116] 
tioner proceeded to reason upon 
those data as follows: 
Ifit be true that the territorial 
and funded rental is sixty millions 
per annum, 
Then is it true, also, that five 
shillings in the pound, on such a 
rental, will raise a revenue of fifteen 
millions. 
- If it be true that we now pay ten 
shillings in the pound to raise a 
revenue of fifteen millions, 
- Then is it true also, that we pay 
five shillings in the pound more 
than we have any occasion to’pay. 
If it be true that the trading 
part of the nation can always con- 
trive to create for themselves an 
exemption from state burdens, 
Then it is true also, that the 
Janded and funded proprietors are, 
and have all alorig, to ‘their irre- 
parable loss, been the principal, if 
not the sole paymasters of all im- 
posts, and consequently that little 
or'no injury will be done to that 
body of men, but that great and 
lasting advantage will accrue to 
them, and to their posterity, by 
changing the mode, as here propos 
ed, of colleéting the revenue. 
Your petitioner, therefore, most 
humbly prays, that he may be per- 
mitted and authorised to charge his 
real’ estates with the payment of 
thirty thousand pounds, or with the 
payment of such other sum, be 
the same more or less, as may be 
ascertained by this honourable 
house, to be his proportionate 
share: of the public debt, sup- 
posing the said public debt to be 
parcelled out for payment among 
the several proprietors of lands, 
houses, mines, waters, tythes, rents, 
in any way arising therefrom, mo- 
ies so secured, and public funds. 
And your peutioner further 
prays, that his said estates may be 
ANNUAL REGISTER, ‘1796. 
made subjeét to the payment of 
interest on the sum to be so charged 
as above, at the rate of four pounds; 
per cent, or any other rate of. inter 
est, be the same more or less, which 
may appear to this. honourable 
house to be his proportionate share 
of the annual charge of the said 
public debt, supposing the same to 
be transferred as aforesaid, 
And your petitioner further prays, 
that he may be permitted and autho- 
rised to pay in future his proportion« 
ate share of the civil list and peace 
establishment, by an annual pound 
rate, the quantum of which pound 
rate to be ascertained by this ho- 
nourable house, in like manner as 
_before has been mentioned. 
And your petitioner further prays, 
that as often as the exigencies of go- 
vernment may provide a further aid, 
he may be permitted and authorised 
to pay his proportionate share of . 
the same, by such an additional 
pound rate as may be ascertained by 
this honourable house to be sufficient 
to accumulate the sum which would 
fall to his lot of payment, supposing 
the whole annual supply to be rais- 
ed within the year, and parcelled 
out for payment among the several 
proprietors aforesaid. 
And your petitioner further 
prays, that he may be permitted 
and authorised to make such tem- 
porary and such permanent pay- 
ments, as have been severally 
named and assented to on his part, 
by half yearly instalments, and that 
the same may be declared to be 
accepted in full satisiaétion of his 
proportionate share of all taxes, 
customs, duties, and parliamentary © 
imposts, laid already, or which may ~ 
be laid on the subjeéts of this 
country, or their concerns, And 
your petitioner shall ever pray. 
Francis BLaKE.. 
STATE > 
