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Show 262 Examination qfDr. Franklin hfore the [A: D. T.] about 500,000]. and the reimburfements, in the . whole, did not exceed 60,000]. Q; You have {aid that you pay [wavy trzxrr m Perg/jlvam'a; what do they amount to in the p ouAfid'I'he tax on all efiates, real and perfonal, is eighteen pence in the pound, fully rated; and the tax on the profits of trades and profeflions, with other taxes, do, I fuppofe, make full half-a-crown in the pound. .2; Do you know any thing of the rate qfex- 263 Q, Are not the majority landholders .P A. I believe they are. Q5 Do not they as much as potlible, {hift the change in PeIg/jlvanzb, and whether it has fallen lately? A. It is commonly from one hundred and fe- tax of}~ from the land, to eafe that; and lay the venty to one hundred and feventy-five. heard fuch a thing fuggefted. And indeed an attempt of that kind could anfwer no purpofe. The merchant or trader is always {killed in fi- gures, and ready with his pen and ink. lfunequal burthens are laid on his trade, he puts an I have heard that it has fallen lately from one hundred and feventy-five to one hundred fixty-two anda half,- owing, Ifuppofe, to their leflening their orders for goods; and when their debts to this country are paid, I think the exchange wrll probably be at par. i..__.) 4 gm ‘1: Hozyé ofCam/mm in r766. A. It is not more burthenfome in propo rtion, than the tax on lands. It is intended, and {up poled to take an equal proportion of profits. 52; How is the afleriibly coriipoteti? Ol'w hat kinds of people are the members; lundhol ers or traders P A. It is compofed of landholders, merchants, and artificers. burthen heavier on trade? .4. I have never underflood it f0. I never additional price on his goods; and the confu - mers, who are chiefly landholders, finally pay .2.) Do not you think the people of: America would fubmit to pay the Ramp duty, if it was noderated ? I A. No, never, unlefs compelled by force of arms. .2, Are not the taxes in Penfylvania laid on unequally, in order to burthen the Englith trade; particularly the tax on profeflions and b-ufinefs? A. It the greatef't part, if not the whole. Q5 What was the temper of America towards Great Britain égfare the year 1763 P * " [In the year 1733-‘ for the welfare and profperity of our ‘ figar colonies in America,' and ‘ for remedying difcouragements ‘ of planters;' duties were ‘ girum and grmzted' to George the Second upon all rum, fpirits, molafl'es, fyrups, fugar, andpanele s Offoreign growth, produce, and manufacture, imported into our colonies. This regulation (f male, for the benefit of the general empire was acquiefced in, notwirhftanding the introduétion of the novel terms ‘ give and grant.' But the aét, which was made only for the term of five years, and had been flrvera] rim: renewed in the reign ofGeorge the Second, and once in the reign of Geo'rlgfiflse 1r 3 |