Page:William Petty - Economic Writings (1899) vol 1.djvu/215

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Esides the equality of Taxes, we make this further use of trying it by way of Customs, Poles, Excises, Chimney-money, Land-tax, and Assesments upon the personal Estates, viz.

(1.) Of the Customs, which we reduce from$1/20$ to $1/50$, to keep an account of Foreign-|17|Trade, and of its Balance; for by Levying, a Duty, and encreasing the Penalty, these Accounts will be less obscured.

(2.) The simple and universal Pole keeps an account of the great Wealth and Strength of the Kingdom, the People.

(3.) Rating the Houses per Chimney, gives a good account of Improvements and Dilapidations.

(4.) Excize gives an account of Domestick Expences, and publisheth Exorbitances.

(5.) Land-taxes keep the Payments to the proportion of entire value, not of Annual Rent: So as an Estate in Housing pays no more than if it were in Lands, nor considerable less than Goods, and may bring Mortgages to their just contribution; many Lenders not being so formidable for their Money, as some have thought them.

(6.) Assessments upon personal Estates (if given in as elsewhere upon Oath) would bring that Branch which of it self is most dark, to a sufficient clearness.

2. There is also a Pole upon Titles and Dignities worth consideration, tho we now omit it; which as it may check mens forwardness to undeserved Pre-eminence, so it may be employed in the encouragement of true worth. |18|

3. We have hitherto computed the old immutable Revenue at but 130.000l. per annum, nor supposed above 170,000l. (viz. less than what it is at present) to be raised by Customs (wholly neglecting Wards, Butlerage, Aulnage,