r803« Agr'icultural IntelUgence. 23 t 



imperfect view taken of the bearings and confcqucnccs of tlie a6t 

 of lall SefTion. 



We intended to have oilered fome remarks upon tlie aiguments 

 ufed at the county meetings, by certain gentlemen who oppofed 

 an application to ParHament for redrcfs, but want of room pre- 

 vents us from doing more than merely noticing a few of tliem. 



In one county where the farmers came forward, in a dutiful 

 manner, with a petition for aihltance from the gentlemen aflem- 

 bled, we learn that their application was fuccefsfully refilled by 

 an honourable gentleman, upon the principle that a half malt-tax 

 was orginally a favour granted to Scotland for the encouragement 

 of agriculture, and that the period was now arrived when it might 

 be fafely withdrawn. Probably this gentleman only repeated 

 fome of the arguments ufed at a previous meeting, when another 

 favour was alfo withdrawn ; for we have a higher opinion of his 

 good fenfe and abilities, than to fuppofe he really confidered a 

 reduced malt-tax as a boon, but rather as an ad: of juftice to his 

 native country. If our opinion is erroneous, we mult refer that 

 gentleman to the fpeeches of an emiiient perfon, to whom he is 

 nearly related, made in the Houfe of Commons, during Lord 

 North's adminillration, wherein the iniquity of fubje^ling the 

 barleys in Scotland to the tax levied in England, is demonilrated 

 in much flronger language than is in our power to ufe. 



But in another county, the a6l of laft SelTion was fupported on 

 different grounds, by a gentleman who lias long figured in every 

 matter that related to the didiilery of his country ; who once at- 

 tempted to get malt taxed according to its weight, without re- 

 flecting that weight is no criterion for afcertaining faccharine fub- 

 ftance ; and who, feveral years ago, had the adcirefs to convince 

 the prime minifter, that a reduced tax would bring a greater fum 

 into the public coffers than one by which fix times more money was 

 levied. This gentleman took up the queftion upon public-fpirited 

 principles ; and, according to him, as members of a great and united 

 empire, we ought every one of us to join hand in hand, and bear an 

 equal (hare .of the national burdens. This to be fure was very found 

 do6lrine in the abflratSl, but alluredly did not fupport the act of 

 lafl SefTion ; for the object of the motion then before the meeting 

 was merely to procure the very equalization he contended for, and 

 to preferve Scotland from being overloaded. AVe undcritand, alfo, 

 that arguments from expediency were much ufed on this occafion, 

 particularly that any exem.ption in favour of Scotland \vould fet 

 the northern counties of England in a flame. It might have been 

 replied, ' Leave thefe counties to take care of themlelves. They 

 have paid a full malt-tax ever fince the duty was originally im- 

 pofed ; and property has been purchafed under that burden. Af- 

 luredly a table of taxes cannot be formed upon geographical prin- 



?^ 2 riplcs 



