- fined. Had wc but a little while ago adopted this mode of expreflion, or were we now unre-' f fcrvedly zndheariily to fay, " We all agree to ad-',^ " mit, that America fhall be put upon a perfect ^^^ '* level with Gr^^at- Britain j we will confine our- ' " felves to this in future negociations as the frjt V ■ i (• principle fp 'J} ( 23 ) •* principle^ and we invite them to accede to the •' propofal of a Union^ with fincere affurance of " meeting them haU-way ; we will withdraw our '* troops, and ceafe hoftilities by fea and land, upon ** their folemn promifc of aflbciating upon terms •* of equality j" — we Ihould then lee the whole Country, upon a principle of felf-intereft, de- ferring thofe Leaders who flood out for a Separa- tion, or adhered to the Alliance with France; as it requires no pains to fhew them, how much more advantageous it would be to make apart of the Britifh Dominions to be refpeftable as Members, of this Empire, than divided into dif- tinft Provinces, without a mediating power (fuch as would be the King's) to reconcile and adjuft differences, that would otherwife fublift between them *, and an executive power to enforce the Laws, and condwdb the defence of the whole againft any Power difpofed to interrupt its har- mony. I indulge myfeif with the thought of feeing matters come to an iffue in a manner fome* thing like the following : • , ^ . ~ . . > PROPOSALS /row G. B. to agree to a UNION. TO begin by offering a cefTation of arms, provided the American Congrefs will renounce their Alliance with France, and appoint Deputies to meet Commiflioners appointed by Parliament : the inflruftions on each fide to be. That they en- ter upon the bufinefs of accommodation upon an equal footing, and have regard t© the unity of the Empire, under his Majefly, his heirs, and fuccefTors. The contefl having hitherto been for the rights of the Britifh Parliament, his right of governing the whole upon Revolution Prin- ciples has never come into difpute, and confe- ^ qucntly % I ;|: I III m llM.li l: i! ''!• •quently tjot to become a matter of debate'. Tlie iafierppficion of Govtrnmtnt during the ad- iwftnacnt of difFeiences bctwcien the Reprelenta- (tives of eacji Country^ n» be avoided : and in •wrhaitever way they fetiltithfc mode of councdtion, -to have, the iandtion of the King's approisation. It will be€me a matter of deliberation, whether -the Americans Ihall he repreiented in our Parlia- ment or no I and they will nacuraily demand to ihareinhoinoms and tmnoiumcmts, granting their own money, &c. &c. which our Comimifiloners muft be inilru6ted to accede to -, and thus dif* putes mi^ht terminate in a fc^id and lafting union. But if it had only the effed of detachiing tihe Americans from the AUiance with Franoe, Aod they were no way connedked with us hat by SL conapaA to vtnLte our intereils, and counter- ibalafkce tJhat t^f the Houfe of fiourbcm, that ter- mination woaM eniiire us their trade, and bring the oinoiO: folid advantages, without the necciffity of entering into a.l the difputes which will fear ever be arifing between them and their neigh- bours, and which has already occafioned fo great a part of our National Debt. , ,..^**i;r ^ - v,^- - This we fliould be neceffitated to do, if they w^e united with us under one head. In the other cafe, they could never cxpe<5b us to make a ' common caufe with them, without their infuriug $^ USjSin indcmniiacati^p, ^:-fTi"-i:^.i.>'nOV:-fi Hoqr; -Mti'^r LETTER' i^?-fii>D i:..u, t^iii ^.iU' .^,'ii (?^^«- ( »5 ) LETTER IX. ,J- ■ V '' Jung i6, 1779: HAVING lately perufed the Gazette contain- ing the Abftrad of the A61 of Parliament to prevent migration, I am now convinced there is but too much reafon to prefume that the evil I dreaded (and fpoke of in my former Letters) has begun to take place : It was, however, perhaps impolitic to publifh the Reftraining Laws at this time, as it may operate to a contrary effed than is intended ; for it may too plainly fhew that there is really better encouragement given by other Nations, and that our Manufacturers are actually migrating in confequence. This, among other things, may fliew us that we are declining very rapidly j and that it will be every day mocp and more plain, that we arc unequal to contend with France and America united. To adopt feme plan whereby the fup- plies can be railed without cramping our Ma- nufadures, and to break that yet unnatural connexion now exifl: ng between our eftranged Brethren and their very lately avowed foes, are the only means that can fave us from ruin. To effedl the fonner, 1 have ventured to point out a means of taxing all property in its annual pro- ceeds^ by receipt for rent, intereft, an*d annuities of every kind being upon (lamped paper, of a value proportioned to the amount, together with a fmall contribution to be made by the Stock- holders cf themfehes, by their Committee, pro- perly empowered by Parliament. The ncxc confideration is the detaching Ame- rica from France, at any rate ; although the F, con- 'f« , t 26 ) conccflions on our part be Independency in its fulleft extent. People's minds being now pre- pared for that event, it might, I truly believe, be fafely adopted ; and the obvious confequences are, that it would operate to revive our connec- tion by alliance the moft powerful, that of our mutual interefts, and Trade might yti recover its former channel. To maintam our own Inde- pendency, it feems now abfolutely neceflary we ihould acknowledge America fo. Let us then no longer purfue the phantom of National fu- pericrity over them ; othcrwife, as our powers decline, our Enemies will encreafe ; our manu- fadtvires will drop for want of a market ; the people will migrate to where they can be cm- ployed in their fcveral trades j and ruin will overtake us, as the natural effe^ of not fooner attending to the evident confequences of our unattainable purfuits. J ... - J X'.i'.iW., LETTER .: ,- I C »7 )■ LETTER X. .[/ ;i d 1 \ I .; {The following appeared about this time in the l«nJ»» £'Vining-Poft,'\ JV/*/ CREDITORS of the PUBLIC, r '~y. Hi. Natives ai^ Foreicn£?s. 'VT'ptJ are Proprietors of above one htmdred Y ,and fifty milllbhs, fecuredt^yl aw Yrorri ^llTaxes which. haVc 'been laid, 6r ffiaH be laid, upon cVery other fpecits of ^rppeVty, but fub* jcft to pore ifudden and greater Ipfles from the' national diftreffes,'''^h5n any other defcr^ptton of men. The fall of two or three per .cent, is the common cfifeft of'ciufcs which operate no where tlfe. A vbluntary Aibfdription of one per cent,' may how fave you from total ruin. Follow ^he wife and glorioyfly-fpirited example of the Eaft-India Company •, and for this purpofc, let each clafs of Creditors be affembled by pub- lie advertifements. iu.tom, .,••; ■,« .3^AN OLD proprietor: ■K;) li;->,\. f, t<- .:":::..;0;r: ' '. •■ to .'-.if;..- --^ '.■■. >:;-;•■• ; .;. Ji 2 t LETTER Pi (i ( J« ) 111 :;! 'Hi .nil ,11'") ■m M r! "t /■ / • » ■ »-«-^ / ■% LETTER XI. **'..*. /) • \- ■-^■Jl-.W.A THE London Evening' Peft hiring zn ar- ticle (under the fignacure Jn Old, Pro- prjetor) that contains the fame propofal as mine ic- a contribution from the Stockholders, I think it proper to fay, that I neither know the Author of that article, nor of the Pamphlet publifhed by MefT. Villy y and am on that ac- count the more embold ped to exprefs a >yiih, i(while the happy union of fentiment continues' to appear among all ranks and defcriptipns of men towards the (Irengthening the halids of Government), that fomc Monied Men wpulel ilep forth and declare their willingnefs to adopt fome fuch meafure as we recommend. The fenfe of the Stockholders might be eafily enough obtained, upon the queftion for or againft the appointment of a Committee, by the queftion being publiihed in all the Papers in a clear dif- tinft manner j and the anfwer, Tes or No, to ap- pear upon the receipt for the next half-year's Di- vidend. To prevent any evil imprefTion which may operate to the prejudice of what I propofe, I declare I am perfedly independent, and am of too little confideration to add a fcruple in the ba- lance of Party : Yet I am not without hope that my feeble e0brts may open a way to the difco- very ( ^9 X very of National rcfourccs, and tend to conciliate the minds of Britifh Subjcfts on each fide of the Atlantic. P. S. Previous to the taking the fenfe of the Proprietors by a majority of votes, it might be neccffary for the Parliament to veft a ccUain power in fuch a Majority fo obtained. i^ZJZlJiij 1 .. A ••n yjyZi 1:^7!^ ,;i;zi,-vi^jniinn r>Ai.t/i OJ h?^tiua.> ;": lid Hi A' 31 .'