50 the Informif. ^an. 4. 



cies of the state require. This is the onlj plea, 

 that can be alledged in vindication of such an un- 

 just law. But if taxes are only to be tolerated be- 

 cause no other means equally easy and effectual, 

 have been devised for obtaining money, to pay 

 the expence necefsarily incurred for protect- 

 ing the person of the subjeB from opprefsion, and 

 his property from embe%%lement ; is it not an obvi- 

 ous solecism to say, that in order to obtain the 

 money for these purposes, we shall invest a set 

 of persons with legal authority to opprefs the per- 

 sons and embezzle the property of the sithject ? Is 

 not this as if we were to provide a body of men 

 with arms, under the pretext of defending us from 

 insult, and at the same time, let theiii know, that 

 they may cut our own throats with impunity 

 whenever they please ? Yet this we do, and 

 through the force of habit we see no impropriety 

 in our conduct. Surely it behoves all the friends 

 of good government, among which number I wish 

 to rank myself, to expose the absurdity, and to 

 execrate the iniqity of such laws ; and with a 

 steady firmnefs to require our legislators to revise 

 these laws, and to correct these fhocking absurdi- 

 ties. 



As I observe, sir, that you are a friend to your 

 cou itry, and not one of the servum pccus^ who al- 

 ways idolise the minister of the day, whatever he 

 may be, a species of animals which naturalists pre- 

 tend to say, are remarkably congenial to this cit- 

 niate. I Ihall, by your permifsion, from time 

 to time, offer a few remarks on subjects of this na- 



