324 THE BEE, OR Marcli 2, 



We ought not to confound the advance, with the 

 ultimate payment of the taxes ; the one is obvious, the 

 other may elude our obfervation. 



When the circumilances of a nation are profnerons, 

 it is probable, that every additional tax is ultimately 

 paid, by an increafed produce of the labour of the induf- 

 trious clafs of citizens. 



If an additional tax is impofed, in confequence of an 

 addition made to the number of the fervants of the 

 public ; fuch addition may diininifh the number of 

 productive labourers ; but the diminifhed number of la- 

 bourers, may be able to produce as much as the undi- 

 minilhcd did. Or if an additional tax be impofed, in 

 conlequtncc of a more ample provifion made for the' 

 fervants of the ftate, the productive labourers may be 

 able to increafe the produce of the labour, as much as 

 the increafed provifion made to the fervants of the ilate, 

 amounts to. 



Sucli incrcale in the produce of labour, is not necef- 

 farily the refult of an increafed exertion in induftry. — 

 As the different branches of induftry are improved, the 

 fame aftual exertion produces more than before fuch 

 improvement took, place. 



■During the progreffive ftate of a nation therefore, 

 taxes may be fometimes increafed, without much afte£t- 

 ing the great body of the people. 



Hence taxes with regard to the nation in general, when 

 they are impofed in confequence of increaiing the fer- 

 vants of the ftate, may in a certain degree be nominal 

 only ; Icr if fuch addition is made from the idle and dif- 

 fipated, fuch of thefe as have no fund, from which to 

 defray th.eir expences, are perhaps no gre?ter tax upon 

 the public when ferving the ftate, than they were be- 

 fore. 



Taxes being advanced in money, if the value of mo- 

 ney diminiflies, addit^ional taxes muft be impofed ; and 

 if fuch additional taxes are only equivalent to the faU 



