An ESSAY how to raise above One Million Sterling per Ann. by an equal and easy Tax.
IN order to which it is proposed, That all Neat, Calf and Slink Hydes, Sheep and Lamb Skins in the Raw, be appropriated to the Use of the Government.
Which Hides and Skins will raise the above Summ is demonstrated thus, viz.
| l, | s. | d, | |
| That in this Kingdom there was computed 1175951 Houses which paid to the Chimny Money (besides Alms-Houses and Poor which were excepted), and compute but one Beef to be eaten in one Year by each Family that paid to the said Tax one with another, the Hides of which are sold from 5s. to 20s. but at 10s. per Hide, they produce | 587975 | 10 | 0 |
| Four Sheep to be eaten in each House in one Year, the Skins of which are sold from 8d. to 5s. but at 18d. per Skin they produce | 352785 | 06 | 0 |
| One Calf to be eaten in each House in one Year, the Skins of which are sold from 8d. to 3s. but 18d per Hide they produce | 88196 | 06 | 6 |
| One Lamb to be eaten in each House in one Year, the Skins of which are sold from 4d. to 18d. but at 6d. per Skin they produce | 29398 | 15 | 6 |
| The Beef kill'd for Sea Service, and all fresh Meat eaten by our Seamen and Forreigners when in Harbour, and what they take for victualling their home and forreign Voyages, may be computed one tenth Part of the above Account, which produces | 105935 | 00 | 9 |
| Summ Total | 1164290 | 18 | 9 |
The Hides and Skins of the aforesaid Cattle that may dye, are not included in the above Account.
Other CALCULATIONS.
There is computed seven Millions of People in England and Wales, and allowing four Millions of them eat 2 d. each Day in Beef, Mutton, Veal or Lamb, which is 3 l. per Annum for each Person, which is twelve Millions Sterling, and compute the Hide and Skin to be 2 s. in the Pound Value of the Carcass amounts to 1200000 l.
| 1175951 Houses, and compute | ⅛ eats 4 Beefs a Year. |
| ⅛ eats 2 Beefs a Year. | |
| 6/8 eats half a Beef. | |
| 8/8 eats 9 Beefs a Year. |
The Advantages of this TAX.
First, That a great Summ will come in Weekly, and the whole Year's Revenue answer'd into the Exchequer in a few Days after the Year is expired, whereby a great deal of Interest will be saved.
Secondly, That the collecting it will be with less Charge than any other Duty which answers so great a Fund, by reason it is not liable to such Frauds and Concealments as some other Revenues are.
Thirdly, It will be most equal, for Tradesmen and Foreigners will pay as much as Gentlemen, proportionable to what they spend; and Equality and Ease ought to be consider'd in all Taxes.
Fourthly, It can be no Prejudice to Land, for the Butcher will be content with the same Profit then as now, and will give the same Price to the Breeder or Grazier (for 'tis only the Consumer that pays); and one Farthing per Pound Advance on the Carcass will make the Butcher Amends for Loss of the Hide and Skin, and the Number of Butchers will oblige them to sell at reasonable Profit, what they deal in being so hazardous to keep.
Fifthly, A Gentleman of 800 l. per Annum paid or ought to have paid to the Land-Tax of 4 s. per Pound 160 l. but in this he pays but for his Eatables of Beef, Mutton, Veal and Lamb, which four Kinds proportionable to a Family Expence is not above One-eighth Part of the whole: So instead of paying for 800 l. he pays but for 100 l. And the Hide and Skin not exceeding 2 s. in the Pound Value of the Carcass, he pays but 10 l. per Annum to this Tax. And by limitting the Government to sell the Hides and Skins at a certain Price per Pound will reduce the Leather Manufacture to easy Terms, and save considerable in the Year by Leather Harness and other Leather Wearables, and encourage the Exportation of the same.