1322.] 
obvious that they cannot continue to 
exist under such circumstances, and 
‘Society prosper. 
In every view of the subject, it 
appears to me, that to enforce local 
residence of the receivers among the 
payers is the only effectual remedy ; 
while, at the same time, it would pro- 
bably be more palatable than any 
adequate reduction of income: but 
both plans may be combined. For 
the sake of conferring clearness on 
the details, I will reduce my views to 
distinct propositions. 
1. Let the amounts of taxes col- 
lected and paid in every hundred and 
wapentake of the kingdom be deter- 
mined. 
_ 2. Let the proportion of that amount 
to the amount of the interest of the 
debt be determined. 
3. Let the head-borough, or other 
appointed officer, be nominated re- 
ceiver of so much of the taxes as 
equals the share of interest of the debt 
for his district. 
4. Let him be authorised to pay 
their full dividends to as many persons 
as can prove their residence in that 
district through at least nine months 
of the year. 
5. Let him pay over half the balance 
to the county receiver or treasury, and 
remit so much of the taxes on his dis- 
trict in the following year. 
6. Let the non-residents receive the 
half of their dividends at the Bank of 
England, in the present form. 
7. Let proprietors, as well of land 
as houses, be obliged also to attest to 
the same oflicer their residence in like 
manner; and, if non-resident, be sub- 
ject toa tax of twenty-five per cent. 
on their rentals, the amounts to ope- 
rate as an abatement of other taxes on 
the district. 
This is my remedy for the relief of 
the country under its present amount 
of taxes. Subject to such regulations, 
ihe amount might even be increased; 
for, ifthe money reccived from industry 
were expended on the spot, industry 
would constantly be re-vivified, and 
even the annuitants and landlords 
themselves might be eminently useful 
in promoting civilization and local 
improvements, by means of their su- 
perfluous capital. The remedy may 
savour of severity; but the disease 
must be cured, and there is really no 
ther alternative. 
Yo scek to dimiuish the value of 
Non- ftesidents. 
387 
annuitics by renewing a paper cir- 
culation, would be to plunge into a 
vicious circle, and into an abyss from 
which there could hereafier. be no 
retreat. 
What,—exclaim the thousands of 
public annuitants,—compel us to re- 
ceive half, or reside in some barbarous 
district, remote from the society and 
gaiety of London! Fair expostula- 
tion ! yet what is the alternative? Itis 
not a preference of benefits that can 
be offered, but a CHOICE OF EVILS: the 
parties are in a dilemma either to con- 
form or lose all, from which dilemma 
there is no ultimate retreat. 
The deleterious effects of the non- 
residence of the receivers is palpable. 
The circulation or blood of social in- 
dustry is periodically withdrawn from 
the provinces, while rents, taxes, and 
other imposts, remain in full amount, 
and the deficiency of local circulation 
has in successive years reduced grain 
from 120s. to 100s. 80s. 60s. 50s. 40s. 
and 30s. Every shilling below 70s. 
has been a diminution of the capital of 
the farmer, and every shilling below 
50s. has operated as a reduction of the 
rent of the landlord. These numerous 
and once respectable classes are there- 
fore silently and gradually ruined,— 
utterly beggared and _ pauperised! 
From such a population the interest 
of the debt cannot continue to be 
raised; and to pay it till now the 
boasted Sinking Fund has been ab- 
sorbed, and every shift of financial 
ingenuity has been resorted to by Mr. 
Vansittart. He has adroitly kept it 
going; but, no doubt, has trusted to 
the. chapter of accidents, or to the 
clasticity of society, for an escape. 
The chances, however, have been uni- 
formly against him. He might have 
hoped something from colonies; but 
these, owing to a combination of cir- 
cumstances, are not in a better state 
than the mother country. MMe might 
have calculated on foreign trade; but 
the eyes of rival nations have been 
opened to the seeret of our strength, 
and ukases, decrees, and custom-house 
regulations, have limited our valuable 
exports; while it is notorious that the 
United States successfully compete 
with us in every market. Commerce, 
too, is of a fleeting character; as we 
have witnessed in the Hans towns, in 
Genoa, Venice, and Holland. In 
short, the chances merease every year 
against the acknowledged talents of 
Mr, 
