i 



333 



tions, with advantage to the country ; and allotted, to the augmentation of 

 the funds for the charitable loan. Confider, what fums have been granted, 

 in bounties — What fums, laviftied on moles, piers, and fiflieries, without 

 producing any vifible benefit, to the community ! Had thefe fums been cir- 

 culated, in charitable loans, how would they have invigorated induftry ! 

 To create a fund, for the maintenance of the propofed inftitution, I would 

 impofeatax, of one fhilling, in the pound, on the eftates of all abfentees, 

 to continue for feven years.* There would be peculiar juftice, in this mea- 

 fure ; they who, by drawing away the capital of the country, impede the 

 progrefs of its improvement, would be taxed, to repair, the very mifchief of 

 which they are themfelves the chief caufe. A tax, of one (hilling, in the 

 pound, on what is fuppofed to be the annual revenue remitted to abfentees, 

 out of this country, would be forty thoufand pounds, yearly, which, in 

 feven years, exclufive of all encreafe, from accumulated intereft, or any 

 other fource, would amount to two hundred, and eighty thoufand 

 pounds. A fund this, which would reanimate induftry ; fend life, 

 blood, vigour, and health to its heart ; and diffufe hope, and comfort, thro' 

 every member of the community ; and, as the tax would not be a perma- 

 nent burthen, on the proprietors of land, it would form no precedent, for 

 a general and permanent land tax ; the fear of which, has rendered many 

 well-meaning people, hoftile to the fairefl; of all taxes, a tax on abfentees. 



Would it be too romantic, and vifionary, to fuggeft a tax on all penfions, 

 exceeding five hundred pounds, per annum ; and on the falaries of all fine- 

 cure places, for the fame benevolent purpofe f The times, at prefent, are 

 not ripe, perhaps, for fuch a meafure ; but, a period may arrive, when it 

 will appear juft, and reafonable, that thofe fliould be felefted, as objeds of 

 taxation, to ferve the exigencies, and promote the emolument of the ftate, 

 wIk) receive large fums of the public money, without giving any value for 

 them, in return, by their fcrvkes, or exertions. 



* The reader wijl here recolleft, that this trafl was written before the meafure of a legif- 

 lative union tool( place, 



CHAP. 