.. ' -Hi ( . K-1 LETTER (r> Jtily 13, 1779. HAD it been the policy of the State to have covenanted with the Creditors of Govern- ment, that they (hould be liable to Taxation in a degree proportioned to the Land-Tax •, fixing that for every (hilling in the pound paid by the Land, fo much would be expected from the Stocks, and at the fame time {0 much from Money lent on Mortgage, and the Land to be eafed in proportion to what it was mortgaged for ; in that cafe, while the balance of Trade with Foreigners was in our favour, and in a war we did not emit more money out of the Kingdom than that balance amounted to (and which I prefume in a naval war need not be the cafe, although carried to the utmoft extent), whatever money was in fuch cafe demanded for national purpofes would continually circulate, would ftill be within the Nation, and would only change hands : but iofwhofe-foevcr hands it was, if ' 1*1 1 "ml 1 ']'' m If It was employed, it would ilill be contributing towards the expences of that Government which protedled it, and our refources would have been infinite. The contrary, however, is the cafe j and, the Parliament not having taken the precaution mentioned, whatever is lent to Government is- undcrftood to be free from impofitions by Parlia- ment j and if ever it comes to be otherwife, it will be faid we have violated our faith with the prefcnt Creditors. The Government having thenlnconfiderately omitted to make fuch a Covenant, and matteri being now drawn to that period (in Taxation), beyond which we muft not dare to pr6ceed much further, we fhall therefore foon have to ftate to our Crecjitors the danger their Property is in of being entirely extinguifhed, except they agree to give their afliftance : and this 1 think may be very fairly proved ; and if fo, the motive of ielf-intereft and (i'ecurity will have fufficienc wejght to produce the efifeft I have laboured to recommend. j In my laft I faid, a queftion might be ftatcd ta the Government Creditors, defiring they would^ at the time of receiving their next Dividend, fignify their alfcnt or dilTent to a Committee of their own body, to ad in certain cafes for the whole i-^ihe firit objcd of which would be to fiall upon the means of difcovering and bringing to juftice the authors of falfe rumours, and dei tecting the other arts of thofe Balilifks who fiifcinate the underftandings of the uninformed Stockholders, and feize upon their Property as their prey. The ftcond great purpofe the Com- mittee might be ufeful in would be, that of con- ciliating the minds of their Brethren, in cafe of any '■^4 ( 31 ) .1^ any difaftrous event really happening. In that cafe, they might be ready to give luch advice as the circumicances might require, and by ad- miniftcring a timely aid to Government, might really fecure their whole Property from bemg exiinguiihed and loft. To acquire fufficient grounds to a6b upon in bringing this matter to a bearing i with the ut» mod diffidencr; and mod hearty defire to be aflfifted, or P.t right, if I am proceeding in a wrong couMe, I beg leave to offer it as my opinion, that a queftion of the following import je printed on a leparate paper, and produced to each Proprietor, or their Attorney, Adminiflra. tor. Executor, or Aflignee, at the time of their figning their Receipt for their Dividend, to which Paper I would have the Clerks defire every perfon would, according to the powers they might be furnifhed with (either as Proprietor or Truftce, &c.) give aflcnt ordiflent, or fignify his acguiefcence in the determination obtained by a Majority of thofe that gave their fuffrage, Suppofe it to run thus : " I /i. B. Proprietor of (or Attorney, Aflignee, *• Kxecuror, or Admin ill rator of B. C. Proprie-v tor of (blank to be filled up with fum, &c.) do hereby fignify (blank for ajfent, dijfenf, or acquiefcence in the opinion of a Majority wbofe fuffrage Jhall appear) on the queftion. Whether a Committee of Proprietors may, or ought to •' aflTcmble themfelves for the purpofe of watch- ** ing, protecting, and fupporting the general ** intcreftof all Government Creditors; and who, ** by furnifhing themfelves with the beft and ** earlieft intelligence, may be able to allay unj !' ^rovinded tears^ as well as propofe expedients "in <( cc 4f »( ;' » ^ One great defign of this Committee being to furniih the Proprietors at large with their advice and afliftance, until fuch appointment takes place, I beg leave to ftate to the inferior order, that their Property in the Funds is in the fituation of goods in a (hip at fea j and I recom- mend it to them . to a6t by the VeiTel of the State, as prudent Merchants do in calts of rilk. They do not fell their Property at a reduced value, taking 6ol. for lool. but by infuring it, thfy reduce their rifle, andfo fleep in quiet. In fuch a light we muft look upon any contribution to Government. — But to make the matter ftill more familiar, fuppofe a fire to break out next door to a houfd that cc^tained the value of lOol. of your Property, would you hefitate to offer twelve Ihiliings to fuch perfons as undertook to aflift in preventing the danger? or would you rather accept of a Turn much under the value of your goodsj^or another pcrfon to ftand to the rific ,^-The Ix- le rrs Ih- rir ic- of )n, )UC i» ■ { 33 ) contributing one per cent, of the three per cent. Stock, is only giving what is now woi^h' twelve (hillings, and that pays you only y'jd. in- tcreft per annum ^ yet will furnifh to Govern- ment a million and a half, and will, by removing the apprehenHons of a total lofn, raife your Pro- perty in all likelihood many pounds per cent, efpecially if by fuch contribution, and others proportionable to be got from Property in gene- ral, the Supplies come to be raifed within the year. But to elucidate further ^hat I have faid of contributions to Government, let us fay; ^ ' « - .//, reprcfents the Landed Property. J?, the Mercantile Body, whofe profits arife from the Balance of Trade with other Nations. C, the Men who have ready Money. ' D, the Creditors of Government, whofe Pro- perty is merely ideal, and which is more or lefs valuable according to the (lability of the prtfent Syltem of Freedom and Independence In c.ife of a conqueft of this Country, his proptity vanilhcs i and if^ the Balance of Trade becomes againd us (through exccflivc Taxation upon the Necc(ra- ries ot Life obliging our Commodities to be higher at Foreign Markets than thofe of other Countries), we ihall not be flHe to perform our, covenants to him. - • - - *. is, you may call the Executive Power, who defends, proteds, and combines the whole. 1 his Ppwtr having called upon A and 5, until it appears that to ^o much further would be de- llrudive of the intercil of Z), as well as of ^; B fays to D, ** We A^ Z?, and £, are mutually ** bound to perform certain covenants entered into wiih you, which we fear we cannot in future fu'ly perform. We muit (late to ycu, that A lays F "he 4C «( J-* , ( 34 ) <* he muft raifc his rents, if E Ihould be obliged •' to call upon him for a further Tax •, ano B lays, •* if his rents are raifed, or his workmen's wages ** enceafed, he cannot find a Market ihat will *' take off his commodities at a price that will " allow it -, in which cafe, the fourcefrom whence * ' both A and B derive their power of performing •' their covenants will be dried up : we therefore " recommend it to you to remi. to us a fmall part *' of what we owe you. C is ready to furnifh the " money if you will affign prt of the debt to him, " and we will oblige him to contribute from the " money he has, or may lend upon mortgage ; in " which cafe your property will be fccurc," ,^«, t.f.k..f' -A-tv-i'V-* ■\ri,'^it , -Auj ftsOli . [1 he Author fent a Copy of the abov? Letter under cover Lord Norih, and received from Mr. Brummell, his, Lordftiip's Secretary, a Letter with my Lord^s Thanks for " liis zeal and fpirit, (hewn in his endeavours to be of fer- *• vice to his Country.*' ' /, IvjtJi I u> ft! ^ ^ / «''. . But Mr. B. (ipeaking in his own perfon) fays^ *• The •• difficulties vi obtaining the anfwers which the propcfed ** quelUon nirtkes f.fccfTary from the Proprietors tf Stcci:,' *• and the imjrobahility of their acquiefcence, made h:m *• fear tlie Plan would not meet with the fuccefs which (he : •^ was pleafed to Jay) the principles that diftated it de- *• fefv:s ;" but which objeftions may/ /rri'a/x, be obviated' by the two fjUowing Letters."] - ; " o't-A? ,. . -^?''o'[ i ' '. J.. : X rl-J ',.j '( 35 ) J 'S" L E T T E R XIII. .ilMJt" *)Vji' 01 tf ^'N| rt!^?;'^/ I'sv/oa fnVfiA n'-n f^HEt^E oeing k^ doubt exifting in any Alan^i m nd bat that the rim'i is approaching with kdfty firidpSy when fome other than the ordinary metl^pds muii.be i^dopte4 to raife Supplies, and ,vas property alonq niufi:' eveniually fetl all the hurthen^ no one will fay but. cL it euery '^j.ecics .ought to contribute. The Creditors of the Public epipying a property more intimately con- nc^cd with, and dependent upon, Government than any pclieri undoubtedly confider iLemfclves deeply interefted in its welfare. The fludluatioa in its .