340 Means of ralftng an additional Tax for the Current Service . 
now thought it convenient to reconvert it into shillings ? 
This has been done here in former reigns, and pratftifed in all 
the kingdoms of the world, upon particular occafions. I am. 
-now arguing as if fuch a ftep will be neceflary ; and from a per- 
fuafion that this will be the moft eafy and familiar method to 
invigorate all our warlike meafures, at the fame time that it 
prevents a destructive augmentation of the public debt- 
There is another circumftance that occurs to me ; but this 
requires private beneficence, as well as national policy. Upon 
the principles I am now arguing, noblemen, gentlemen, and. 
perfons of great property, ought to take their meafures that 
the inhabitants of their refpe&ive counties, according to the 
situation and produce of them, may fupply due proportions 
of what the navy and army require j not in the light of jobbs,. 
to load the ftate, which has long been an infamous pradtice* 
but really to enable the people to pay their taxes, and relieve 
the ftate. Such vigorous fteps in time of war, would, in a great 
meafure, anfwer all the good purpofes of arbitrary power, with- 
out the curses which generally attend it. Does this require a. 
romantic height of virtue, or only a few men of sense and 
spirit, in the counties, to put things in method ? Virtue, 
it does require, more perhaps than has been fafhionable for fome 
time paft ; but if the occafion calls for fuch virtue, fhall we 
diftruft ourfelves, and give up the very attempt? Shall we rea- 
fon ourfelves into a belief that we are ten times more foolifh: 
and vicious than we really are? Let us not grow impatient : 
thofe who are ready to ferve their country, muft not be deficient 
in one of the moft eflential proofs of public- love : they com- 
plain. 
