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 extremely difficult to arrive at the total amount of property in a great country, tell me, in the rough, putting it in English money that I may understand you, how much does your government at an average take from the subject out of every pound he possesses?"—"It is difficult," he said, "to answer that question, because taxation is unequal, and cannot possibly be equalized; but if resort could be had to an equal rate comprehending the aggregate of the various sources, I should say it amounted to one half at the least."

"I must further ask you, whether you have any other burthens upon property besides those which are directly levied by your government for the support of the state?"—"We have," said Morven, "the clergy and the poor.

"With regard to the former, though it is a heavy burthen, yet we suffer more in the manner of its collection, than in the amount.—The ministers who bring us the consolations of religion