^value (af;cording to the pews of the day) fhews ,this to .demonltration : and all of them whom I converle with, are ienfible of the expe- di^.ity oi afljiling Government; but beingo.il/ individuals o\ a nuaieious body, they can- (4 j nothing of themleh cs that will be of much ac- count. Infieed, were jchey, and fuch -is are fodi^f- . pofed, to contrib,ote, it might operate io prevent the whole body coUedively •, and ih-. reforc ihey keep back, hoping for the means of ^^iUiing the fcnie of the majority, and for that majority hav- ing a power veiled- in them to act for the general ^ good. Should, however, no fuch Plan take piace, and Government, from urgent nec' (Tuy, be dn-ven ' to a niurecum|;endious method, which, howevt^r a|arming. is founded upon a principle ot' nationrl { tety — -lluch is :hat Law of the Rhodian;;, by 3, which, in orucr to lighten a Ihip m danger by ,u . . ^2 being ( 36 ,) ■V; fU'J] being a-ground, the crew might unhurthen her of any man's proper tyy and the lofs to be made up by the whole)— the prppof(jd benefit might fandlify almofl: any meafure it fhould adopt, as a Nation ftill has power within itfelf to fave itfelf. It therefore appears prudent ^ reafcnable^ and juft^ that the Pofleflbrs of all kinds of Property con- tribute equally, liberally, and impartially. The Parliament's power extending over all Property except the Funds, will regulate i"elpec- ting the contributions from Land and' Monfy in circulation -, but there is a line beybrid'whi\:h if they proceed, it will afFed that fetuHty'wHi^'h the Stockholders have for the paymerft of 'their intereft, ivhicb entirely depends upon commercti'and how near we are arrived at that Ifne, the declirle ' of the duties arifmg from many of the Mortgaged Taxes, the numerous Bankruptcies, aiid want of confidence in perfonal fecuriti^s, to6 plainly IheWS w * .iiiTit*! :.?» ,«r»^iy* •yh ■'VnO'i i "RiOftv/ "" The Public Creditors viewing their fecUrity fo circumftanced, and finding their inrercfis fo clofely combined with thofe of the State, un- doubtedly con fider that they would be the great- eft lofers by allowing things to come to'exrrienli- ♦"V; for as the NecelTaries of Life muft feel whkt is impofcd on the Land, and Manufadurcs will feel it next ; and as Commef-ce, when overbur- thencd, muft hnguifti, and finally become ex- tinfr, foofcourlethe Revenues muft fail. Then from wbatfource will the Stockholders derive their Intereft ? , ^ ;■,.;; , The great Mr. LockefwHols acknowledged to have beeen one of the firft Men this Country ever produced, and who was eminent for his profound reafoning), freaks as follows againft taxmg <( ''37 ) 44 (( >*( 44 44 44 44 f* taxing commodities, which wiil hold cqualFy againit taxing the Storks (as far as concerns thofe who refide in this Countryi and have a pro- perty in them) : " A Tax (fays he) on Land feems hard to the LandhoKier,. bccaufe it is vifib^y fo much money out of his pocker, and therefore he is always forward to eafchimfelf by laying it on commodities -, but he buys his fecming eafe at a dear i*ate : tor though he pays not this T&x immediately, ytt he will find a proportion- able deficiency in his purfe at the year's end, by the encrcafcd price of the commodities ' rhich are neceffary to Life." r^ But what be hasfaid isjhort of tiie truth ; for as no Tax was ever yet laid on by Government, that the Dealer in that commodity did novmore than pay himfelt by imponnon on the Confumer ; to prevent a repetition of fuch gUr ng and open frauds committed by the Venders of taxable ar- ticles, let Properly be in future obliged to furnifli the fum vaited ini the dir eci eft manner pqffible. Let us feel all that m.ay hcreatter be demanded in our riiccipts^ not in our expenditures. Your Man ufii ('lures may then be kept on the prefent footii f> .'iid the Balance of Trade (while [he opciac . r.> V f the war are kept within the bounds which oti inrerefts ought to prcfcribe to us) may preponderate againft what goes out tor hire of foregn troops, and warlike llores, fubfidies. I now remind your Readers, I have propofed a contribution from Stockholders to be impoled by ;. Committee of the';r own Body, which 1 am fure n-.iv be made good to them by the credit the Funds M.^ii 1'. n ( 38 ) Funds will acquire from a Tax at the fame time being laid upon money lent on mortgagr, and the certainty of fupplics equal to the exigencies. And as the Land ought to be eafed of a part of the Lahd-Tax proportioned to the incumbrances upon it by Mortgage, Jointures, Annuities, &c. 1 would propofe a Imall Tax by the means of all receipts for annual proceeds being upon fiamped paper, of a value proportioned ro the amount. If the evafion be ma'^e highly penal, we (hall footi find what the Land-Tax, ei^ . '» ''flcflcdj would raife ; and which (with due cv xrationof the fcveral circumllanccs attending tne prefcnt Pof- feflbrs) may be fo qualifif d, as to be eftablifhe'd without prejudice to any one, either that hold by defcent or purchafe. Whatever money may be raifed upon the credit of the above, let a condi- tion with the Lender be annexed, that in cafe of other Property being obliged to undergo a further Tax, then a proportionable contribution will be cxpcded from the new Funds. Thus w 11 all Piopeity contribute, and in a war of re afonable extent, only ch.nge hands amongft our/elves, P. S. The Author requeits his Rtracers will attentively confider iiis firil Letter (Dec. 17.)' to Lord North, and thatof 7«3' ^^^ '3'^^ > ^'"•^ ^^ch of t::emas aic Stockholders, arc again dtlired to refled, that a Committee of thiir body having conhncd powers beyond which they could not go, would be SL check upon, as v\ellas a fupport to. Government. Such check in txtremities might prevent a Minifter irom violent a^s \ and the times having made a large regular Army and numerous Militia ntccfiary, fhoula the burthen upon »>- .* (.39 y upon the Subjefl become inlderahle, the latter being compofed of Landholders, and the former at the devotion of the Executive Power, may be brought to fupport fuch meafures as would ex- tinguiih their property entirely. .) This argument will have due weight with Fo- reigners, as well as Refidents, and is comprized in thcfe few words — iJeceJfity may put a period to all compass *, — and fuch neceflity need not to exift, if you will yourfelves confult y^ur true inteeft, and afllft ttiat Government which has and will (while it is able) keep its faith inviolable. And -let it not be fuppofed, that if a majority within the Kingdom agree to this meafure, that fuch as are out of it will be able to counteradt their reio- ' lutiuns. Raifing the iupplies within the year would lav heavy upon Property at the time ; but if it ever can be brought about, it will have the molt permanent advantages, and would fo raife the Stocks f by clofing that Market the Government opens every year it is obliged to borrow),as to re- pay the Stockholders, were they even to agree to go hand in hand by contribution with the Tax upon Land, and what may be laid upon money upon mortgage. No apprehenfions would then remain oi Naiional Banhuptcy\ — the Funds would be as fafe as I'roperty in Land ; — Supplies would be fure and adequate^ and a combination of interefts would operate lb powerfully, as todifiipatc every idea of becoming a conquered Nation. For being populous and unitcu, and having all that is neceffary to our defence within the power of pure hale from the Balance of Trade, and having a natural barrier that will be a fure defence, while we are true to ourfelves — what h^ve we to fear? , . ... ., •-fi.: It ■ Ifil. iri ( 40 ) It'may be proper here to remark, that no one has yet undertook publicly to difapprove the Plans hinted at, excepting the Pcrfon wholigns Hotiejk Enguirer^nnd who will appear 10 have not attended ' to the principle of equity upon which the Author wifhes the propofed contributions or Taxes to take cfFcft. < „ ' j.:--ri *Vi 1:1 u'-ffl /i'K'f fbol ijfiii"^ fxViM^^i^)-* \\h lir: L E T ,T ,Ji. |l July sJ\ 1779''* WITH the btlt arguments and molt for- cible language I could ufe, I have laboure to convince the People of Fortune refpedting th expediency of liberal and equal contributions to- wards the fupport of Government, to be given in proportion to men's property, not excepting mo- ney upon national fecurities j by which (if ever the jupplies come to be raifed within the year) the Funds will mod; affuredly keep up to a propor- tional value with every other property ; whereas, fliould Government be necefljtated to borrow, it w:ll have the fame effedt as over-ftocking any market with any other commodity. The conic, quences which invarial/'y follow, ntcd not to . be pointed out to a Commercial People 5 efpc- cially if they will confider the funded property as being the more perijhable the more it is enc^ealed. So far as we have gone, we i&^i'f continued to find a. means of p«*ying intereft of money borrowed; but for the lake of ihe property already funded, it would be well if no further experimems were trxd as to how much further we can go. The • n con* t 41 ) conftef nation which fuch a declaration would oc- cafion, as that the Taxes fell Jhort of the fum wanted to pay the Intereji^ and that Government dared not ro proceed fun her in taxing, for fear of encreajing the burdrfi upon CoymnC'-ce^ can hardly be imagine'^ But if added to this, you were really labouring under the complicated diftref^ of a fo- reign enemy in your Country, and an cxhaufted Treafur/, oi what value thtrn would that ideal property be, which has nothing for its fecurity but the exiftence of the prcl'mt eftablifhed Go- vernment ? To avert fuch confequcnces, let a Committee of Stockholders be formed, and de- liberate for the general welfare. If they offer affiftance upon condition the Supplies are in fu- ture raifed within the year, they will thereby prevent the Stocks from finking, in confequence of what muji otherwife come to market every year while the war continues, and which may fink the value of their property gradually, fo as to become at length aszvortMe/s as Americt?n Paper -, and rhat without any great difafter, luch as the fufF.