An appeal to the landholders concerning the reasonableness and general benefit of an excise upon tobacco and wine.

Date:
1733
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An appeal to the landholders concerning the reasonableness and general benefit of an excise upon tobacco and wine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    . *fick, and was the Flower of Commerce as appeareth by their Records^ ard their fumptuous Buildings: For all Nations traded with them^ ^and Fleere %vas \ the Storehoufe,. of liddy and other Places \ hut after they had fet a great Cuftotn of fixteen per Cent. all Nations . left trading with them ; which made them give themfelves wholly to Ufury, Fhe Duke of Florence, he fays, • on the contrary^ huilded horn^ and fet fmall Cuftom upon Merchandize.^ and ■gave them great and pieafing Privileges., which hath made a rich- and Jlrong City, with a flourijhing State. I hope thefe grear Authorities, as great as, a- ny that can inftriidl: you upon .this Subject, vvi]l fatisfy you that, as Excife in general (obferve I do not fay, nor mean a General Excife}, is not fach a Mcplter^ as it has been reprefented to .you,' fp thiS'fparticular Excife ; upon. Wine and Tobacco win not appear fo monflrous and fright¬ ful, as con^inaing a Tax upon your Land to prevent it, would appear. I indeed hope, that when'once the whole Scheme is produced and explained, it will appear exceptionable to none, but fuch as are wont to run and adulterate thofe two Commodities, and arp-.ienraged that they cannot always do fo. .. -And if this be the only Excife intended,, will not any Man, efpecially any Countrey Gentlernan, blufli to oAyn that he has fp iong pa^ciently fgffered our own Homf*Erpduce apd Manufadture, fo ne-^ ceffary to tl^e poor Labourer and Manufadlurer, to Jie under fugh.-heayy Duties and Difcourage- c ' niei^S
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