69 



Abstract of the Author s Publications on the Liquida- 

 tion of the Public Debt.' 



It is endeavoured to be shown ; 



That the increase in the British empire of the means of national 

 riches and power, has been very considerable during the last 

 thirty years. 



Tiiat individual ease and comfort are not experienced, in any 

 proportion to this increase of means, but that, on the contrary, 

 the increasing prevalence of suffering and distress, is generally 

 admitted and deplored. 



That t!ie Public Debt is a chief cause of this anomalous state. 



That the Public Debt admits of an early and complete liguidation, 

 upon the babis of a contribution of fifteen per cent., to be levied 

 upon every description of private property, iniluding the amount 

 of the Public Debt, 



That such liquidation of the debt may be effected, without any 

 dangerous or mischievous disturbance of the slate of' property. 



Tliat relief from duties to the extent of thiity millions per 

 atmum, nearly, might precede any levy in respect of the proposed 

 contribution of fifteen percent. 



That such remission of duties would, in effect, relieve the coun- 

 try from the payment of at least thirty-six millions per annum, 

 because the consumer pays a considerable advance upon the duty 

 jiaid by the merchant or dealer, into the F-xchccjuer. 



That the same remission of duties would be the means of re- 

 pressing, to great extent, the fraudulent and injurious practice of 

 smuggling, of preventing other descriptions of fraudulent dealing, 

 and of reducing the parish rates, in a very considerable degree ; 

 and would also admit the establishmcfit of a system, under which 

 the great evil of a population exceeding the demand for cmploy- 



' Elements of a Plan tor the Liquidation of l\iv Public Debt ol 

 the United Kingdom, 7th edition. And Further Observations on 

 tiie I'racticabdity and F.xpcdicnty of i>iquidatiug tlu- Publir F^ohl 

 tif the I'nilcd Kmgdom. 



Ibis abstract was first published ui ihc year IH'^0. 