-iing a fignal defeat at fea, and an invading army being upon our coafts ; tor the foundnefs of which dodtrine I need only to appeal to the underlland- ings of the Icaft enlightened pan of the Com- rr. unity. i.r: ■■.'1.. a t E T r E R ( 42 ) 'irr 1 f 4 LETTER XV. H,>'i'l Juguft 7, 1779. THE prefent application for a fupply to- wards the Fund tor propagating Cnriftian Knowledge, fcems "very ill-timed. This Coun- try, groaning under a burden of debt^ one- half of which was brought on by an ill-judged tx* tevfton cf the luji war beyond the original obje£f, •and by impolitically draining our Country of men and money 10 promote anextenfion of Ame- rican dominion ; by nourllhing the Colonies, and, removing the enemy from annoying them ; is now plunged into a warmxh the mojt formidable Powers in Europe^ and exhaufiing her f elf to recover (de- luded Countrymen !) only the Shadow cf Domi- nion ; for no other would it be, if we had but that kind of connedion with the Americans which chey were invited into by our CommiHTioners. Let us admit them to participate of all the pri- vileges of Britons, or leave them feparate and in- dependent i either way we Ihould benefit by them (as they will never adhere to regulations which they either have, or mayenter into with any Nation that will cramp their commerce) j but never think of reducing them to a People fubordinate to another People. They have fought to free thcmfclves froin that degradation \ and are too numerous and too diftant, and are become formidable beyond what they themfelves could have ima- gined, and never may be reduced to be un- der the controul of any European Power. — Let us then endeavour to regain them as Al- lied ( 43 ) lies, or invite them to aflTociate for mutual de- fence upon terms of equality. They have (fmce they were in arms) prayed to be confidercd as Subjeds of the fame King : this they may not now choofe. But leave them to themfclvcs, they will foon find it their intereft to quit their new allies, and prevent the Omnipotence of the Hc-ufe of Bourbon. L^avc them to propagate the Go/pel in their own Wfly\ they will do it as efFeftually as with the aid of our Hierarchical Powers. No longer fuf- fer our coin to be drained out of this Country for the purpofe of paying and fupportingan army in America ; it never will return in any (hape ; and poor as you may think them, they among them who get hold of money, never will quit it while the civil war exifts in the heart of their Country. They hide it as faft as it comes to them, and do all the bufinefs of traffic through the medium of their paper : fo that when Peace returns, you will find your/elves exhaujled of^ and they will be enriched in^ fpecie. Not but that their Country fufFcrs in the extreme ; and not all they will have hoarded will make up for the devaftation of war. This, however, a very few years will reftore \ and from numerous co-ope- rating caufes they muji become a great People, Chei i(h, then, the idea of a combination of Interefis, Related in blood, fpeaking the fame language, of the fame religion, and having the fame value for Liberty, many of them bred in your fchools, wearing your manufadlures, and having only fought to be as free asyourfelves^ allow them to be fo •, they will again cordially embrace you, adopt your quarrtls, and unite their efforts to yours to ftop the progrel's q( -perfidious Fra.ice and Spain ; G a they '•K ( 44 ) they will not ajiji them to crujh the Parent-Siate^ which, however it may hive inconfidcrately aded, never meant to reduce them bdow their former fitnation : it only wilhed to confider America ftill in its Nonage, when it was really arrived at Maturity. And confidcring the fupport and af- fiftancf which America has always had from Grt^at-Britain, and that their own future welfare depends upon our Independence y\x. is nothing but rea- fonabic to fuppofcjthat the People would readily come into fo politic a propofal as that of Unity under cne Head for defence and offence^ but caih People diltind as far as concerns thaw fepar ate in- tcrclb. It is this Parli.-^ment that has iupported the late mealures which offend them : call a nsw cne ; their Congrefs and our new Parliament may more readily fliake hands, Recal your troops for hoir.e defence ; leave the reft to the benign ':ftIon unanlwerable. While the National Debt was within moderate bounds, people never thought of the mifchief an cxtenfion oF it might occafion, as they ftill expected a time would come wlien it would be p.iid. Now, no luch idea policllts any one ; an4 bccaufe the difficulties of borrowing increafe every day, we tear to do any thing that may add to them J and luch it m.-y appc^s -^xx. firji fighty would be the tnc(^t of tuliing for aifiiuince from the pr but would have for its Advocates xht whole of the People that are not concerned in the Stocks, and all that are concerned who fee its equity, and the general fafety that would arife fron it \ and the lum that It would produce might be always pro- protioned to the wants of the State, and nothing like Bankruptcy cculd hapjen^ All vould con- tribute to defend all. LETTER ( 49 ) LETTER XVII. HE principal objedtions to an ^qual Land- Tax are (it is prcfumed), that the prcfent imanner of aflcfTing the Land has btcn fo long in ule, every Li>ndho)der conliders his Eftate more Or lefs valuable .ccording to its being lefs or tnore rated to the Tax -, anJ having ever formed the fame opinion, they have ordered their affairs accordingly. (Nay, m cale of a proportionable equal Land- Tax, fome who have great incum- brances upon their Eftates, eitl\er created by themfelves or their predeccflb'rs, might be fo afFeded as to have their whole Property fwal- iowcd up with payment of Intereft, Annuities, Dowero, Sec.) And thofc that have purchafed lately will complain, that depending upon their Land being never liable beyond the former rate, they had paid much too dear for their Property, as they find the i'ax is now to be leviec^ accord- ii.^ to the Rack P..ent. In anfwer to this it may be a(ked, Whether they have not always had feme apprehejifons that this would be the cafe at fome time or other f And they may likewile be alked. Whether they had the lead doubt of its being adopted, Ihouid ever a greater demand be made from the Land than what it now amounts to ? Whatever they anfwer, I will prcfume they do really think it but reafonahky that all people Ihould pay in future every further demand in thft proportion to which they are pofleffed of Pro- perty. They will allow we have iiCherto pur- H fucd (if' l^; ( 50 ) fued a "iVrong Plan^ in taxing Land ; but pro- vided we allow them 10 pay in the prefent man- ner up to four (hillings in the pound, they I'urcly will not think it wrong that Government, requiring a ft ill further Supply, looks for a due proportion between the Income and Tax in all they may now think it needful to require. To explain myfelf, let us fuppofe A has a Property of looj. per ann. at this time. Being rated at the full z^alue, he pays 20 1. per annum, B has likeAife icol. per annum. He is rated at 50 1. -dnd only pays lol. As yf can afford to fpend only Sol. per ann. and B can afford to fpend 90 1. and as neither ever expelled a higher Tax, why not then in all futuic additional Taxes upon Land, confider A as worth Sol. per ann. and B as worth 90I. and require them to pay accordingly, and not unjujily continue to load A with doubie what you require of 5? "'■ .•:v- ' ■ ■'■'-: r^'"' ■ • '^'^i «:••■■■'■ ■ Let us then fuppofe Government requires a fum ^hve the four (hillings in the pound, may it not be equally alTefted by a Tax upon Receipts for annual Proceeds ? Thus, A^s Tenant brings his Rtnt, which, when the prefent Land-Tax is dtduded, amounts to 80 1. Say that 6d. in the pound is required, let then the Tenant require the Receipt to be given upon a Paper which his Landlord (liall produce with a Forty-fhilling Stamp taken out from the appointed Office, and B's Tenant requires ' Receipt upon a forty-five Siullings Stamp, as hiS Rent, deducing Land- Tax, is 90 1. per annum. By this means, the prefent 'taxes are levied in tne old manner, but all additional Taxes will be equally levied •, where- as, were you to go on in the old manner, A*i Property ( 5« ) Property would be annihtlated^ when B might retain a confiderable income. At the fame time that the above or fomc fuch Plan was to take place, if Money lent upon Mortgage was taxed in the annual proceeds, and the Land propor- tionably relieved by the Mortgagee being obliged to remit to the Mortgager a fum pro- portionable to the fum lent and to the LanJ- Tux, the L.mdhohiers in general would be eajcd of- a heavy Burthen, and Land, as well as Stocks, would rife in value: for prople would be lefs fond of placing their Money out on Mortgage, and of courfe there would be more Buyers of Stock and Land, And this is what might be propofed to the Stockholders, as an inducement to contribute towards the nec-fTities of the State, and the railing the Supplies within the Year. For every thing that contributes to ftrengthen