i^o REVENUE. 



A very flight examination of thefe columns will fhew a great 

 increafe in all (except the inland excife, and cufloms outward) 

 about the year 1748. The conclufion of the peace of Aix la 

 Chapelle feems from this table, as well as from a variety of 

 others to have been the principal epoch in. the profperity of 

 Ireland. The inland excife is a revenue ib wretchedly ad- 

 miniftered by the confefllon of the whole kingdom, that.no 

 conclufions whatever are to be drawn from it. The cufloms 

 outwards have rifen but little ; and not at all in the lail feven 

 years, which is to be accounted for from feme of the principal 

 articles of the exports, fuch as linen, &c. being either duty 

 free, or having ib fmall a cuftom as to be merely with defign 

 of ascertaining quantities ; and alfo by the falling off in the 

 export of the produce of pafturage which I have fhewed be- 

 fore, moft of the articles of it having an ill judged duty on 

 them. But the cuftoms inwards is not a bad one, for an in- 

 creafed import, though at fir (I fight it feems to be againft a 

 nation, ought never to be taken in that light. No kingdom 

 ever imports goods which it cannot pay for, and an increafed 

 confumption is the ftrongeft proof of an iacreafed ability to 

 pay for it. I muft however remark, that the increafe in this 

 column the laft feven years is very trifling. There are in all the 

 other columns, except hearth money, a decline in this period 

 which very well deferves to be enquired into. That the 

 kingdom has flourilhed in it I have little or no doubt, it may, 

 therefore, probably be owing to the multiplication of abufes 

 in the collection of the revenues, which being fo many cancers 

 in the body politic ought to be remedied with the utmoft 

 afilduity. 



The increafe of the hearth money is a matter of importance, 

 for it proves an increafe of population clearly ; which indeed 

 could not be doubted from the increafed profperity and wealth 

 of the kingdom, and from the repeated information I received 

 all over it to that purport. 



The whole grofs revenues offer a different appearance from 

 thefe particular duties, the following account ftiews there has 

 been an increafe, but owing to an increafe of taxes. 



R E V E. 



