The nature of the present excise, and the consequences of its farther extension, examined / In a letter to a Member of Parliament. [Anon].

Date:: 1733

Credit: The nature of the present excise, and the consequences of its farther extension, examined / In a letter to a Member of Parliament. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$been made to ihefe CommifTioners; from whence they endeavour to ground it for an irrefragable Argument, that the Decifions of the Commiffioners of Excife, have been al¬ ways juft and fatisfafiory. 1 shall beg leave to fay a Word or two to each of thefe pretended Arguments. As to thefir ft ^ that the Severities of the Laws of Excife affefi the Traders only \ and, that Gentlemen are not liable to thefe vexatious Pro- fecutions; and that they have no Reef on to com¬ plain , fince their Houfes are ftill as free as ever, We cannot let that Argument pafs without re¬ flecting feverely upon any Man, who is bafe enough to ufe it. Is that a free Country where 'Liberty is confined only to Men of Power and large Fortunes ? Shall it be faid, that I have no Reafon to complain, when I fee nine Tenibs of my fellow Subje&s labouring under the moft fevere OppreOlon, becaufe I am eafy my felf? Far from it; any Gentleman who has the leaft Generofity, would rather buffer any thing in his private Capacity, than that the Publick fhould be harraffed to this De¬ gree. He would chufe, if Oppreifion were 7ieceffarily to fall, that it fhould fall, ra* ther upon thofe of his own Rank, than upon thofe$