I79^" political progrefs of Britain. 307 



about, and cast ofFsuch a preposterous burden. The 

 payment of 6s. 8 d. is frequently the smallest part 

 of the grievance. By the expence of excisemen, 

 of prosecutions, and of penalties, 5 s. of revenue often 

 cost a hritiQi Jreeman at least as many pounds ster- 



ling*. 



Before the acquisition of Gibraltar, England, in the 



•whole course of her history, had only three wars 

 with Spain. The first in 1588, was produced by 

 the piracies of Drake and others, and by the afsis- 

 tance which Elizabeth afForded to the Dutch revol- 

 ters. The second war was likewise unprovoked, on 

 the part of Spain. Cromwell found it necefsary to 

 vent the turbulence of his subjects in a foreign quar- 

 rel, and Jamaica was invaded and seized without 

 even a pretence of justice. On this conquest chiefly 

 has England founded that hopeful branch of her com- 

 merce, the slave trade, while the climate has annual- 

 ly extirpated, by thousands, the vagrants from Eu- 

 rope. The third' Spanifh war had an origin worthy 



• I fliiU mention an exampl: which occurs while I am novr writing. 

 An old woman had been in the practice of supplying her neighbours with 

 halfpennyworths of inuff. She was ordered, under a penilty oi fifty 

 f.undii to take out a licence, v.d /he did so. Had (he been able to buy from, 

 the manufacturer four poundt of snuft'at a time, the busir^fe ajijht h»vc 

 retted there j but as this was beyond her power, it was required b) the \ex~ 

 iifXi of taxation, chat (be tbuuld make ojtii^ once a-year, tu tJic quar.lity 

 flie told. Her memory failed, and fiie is now, with a crowd of ether vic- 

 tim', in an excise court, which will very pofsibly bring her to beggary. 

 This is like a drop in the ocean of excise. The Tcry sound of the word 

 announces utter destrxction; for it ij dirifed from a latia Ytrb, whx'i 

 iigni/ii!L> to eut up by the rotts. 



Whit " our excrllent conititution" may be in theory, I ncidicr know 

 BOT^carr. In p-actict, it ii altogether A coN!fiR.\cT or tu« &h.« 



ACAIKiT TRI root. 



