Page:The spiritual venality of Rome.djvu/92

71 The second part of this volume^ Num« 1852, is a kind of Auctarium, or Appendix, with observations relative to the kind and value of the monies mentioned in the two volumes — a matter of great difficulty^ and not of corres- ponding importance* It can scarcely be required of us to recon- cile the variations and disproportions of these different Tables^ since it is very supposeable, that the whole tax is not always specified in each ; and they who find^ or make, so many mysteries where there are none^ must in reason excuse us^ if we do not pretend to account for every thing in this mystery of iniquity. Enough is clear : and it should be lecoUected, that these TaxaB are manuscript, not printed or published. The conjecture, likewise, may not be altogether groundless, that, as when the trade was unre* stricted, the commodities, in order to meet and attract the many, were charged low, so, when it became contracted, the prices were raised. And now it may fairly be asked, whether, in the face of the evidence which has been ad- duced, the pretence can with the slightest cession to dociiineit;ry literature. In the preceding extract the author holds liimseif answerable only for intentional accuracy of transcription.
 * The publication of these volumes would be a valuable ac-