WEALTH OF NATIONS. 255 



In Holland and in Hamburgh, where stock was taxed, 

 the inhabitants were allowed to assess themselves that 

 an inquisition might be avoided. Had Dr. Smith lived 

 to our days, he would have found some reason to be 

 confirmed in his opinion of the land paying far more 

 than its share, owing to its being irremovable and un- 

 concealable ; but he would also have seen how con- 

 siderable an approximation to equal payment could be 

 made by inquisitorial proceedings, and well-constructed 

 machinery. Taxes laid on particular trades must fall 

 on the consumer, as the dealer will not remain in a 

 business which does not yield the average rate of pro- 

 fit. A tax on all profits of one trade, but proportioned 

 to each dealer's trade, finally falls on the consumer; 

 if not so proportioned it falls on the consumer, but 

 favours great and oppresses small dealers. The shop- 

 tax once proposed had this disadvantage in a great 

 degree; for all shops must have paid. The personal 

 tattle in France was a tax upon farmers' profits, and as 

 a farmer paying rent never can withhold his crop from 

 the market in order to raise his prices, he can only 

 throw the taille on the landlord by lowering his rent. 

 The tax being levied according to the farmer's stock, 

 made every one stock his farm as badly as possible, 

 and endeavour to conceal the stock he had. Poll-taxes 

 in countries having slaves, are taxes on profits. Poll- 

 taxes on free men are of a wholly different nature, and 

 are the most unequal of all. Taxes on household ser- 

 vants are taxes on consumption, and they are objec- 

 tionable because servants are not employed in propor- 

 tion to the income of their masters; then these taxes 

 fall heavier on the middle classes, and not at all on the 

 lower orders, unless so far as they may prevent some 

 from finding employment. 



An Appendix on this head discusses Taxes on 

 Capital, which have not generally been intended to 

 be levied by any State ; all the imposts of this kind 

 being meant to affect income only. But when property 