the hands of Government, to take away the necejftty of further Borrowing avd Fund- ing, and to burthen other Property, will un- doubtedly give confidence and fecurity in, and confequently add value proportionably to, the ptefent Funded Property. In doing all that I have recommended, no one's real poffeflions need to be expofed to the knowledge of the Public any more thjn ai p:e- fent. The Public need fear no evafion, as the Tenant will take care his Receipt is upo.i a Stamp of a proper value, oth(::rwife it will noL be valid j and coUufion will not be likely, as it mny be made unfafe for the Landlord as well as Tenant. All certain annual Incomes may be affetted by this in a degree, according to the amount ; and none need fear it will operate to their hurt, as the times muft firft be fuch as to make a new Tax H 2 neceflary, m ( 5» ) neccfTary -, and if fo, it cannot be levied toq equally, nor too fimply affed Property : for if s^ Tax is laid upon articles of Luxury, it will pro- mote the fmuggling of Foreign Commodities ^ and if upon the NecelTarics of Life, Property wilj (as I have repeatedly faid) have a Fender* s Tax as well as one by Government, and an additional amount to pay Receivers, &c. If I am obliged tp payoff an incumbrance upon my Eftate, is ic not better to meet my Creditor myfelf, than tp pay it with the addition of poundage, attendance^ coach-Lire, &c. &c. to an Agent to do the bufi- nefs for me ? / fpeak plain language, with an honejl intention^ and hope I Jhall be underftood, as my motive is ta promote national fecurity by means of Taxes th$ leaft opprejfive. m LETTER I, .1 ( 53 ) 9 0- Ind ill as tQ ic to ce^ lufi. LETTER XVIII. Juguft 19, 1779. IA M glad to find People begin with me to think there is a neceffity for great exertions towards raifing the Supplies within the year, and oLfervc with pleafure that a Correfpondcnt of yours has recommended a principal part of my Plan *. He fuperadds 3. Plan of burthening people according to their rank ; which as Rank itfelfif a TV?jtf, when fuitably filled, would be par- ticularly oppreflTive, efpecially upon men in a military lincj tlie pay being not more than equal to the fupport of the individual, without any re- gard to their having families. Thofe indeed in high flations, on half -pay (many of whom have no claim from fervice), ought to be made to con- tribute largely ; and all ftnecure places, no lefs than half of their amount. But any Tax thac would affcd commerce in the fmalleft degree ought to be avoided, as it would prevent the in- flux of wealth. Every meafure that drains the Country of fpecie ought to be dropt. The American eontejl has had that eff^ed: in a high de- gree. Let us ftop the emifllon of money upon that account. I will not take upon me to fay whether we have been wrong or right. The meafures we ought now to adopt ought to have the regaining the friendjbip of America at any rate as their chief obje5l. America will, mujl fee herfecurity depends upon her making a common *^See Whitehall Evening-Poft, Aug. 1 2, 1779. caufe ''\m ( 54 ) caiife with us ; and if we are timely in oiir of- fers, will fecure to us the Weft-India Illands : whereas, if we wait till they are gone, adieu to Commerce ! — adieu io Funded Properly ! — America may lofe her independence, and become fubjcft to her arbitrary Allies. We may, after all, con- tinue to be a Nation, but it w;ll be of Soldiers and Hufbandmcn ; ftrong and powerful againft Invaders, but wanting commerce, and of courfe deficient in what is neceflary to a war of offence. We may remain independent and frccj but poor, and funk into an inferior place amongft the Na- tions of Europe, until other Powers becoming rich, luxurious, and effeminate, may in their turns fall, and we again fill the page of Hiftory \^\i\i our Vioiories. '■,.,, . , ; ', .;! ; .1 , I .1, LETTER ( 5B ) LETTER XIX. AugUftl^y 1779. ■ A RETROSPECT into the caufa and ef- feels ot former Wars jince the Rev olution, will bring conviction that even the moft fuccefs- ful have never produced advantages adequate to their coji. Wifdom ought therefore to point out a means of removing i\\QCi''ufe of this and future contells, efpccially as we now have that load of debt which would endanger the life of the Body Politic either to remove, or to b^ allowed to yays be neutral) worth w' at will entail a debc I upon ( 58 ) upon you, to pay the intereft of which would require mere thnn a further two /hillings in the pound upon the land ? But what will you anfwer when you are tcJ I, it is mojllike'y thefc pcflcfllons will be wrejied from you, let you exert yourfclves cvtr fo much ? Is not then every thing in favour of what I propofi-, efpecially when it is extremely doubtful whether after one year wc may hold a fingle Ifland in the Weft Indies ? ..iJi-.^ • • U ' "jli ; A c.\ eit M- 1. •;;!;,'; "?! ■;. HI . ■ ,r', •>.! '• i "> J!- ). <' i *- ' : '.; , (•':■ oi . ;. ;.>; 1 " '•.♦/! V f ■ J.. ", A '/i.-ViU *■>■ u ■ : » ; .Av..-: ■ . t , W \: :. / J ■;/ t ' • ,■'';•V^'M^ ■ 1 LETTER XX. ' Jugujl 26, 1779. IT is prefumedy that all fubjefts of the State owe, firft, their perfonal fervice in its fupport\ next, they owe contribution towards its expences, according to their property ; and even Foreigners ftand in the latter relation to us, let them be of what Nation they will, provided they have pof- felTcd themfelves of any kind of property in this Kingdom or its dependencies. And as this need not be told them, fo when a neceflity exifts of callirg upon them, they will contribute with as much alacrity towards the defence of their pro- perty, as may be confident with their perfonal allegiance clfewhere. "*" " ' ^'^ 1 hey, as well as our Fellow-fubjedbs, may now be told, that although ihey have not hitherto as National Creditors been required to furnilh any ( 59 ) any thing out of their Sto^'- or Dividends, yet the time is. perhaps very near when the equity and expedience of fuch a demand will be made appear. And it may be backed by no lefs a body than til/ the Landhohien^ all the Manufac- turers, all the Hujhandmcn, all the Day-LahourerSy and all men of their own body, who, having duly weighed and confidered the matter in every light, can dillover no reafoii why fo large a part of the National Stock, become the property of Individuals by either mortgage of private pro- perty or of the public revenues, oiiglit net to bear a fhare in the public burthens •, otherwife the time may come when money upon tv^ry fccii" rity will be loft, with i\\(t pldges taken for it. If I pledge my Land or Goods, I have parted with fo much of my property ; he that has re- reived the pledge is r'lerefore interefted in the thing given in pledge, according to the propor- tion the money lenc bears to the value of the whole. Ic is the fan.e with regard to the pledge of apart ot the public revenues to the Creditors of Government. They are as deeply interefted in what concerns their fccurity and \hc'ir ejiciency, as a man is who has lent his money upon an cltate liable to be broke in upon by the Tea breaking down the banks that were raifrd to keep it from being overflowed. -Although no aSlual engagement was entered into iha': the Mortj](age<: Ihould contribute towards keepino; them up, yet in fuch cafe it would be prudent in him to fee they were kept in repair ; and if there appeared an inability in the IMortgager, in that calc it would be expedient to give him afTiftance. The confequences of a contrary condud being I 2 too i^ii J :;..' ( 60 ) too obvious, I need advance no further argu- ments to (hew how dangerous it will be for the Stockholder to truft entirely to the chance of Government being always able to raife fupplies without their afljftance. When the means fail^ and the Enemy, like a torrent, has broke in upon us, it will then be too late ; or, if Government is ne^ tejfttated to take, rather than wait for what may be the confeqitences of delay, they will then repent of their tardinefs to give, as they will not any longer know at what value to eflimate the re* mainder. LETTEIi .1 :i ( 6« ) '■^^ fi» » ER LETTER XXI. September 2J^ '779r IQY (only) continuing the prefent Taxes^ fj and high premiums for Money fupplicd to Government, the Commerce of this Nation, 'without any other caufe, would moft afiurcdly decline —Encreafing the former, and continuing the latter, it \% fearei^ will, ncverthelefs, undergo a further trial, and (with our lofs of America) will hajtm the extin£lion of Trade. It therefore becomes every Man who wiflies well to the Community, without fear or referve^ to warn people of the evil coiifcquences which mull inevitaMy follow from the driving Government to ti'e 'ecejfity of cncreaftng the National Debt, *rhere lives not a fingle perfon who is enlighten- ed with the feebleft ray of rationality^ that doe* not airent to what I advance. The Landholder fees it, and fears (from a defeftion of the prefent Taxes) Government will impofe an additional^ Land-Tax. The Scockholder fears a flop will be put to the receipt of his dividend. The Monied Men fear it ; and, from the fame caufe, dread to inveft their money in either Land or Stock j and oblerving the Bankrupt Lift of Traders, are not willing to venture it on private fecurity. The confequence is, they are allured by the offers Government is obliged to make them, and help forward the ruin of their Country .