Retrofpedt of Domeftic Literature... Finance, 
gion to reject all overtures of peace till 
Holland, Flanders, Switzerland, Italy, and 
Spain are reftored to their liberties, and 
the hideous monfter of general diforga- 
mization is driven within the ancient 
bounds of its own defolated territory.” _ 
Tefts of the National Wealth and Finances 
of Great Britain, in December, 1798: one 
half of this pamphlet is taken up in repro- 
bating the {cheme for redeeming the land 
tax, and with the author’s letter to Mr. 
Pitt, containing a plan for improving the 
‘finances. 
The author of Confiderations on the AB 
for the Redemption of the Land-Tax has 
made an obfervation of great moment, 
which efcaped the notice of both houfes 
of parliament: it is this, 1f a gentleman 
poffeffed of landed property thouid pur- 
chafe the whole of the land-tax attached 
to fuch property, would he not lofe his 
right to vote for that property? It ap- 
pears that he would; for the aétexpreff- 
ly exonerates from all affeffments of mo- 
ney as land-tax, property, the land-tax of 
which fhall have been redeemed by vir- 
tue of that act. But for any man to be 
entitled to vote, it muft appear that the 
property for which he tenders his vote is 
affeffed to the land-tax: this aét, there- 
fore, in annulling the affeffment, feems to 
annul the right of voting which was at- 
tached to it. Did this confequence really’ 
efcape the eagle eye of Mr. Pitt, or is 
this redemption aét a fly contrivance, a 
trick to undermine the power of country 
gentleman, and weaken the landed inter- 
eft? Men who are moft clamorous againft 
innovation, do not on that account always 
{cruple to violate the integrity of the con- 
ftitution, if fuch violation fhould fuit their 
own purpofes. 
Mr. FairMAN has publifhed a third 
edition, with confiderable improvements, 
of his ufeful work, entitled, Zée Siocks ex- 
amined and compared, or a Guide to pur- 
chafe in the Public Funds. , 
Mr. SIMEON Pore has fuomitted to 
the governors, &c. of the bank of England 
what he calls, A Meafure produdtive of fub- 
Stantial Benefits to Government and Coun- 
‘dry, the Public Funds, and Bank Stock. The 
following is the meafure which Mr. P. 
propofes: let the Bank of England (un- 
der fanétion of parliament) advance to 
government this year the fum of ten mil- 
lions, at an intereft of 4 per cent, and 
payable in ten inftalments, on the fecurity 
or credit of the general income tax for the 
enfuing year 18003; then to be optional in 
the bank proprietors to extend or not the 
loan to the year 1801—and fo on to every 
518 
fucceeding year as long as the tax fhould 
exift. The obvious confequence of this 
vaunted meafure would be an unlimited 
and alarming emiffion of bank paper. 
Dr. HUNTER, in his General Vieaw of a 
Plan of univerfal and equal Taxation, pro- 
pofes the exaétion of eighteen pence out 
of every pound of clear rental, arifing 
from freehold lands, and one fhiiling in 
the pound from freehold hontes, or the 
levy of five fhillngs on every hundred 
pounds of the value of all eftates. Mr. 
Pirt would hardly think it worth his 
while to colleét fo'infignificant a contri- 
bution. 
An anonymous writer has publithed 
A new Enquiry inio the Principles and Policy 
of Taxation in the Political Syftem of Great 
Britain. As the author’s ideas on the fub- 
ject of taxation are very confufed, it is 
not to be expected that he fhould com- 
municate information to his reader. 
The author of Confolatory Thoughts on 
Taxation , Sc. propofes that “an aét fhould 
be paffed to prevent the further increafe of 
the national! debt, and the ftock-holders be 
incorporated and bound to contribute, all 
in their feveral proportions, according to 
what the committee of proprietors might 
be empowered to concede by a court of 
Droprietors.’ This part of his fcheme 
may be worth attention: but furely that 
part of it is unjuft which would impofe 
on the land-holders a perpe‘wal rent-charge. 
This pamphlet is well worth perufal. 
GeorcGe Ross, Efq. has publifhed A 
brief Examination into the Increafe of the 
Revenue, Commerce, and Manufudtures of 
Great Britain, from 1792 10%799. Onthe 
firft blufh of the bufinefs it feems a little 
impolitic that minifters fhould call the at- 
tention of the public to a fubjeét which, 
in the prefent ftate of affairs, it is their ins 
tere{t to fereen from examination; they 
know very well, however, that a pom- 
pous parade of figures has a very tmpof- 
ing appearance. The people at large, if 
they fee any thing like an arithmerical 
calculation, take for granted its correét- 
nefs, and of courfe give credit tothe ftate- 
ment which it profeffes to eltablith : very 
few people ere qualified to dereéi inaccu- 
Tacies in fucha work as this; and of thofe 
few, fome are unwilling to take the trou. 
ble, or devote the time. On the whole, 
therefore, this minifterial fpeculation is not 
a badone. Mr. Rofe, it muft be confeffed, 
is a little unfortunate 3 for his éxazzination 
has been examined with a degree of dili- 
gence and acutene{s which it is very \ittle 
prepared to endure, We need {carcely 
jiate the objeét of Mr. Rofe’s pamphlet : 
it 
