Page:The Wentworth Papers 1715-1739.djvu/352

 336 THE WENTWORTH PAPERS.

most advantgious that ever any nation traded with France, for we had a better in '44, by the .... that was in Oliver's time. In short all these objections were answer'd very well, wch is to no purpose to writ you, since you must know all that is to be said for't.

Mr. Caesar told me Sir Thomas Hanmore is to report to the house a Tuesday next, your pension, but it is so put that they will be able to keep off any censure passing upon't. .. .

��London, May 26, 17 13. Dear Brother,

Since you seem to like my accounts of what is done in Parliament, I shall give a relation of what I have heard of the Malt-tax, since now 'tis like to make so much noise. The court did manage themselves so nicely that they carried it in the comittee, but by the Speaker's voice, that the Scotch shou'd be excused the duty upon Malt. When they reported it to the house they disagreed with their Committee by 25, notwithstand there were speeches that told them 'twas a breach of the Union, for there 'twas expressly stipulated that during the war they shou'd have no additional taxes laid upon them, and if 'twas levy'd it must be by a standing army. The answere to this was that when the Peace was, they had agreed to be tax't in all things alike to the English, wch the Scotch allow; but here's the Breach, they say, that what they were to pay towards the war was mention'd in the Articles of Union, and no more then that burthen were they to bear to support the War, and now by making them come in this year to an equal proportion with us in this Malt tax, wch is apropriated to defray some of the expences of the War, they are made to pay towards the War. The reason that waight with a great many country Gentlemen, that don't depend upon the court for bringing them in, is that they may be easied of this tax next year, wch they are apprehensive will be ask'd of them again, being what is levy with the most ease ; if the Scotch are with them they know they will join with the Country Gentlemen to take it off. When the Scotch

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