^ and encreafe their own rijk by accepting douceurs^ which operate to keep up the rate of Intcre^, to increafe the Public Debts, ani ( 62 ) %.:^' ir and at the fame ^c that it creates the ncceflity of Taxes, it helps to dry up that Source from whence Taxes flow. For the Trader cannot get money upon fo eafy terms as formerly, and the feveral articles he confun.es are raiffd in jheir price by additional Taxes •, fo that he mult be content wiih lefs profit, or carry his goods to market with the rifk of meeting goods of the fame quality from other Nations ready to be fold at an «//J,fr-rate. But rather than run fuch a venture, he gives the matter up, difcharges his workmen, and they migrate : and thus the feveral branches of the Stream from whence the National Wealth and the Government Re- sources flow, may be dried up in this Country, but, in the natuic of Springs, break out in fome ctbei', and continue to flow towards the aid of that Government, as they ufed to do towards ours. By the Plans I have in my former Letters pro- ^ofed, no Merdh-nt^ Trade/many or Labctirer, as fuch, will fuffer : the only fufftters (it fuch w^ may call them, who are by contributing a part of their Property fecurirg the remainder will be Men of Fropert)\ Stockholders, Owners of Land and Ready Money ^ all of whom would be fecured from being ruined ; and all their fuffcrings will only amount tp their denying thtmfclvei fomt gratifications in their 7)r(?/} or \\\yv. Vilate^ in feturn for which they will be ejficr ;n ti.eir mind^ and fleep the quieter. Add to which, by my pro- pofals, only thoujands will be affedftcd, but millii ,s and hundreds of ihoufands ^nWX be benefited, and i?// will be prctctlcd. If however the Public Creditors r«;i«(5/ be prevailed upon^ id Govern- ment through tmdernefs towards them fo: bears to urge ^them to contribute, the ccnfecjuences will probably mc ■i.'^*.-j^,- .u ^" ( 63 ) cc (C (C (I C( probably be fatal to their Principal as well as Interttl. Upon a commotion, it is eafy to fee which fide the People will sJiufc. " An enraged *' People^** laid Sir John Barnard on a like occa- fion, *' have leldom any regard to Public Credit *' or Public Faith." And enraged the People certainly will be, if they find that Taxes increafe^ and the means of paying them van'jh. In the words of the lame abk^ honeji Man 1 can fufely fay, " That iny turning my thoughts this way proceeds from a regard to the general fafety-, and that of the Public Creditors in particular, who have the clofeft intfrtft in, and may be fuppofcd to have a regard for, ever) thing that can contribute to the well-being of the prcftnt " Government." Do they not fee that as the Debts of the Pub- lic increafe, the Prices of Stocks Jink ? all which is o»ving to the encreafe of the People's apprehen- fions of a National Bankruptcy. Lending your Money to New Loans creates (to the indivi- dual) an encreafe of annual income; and you are fatisfied, thinking perhaps that will always continue. But let us fuppofe a man polTefled of io,oool. three per cent Saving 6ol. per annum out of h s 300 1. paid him in dividends, he buys another 100 1. S:ock with his 60 1. and adds 3L to his annual income. How is be benefited thereby, if by the Government's neceflity he finds the Stocks fall only one pou.id per cent, (as fall they muft while Government continues to bor- row) } For was he next year to fell his Stock, he would find his io,oool would fell but for 5,900!. (moft probably much lefs) and this year it would have brought 6000 1. he will therefore find he had heifer given Government the 60 1. to prevent )tl I raj 1 i 'i'l;^i' i! '■■iif tt| ( 64 ) Its being obliged to mortgage a new ^ax, thai muft operate to injure the produce of the Taxes already mortgaged to him, to fccure the intcreft of his former 10,000 1. This reaforiing, 1 ami convinced, will be more and more attended to every day. The Stocks muft and will fink iri their value in proportion as the Debt is encreafed, and the Trade decreafcs. New caufes arife every day, treading oa tiie heels of each other, all tending to the wafting away the value of the Funds } and without fonie fucb expedients as [ have pointed out, and they too very fuddenly adopted, we fhall be deprived of the nerves that enable us to contend for our Independency : for the: tide of Commerce will have taken a new direc- tion ; the coin will ebb Dut by means of the pay- ing and fupporting armies in a Country, whofe debts to their new friends will demand all they can procure J and while America is hoftile, our money that goes over there unavoidably circulates only with them. When we have paid for what we want, we may take our leave of the coin : it is either immediately hidden, or returned to France, for implements of offence^ or for other articles of European production. Had we not better then to recal our troops, and leave thofei People to their adopting fuch policy, as moft probably will fuit our intercj^ more than eveti holding ihcm in fubje5iion, and thereby obliging us to 'keep a continual guard, not only againji them, but againft fuch Powers as they may difagree with concerning boundaries or commerce^ Leave them free to trade where they will; and if our manufactures are then in beings here they will ccanCi maugre all their Treaties. It France attempts to entorcc trade, you will then have America ort y6ur fide, LETTER { 65 ) LETTER XXII. Ocfoher 7, 1779. THE Poft-horfe Tax, like all others lately impofed, having, by the accounts given in, fallen Jbort of expedtation, diud great Siipplies being wanted to anfwer the expences even already incurrea-, fhould it be judged expedient to lay a Tax upon Property in the moft direll manner, and for the grofs fum wanted, (which I ^gfiin repeat would prevent the neceflity o^ further iTaxes upon the Necejfarles of Life, and thereby remove the apprehenfion of driving the Manufacturers to take Ihelter under the protedlion of a Govern- ment lefs hurthenfome) a fcale may be fixed fome- thing Wke the following, fubjedt to variations according to circumftances, and to be determined before the Commiflloners of the Land-Tax, viz. ,„ Stockholders paying "voluntarily one per Cent, out of their Capital during the war only, and covenanting that all otiier Property fhall undergo a ftmilar Tax ; that is, one-hundredth part of its full value. Freehold Land valued at twenty- five years purchafe, would, in that cafe, pay five fhiliings , in the pound ; for twenty-five pounds beii.g the value of one pound per annum, five fliillings is the hundredth part of twenty-five pounds, winch ought to be juft: a fourth part of the ret rent above the prejent Taxes. Say that Copyholds are worth twenty years purchafe •," it will be found that four fhiliings in the pound upon the net rent is one hundredth of their value Monty K on ( 66 ) on Mortgage ought to pay one per Cent. Life Annuities, valued at half a Freehold^ or i2v years, ought to pay two fhillings and fixpence in the pound. Sinecures the fame. Church- Livings to be confidered as Life-Eftates, and pay two fliillings and fix pence •, and for alj places where duty is annexed, to be confidered accordingly. * ' • H'*:. »-: In calcs of fines, and private or coUufive agreements, in the firft cafe one-hundredth part ot the fine to go to Government ; in the latter, nothing leO than forfeiture of three iimes the Sum, and diffolution of the Covenants in toto. — The rents and profits might eafily be known by the mode of Receipts upon Stamps, as I have before pointed out. By fome fuch means the whole fum wanted might be raifed within the year ; and to accom- modate thofe who could not fpare fo large a part of their annual income. Government has only to allow its Receivers to take Debenture Notes * from the parties, chargeable upon Specific Pro- pertyy to bear intefcft and be transferable •, by which a new fpecies of Paper would become Current, no way detrimental to the Bank Paper, as the Bank itfelf might buy them in. However, it is fuppofed t ere would be no necefllty for fuch Paper; as people, not having a mai-ker, as ufually opened by Government by means op nezv Leans, would -readily enough accept fuch fecurities as offered in the former way of Mort- gage or Bpnd, By the Plans I have ventured • Uncjueflionably identified, and which might prevent the expence of a perfon mortgaging for the payment of the ( 6; ) to recommend, foreigners would combine with natives in aid and fupport of the Government who they h:lve trufted with their property* There would be no fear that the Landholders would difburtken themfelves violently of the Debt they have contraded by their Ucprefentatives v as they mu ft fee and be convinced^ that their Creditors have afted a judicious, liberal, and prudent part •, firft, in contributing towards their own- fecurity eventually j fecondlv, in co- venanting to give in an equal proportion with other Property ; and laftly, in aflifting to remove the neccflity there would otherwife be of taking the fources from whence their intercft and the Landholders rents muft flow, and which to have encreafed would have rifked their whole Property. I confefs fuch means would foon make the people heartily tired of the prefent conteft for American D5;^mo« i it would contradl our views likewife in all future wars, and make us well weigh the confcquences of engaging in any. We fliould perhaps prefer Security to national Glory, and not be fo likely to be blown up with high notions of our own importance and fupcriority : we fhould, however, be more ftrong internally \ have indeed unconquerable powers againji in- vaders i and coniequently be eafier in our minds, and lefs feared, but, neverthelefs, always refpec- table as a great, independent People. K a LETTER ( 68 ) . LETTER XXIII. ' O^ober 19, 1779. THE Iflands of Great Britain and Ireland, populous, well-cultivated, and indepen- dent, enjoying a mi!d climate, numerous har- bours and navagable rivers, all tending to pro- mote Commerce, and having feveral ftaple com- modities which will be ever in requclt, may always be refpeftable for power and riches, while we hold diftant PoflefTions proportioned to the natural increafe of the People, above which imhcciliiy will attend exten/ion, particularly if thoie feparated parts be extremely remote^ and fo circuniftanced as not to be able to affift each other, or do not, by the trade and confequent increafe of revenue they produce, pay for the expence they occafion : and fuch, perhaps, have been the operating defedls that have occalioned of.r prefent Debt, and our comparative weaknefs at home, while the Nations we now contend with are become Jironger^ and menace no lefs than Gonqucft of a Power very lately their fuperior. Before we had Settlements in America, the Na- tion was able to carry its arms into the heart of France, and that even while Scotland was hoftile, and Ireland did not afford any afliftance. In the infancy of our Colonies, Britain and Ireland were able to fend great armies to the afliftance of tiieir Allies on the Continent of Europe. Till we extended ourfelves heyojid due bounds, and by the laji glorious and fuccefsful zvar, fixed upon ourftlvcs a Debt we lliall never be able faitly to difburthen ( t,9 ) difburthcn ourfelvcs of, wc were great and refpe^abk, and our friendfhip was courted and fought after *.. Upon confidering the reverfc which wc now experience, may we not phifically and fairly conclude, that our acquifttions have not made returns equal to the expencns they brought upon us ? as even before the AmLrican war fo little could be done towards reducing the National Debt; and yet it feemed a meafure fo neccflary, that wc rifked the experiment to relieve our- felves by taxing the Colonies^ the confequences of which no one yet knows the full extent. But we certainly now find the revenues go but a little way towards the annual expenditure ; and what return arc we to expcdl for the further mortgage of cur Property ? ^ . ■ * The more than natural exertiona la railing Supplies lad War, produced the temporary effedl the Conductor of ic wiflied, and raifeJ him to popularity ; but the eftbrts he caufed us to make, had the fame eifedt that ebriety produces in the Natural Hody. Under the firft effedts of Uquor, th« perfon can overcome the powers of men naturally fkonger i but that over, he is left languid and fpiritlefs : whereas uniform and boumied mea/ures in Go'vernmenl , and tempierate and moderate exertions of the bodily powers, always keep^ the conititution of both in vigour. Had we, in the laft war, been merely on the defenitve in America, and not fought after extent of territory, and had we afted ofFenfively at fea only, we m-'ght have carried on the war without en- creafing our Debt, and might have enriched our Country with Commerce and the Spoils of the Enemy, until we had worn-out their patieace. But a war in the i£a(l and Well Indies, Germany, Portugal^ and America, was more than we could have continued to fupport ; and on that account, not- withllanding all our fuccelfes, we aftually fued for peace ;i whereas the defiru^ion of their Naval Force, and the entire laft of their Trade, would have alone compelled them to rclinquiih. their conqueitj, and aik peace of us. • The iif ":3if, ( 70 ) The Houfe of Bourbon, that was reduced fd low by the laft war, has been rj/iftg during the peace, although (he had been hreft 0/ fctnd yStfurican territory j a circumftance worthy our particular attention, and which may ferve to con- firm what had been often faid of Canada, that it was a perpetual drain upon France j and which may make us not over-fond of trying to do mort than detach America from her new friends ; and not only acknowledge her Independence, but maintain it, by entering into Treaties of Alliance, which might fecure to us at the Icaft our former I Hands in the Weft- Indies, and an open Trade* Peace would foon bring their fhips to our portsj and difcord would alTuredly take place between people nurtured under the wings 01 2l free Govern* ment and the fubjeds of defpots, as they profefs principles of Religion and Politics diametrically oppofite. With regard to our conduct: towards France and Spain, let us but conciliate the affec* tions of our Sifter- Ifland, and we may fet them at defiance. Our Fleet is ftrong enough to aft by detachment offenjively \ and the Grand Fleet, without putting all to the rifk by a battle with very fuperior numbers only to try their p-cwef, and without a greater ohjeSl, is ftrong enough to make them dread the confequenccs of their (hips of war putting to fea with a Fleet of Tranfports to make a defcent. In fuch cafe, upon a coafi hofiile and well-prepared, the con- fequenccs of an adventurous and bold exertion of our naval force would very probably end in the deftruftion of numbers ot their tranfports, and not unlikely many of their line- of- battle ftiips ; for diforder and confufion would be more likely to cake place among fo great a num- ber ( 7r ) ber as they muft confifl: of, than among a fmaller number, all fitted for offence, and whole Wufinefs it would be to keep conncfled, and daih into the midft of their whole Wkct^ knowing each individual Ihip equal to any one of the enemy. This is not, however, what is likely to happen ; their objedl is of Icffer magnitude, and in which the Powers of Europe will not intereft them- felves. Minorca and Gibraltar fftay faU\ but the confequences, fo far from being hurtful, may be productive of a long feries of peaceful years ^ and a faving to the Nation, without a diminution of our Trade, At this time the rate of Affurance is higher by far than when France had Minorca ; and fo it will always be when we cannot have a Fleet in the Mediterranean ; and even Gibraltar lofcs its v>fc when our Fleet if m,$ Ju^erior, : ^ ;., -i , .; ;.. -/.-•■ u ■■' / '' ,.- ■:.,..: ' 1 1 1 i ( 'U O' ■f:,' >i< •< it ^J;; /' rn ('^< :U v\ /■■ -:f • l^iSTTER ,- 'I. ui!^ >•>' ' 'jt; ';:i : J . ->:hrfi in .7 ;f'j;.:\K- . -.^-^ 1 'H-- i ' T l V 4 ■ ( 7* ) I f kv Jill : . 4i LETTER XXIV. " ^" •:•-'. ,• •. Offchrr 21, lyyg, 1"'C the end that the war fliouW be provided ' for within the year, and not tis heretofore ebt. There are none excepting Agents, Co»» trdclcrs^ Ccmmijfaries, jcivs, and Stock-Brokers^ but v\ hat fpeak and think as I do. Let then the Landholders look to themrelves,and inllrud: their Kepreftntatives ; and let the Creditors of Go- verninent likcwile confider how their property Will full in value by a continuance of this un- equal ( 75 ) equal war. It Is upon Property only that all the weight muft eventually fall ; and the utmoll care muft be taken not to proceed beyond a cer« tain line in Taxation of the necefTarics of life. Perhaps we arc arrived at the point beyond which y/coi(^binot to proceed-, and if To, the call upon the Property mu(l be in a diie;:! mauner. Beware then that you be not like the deaf adder •, lilUa in time, or an enraged populace will probably give their fiat to the Stocks ind to Taxes, and avenge themfclves of your inconfiderate^ un- fffdtngy and unwife conduSl, in trying to narrcrj their aWady /canty means of fubljltcncc. I I '. ( . ^ • LETTER XXVI, •' ' •' - : ., Iff ov ember 11^ ^779f OUR prefent fituation with regard to Ireland, demands the clofcft aiteniion of every thinking individual in both I Hands; and the more fo, from our fituation wiih regard to other countries. 1 here will not be wanting many who will biame Ireland for taking the advantage of the times, to obtain from us, in iVit perplexities zvhere- in we are ihvohed, what, at another time, we might difpute with the greater likelihood of fvading. But if they are determined to keep within the line of moderation (provided we do not irritate them, by with- holding what we ought in TusTiCii to grant )^ I do not fee they are to be L 2 condemned ( 7^ <*: if p- rondc'mnt for a/king for udrefs^ when they may liave the power to urge their arguments with the "ooicc cf thoufands arrayed in arms. So far tiie ccnciu^:!; of tlie Irifli has beenjfuch as all men wil! nilow is perfedly confiftent with f>rudent regard /.^ .^htir intereft ; and they are now arrived to that linCj beyond which, \i unjuftifiabU (o>idui'i in us obliges tbjm to procefdy the confe* quences may, in all likelihood, be fa^ai to both, During thi.s aivfulpr.ufe, let than rcfle^^ feparated from this Country^ what would be the fituation of thdr^ ? How would they maintain their Indepen- dency wi'chout a Navy ? ^oil, ftaie of Cultiva- tion, Extent, JNumb'^rs and Situation (with regard to the Continent of Lurope) being all in our favour \ vvliatever may be rhtfrjl t^^'f^Jof their detaching themlclves, thofe would all tend eventually to give us the advantage over them, both in peace and war ; and therefore, excepting they would prefer hilng fuh ordinate to a Continental Power, it can only be by being * united >to us they car. ever fiUly enjoy tiie blellings of peace, and the fruits ariling fiom a ivell-reg'dated commerce -, and this they have a right to demand. But as ihings now ll.md, that is, under the proteBion of the Navy prui.idid for hy ike Parliament of Qreat-Eritaiyi^ they enjoy the bent fit of trade to foreign parts, and arc guarded agah'fi invafiom •, and ^s a great part cf the proviiions for our (hips, our filhery, * I do not mean fuch an Union as would blend their Fiirliameiit with our^ ; but fuch as would preierve the unity of tlie Monrjchy, and leave cuch Country {xcq to regulate their own comiT;crcc, making llipulations with each other up 11 reciprocal gnunds of advantage, fuch as commercial people are ever making in private concerns, and folemnly engaging to furnilh aids towards, the fupportofthc e.iccutive Fovvci' iu it\z\'j eventual exigency, and ( 77 ) 3nd for the Wf 1-India Idands, are purchafed in Ireland, it is but realbnablc to afk, what part of thcexpence attending the fitting out, vidtualling, and manning our Fleet, they arc willing to pay ? for as matters are now qrdered (if I apprehend rightly), it will fall eventually wholly upofi ui \ pur debts cncreafmg in a ten-fold proportion to theirs. We are threatened with an encreafe of Land-tax, and the Farmers are breaking from high -rents and confined exportation j fo that the rents mufi he lowered, although Taxes accumu- late. Is this then a time to demand ^fres frade^ without, ^t the fame time, holding out fomething 10 alleviate the blow which fuch a meafure muft give our Manufafturers ? 1 am confident the Jri/h are too juji and generous a people, to either cxped or defire fo great a conceflion, without ar* equivalent on their part. Let us but fhew a hearty difpofition to grant them eve-y reafonable encouragement, their relentments will cool, and jfhey will Ihew themfelves men of liberal fenti- inents, and will glow with the true and genuine warmth for the interefts of their Sifter State. /\ Committee from the Irilh Parliament might, upon a conference with a Committee of ou.s, devife fome equitable nT^ans of adjufting dif- ferences, and providing for the general fifety. Let not the fubordination of the Irifh Parliament be mentioned or be hinted at ; let it not become a queftion ; it is too proud a diftinftion to clc^im, and too humiliating for them to acknowledge. Situate as this Country is in all refpeds, ic is really fuperior in effe^ ; but let us be content with the knowing it, without proclaiming it to excite envy and heart-burnings, when both Coun- tries ought to be the mofi firmly united. The m II ( 7« ) The bulk of the Peopk of this Country would not be benefited by the moft abjcft huiniliation of Ireland. The King would have no greater power than that Kingdom willingly acknowledges him now to have ; and all the difference would be, that zbad Minifter would have it more in his power to reward the Majority in Parliament here by finecui;cs and impofirions upon Ireland, fo as to bribe them to fanftify all his meafures, were they ever fo ttnwife, unjufi, wild, or extravagant. Allow but Ireland to enjoy equal liberty with ourfelves, we need never fear but that (he will make a common cauie with us whenever we are attacked \ for (he will plainly fee, that to pre- ferve her liberty, Ihe miift intereft herfelf in ours ; as whatever Power fhould prevail againft us, would, foon after, reduce her : and, feparated from us, Ihe would require a greater force to put her upon fl»y tking like a respectable / a condition to take the advantage of the next propitious gale. On the contrary, if we ( 83 ) we do not reef our fails, and ftrike ouvTop Gallant^ we may lofe our lower mafts, and the Vcfrd of State become an ina^ive bnlk, the fport of the waves, or the prey to the enemy. LETTER XXVIII. [A greater Naval Force feeming necefTary to allay People's fears of an Fnvafion, the following was fent by the Author to the Earl of iJANOWiCH the loth of July lalt.] PROPOSAL for a NAVAL MILITIA. TO confifl of Volunteers who have been at Tea, but for various reafons may have adopted another plan of life, yet might not be againft fei ving for a limited time upon our own Coafts. To be formed into Companies, confift- ing of a Lieutenant, two MidQiipmen, one Boat- fwain, Mate, and 70 Privates, with a Captain to every five Companies. To be employed only in cafe of a threatened invafion •, in which cafe, to bf embarkt^d on board fuch jfhips a^ may be fitted only for Channel iervico. Many fuch being in tlnr bottoms found, might be kept ready at Spithead, fitrev! with mails, &c. one degree below their rate, and having good ground-tackling, would afford an excellent corps de referve. The Propofer has himfelt been many years at fea, has been twice difmrijled, and has experienced that our fliips or war often fail better with leffer mafts than are ufually fitted to them ;. ihey are eafier worked, and ( 84 J and more mnnngcable when under-mcjled ; and ibr cictenfive fervice, are fully as ferviceable as tholt* with their proper lize according to the cilablifliment. Add to which, this Plan will fiiit dd Ih ps, as tliey will not Ilrain fo much in ba I wcarhrr. The Oflicers to have only temporary rank and pay. The men to have condudl-money allowed, and to be aflured ol being kept upon Home-fer- vice. Their families to be provided for, in cafe of being wounded or fiain. The above delciiption would, it is fuppofcd, take in a large number of men and Ihips, which would not be otherwiie employed in our defence. It might be required to have a fmall num- ber of feamen kept conftantly on board the above Hiips, to fhew tlie new nien the mode of working ihem -, and they might be variouHy ufc- ful as receptacles for other fliips companies while decking, &:c.&:c, P. S. Men might be had to ferve a temporary rcrsficn, from an embargo, and a cejjaticn ot ail inland navigation ; the Jullices i'urnilhing horfes, and even carriages, to convey the people (who hrid previoufiy engaged to fcrvej to the Port where their Ihip lay ready. L E T T E R ( 'I ) LETTER XXIX. Novemheriy^ '779* jr^ITH all pojpble refpcSl to the fentiments of more experienced Men, the Author of the foregoing Letters prefunies to offer it as his opinion, that we \\tLVt probably been in an error in dropping fuch Ships of the Line as were thofe of lail war carrying 68 guns with 520 men, fuch as the Lancafler, Orford, and Norihumber- landy and fubllituting fo many of 74 guns ; as comparatively, and in a national fcale, the former were perhaps better. They required 80 men lefs; drew lefs water ; carried their ports as well ; (lowed a ^n'^/fr quantity of provifions in proportion to their complement ; were in lefs dai-ger from taking the ground, being flatter floored, and for the fame reafon could approach the fliore nearer to cover the landing of men or to attack batteries; were what tlie Seamen call better Sea-boats ; required lefs expenfive rigging and mails, and are not apt to be injured fo much in either, both from their conftrudlion, and their compiu'cUive lightnefs. They are more mann.gen.ble (as the hu- man powers, by numbers being added, cannot be brought to atl \\r\i\\ proportionable efie^c upon fuch nafts, yards, cables, &c. as are extremely large). They are moreeafily docked and hove down, and are in lefs danger in flioal water, which may be made appear by the lofs of tlie InvDicibli and Mars lall war. They being v/hac the Seamen call long-legged, fliarp firps, and drawing more water, were loil, \vhc:e fliips of t!ie o!i conllrudian ( 86 ) conftru£kion would have failed in fafcty | add to which, in a high fea they fail bcu ter. The reafons, it is fuppofcd, why the larger ihips have obtained, are, that they arc certainly more refpedable from carrying more men and guns, and failing better \i\fmcoih water % and when upon a wind, are (in weather when ihey can carry fail) more weatherly. All which is granted •, but numbers being wanted to protcfl: numerous Iflands, &c. and as the expence in the various articles of rigging, timber, &c. being perhaps one-third more from their being all ia the extreme, and indeed hardly to be procured^ it is but reafonable to ftart the queftion. Whe- ther the fmall deficiency of guns might not be compenfated by the advantages before-mention- ed ? And as what is advanced of the fuperior quality of our old 70 gun Ihips coincides with the opinion of one of our moft favourite Admirals, perhaps the fooner we return to the former Plan, the better -, for we could in that cafe fend more: Hiips of the line to fea at the fame expence wc are now at, and without requiring a greater num, berof feamen. THE END, 'U ERRATA. Page 49, for May 2^tb, read Juguji ^th. ■ f i-