To the honourable the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the House of Commons in Parliament assembled, proposals most humbly offered for raising (in all likelyhood) upwards of five millions of money, without charging the poor, or burthening the rich by such ways and means, that (for the greatest part thereof) the payers will voluntarily tax themselves : as also some objections answered, and a method proposed for the easie collection thereof, with much certainty and small charge.

PROPOSALS, &c.

The Means are as followeth, (viz.)

1. THAT the Sum of one Shilling be laid on every Thousand of Bricks and Tyles, payable by the Buyer (except for such as shall be used in the King's Buildings and Repairs, and of those used in Building and Repairing of Churches, Chappels, Hospitals, and Alms-Houses.) And the Brick or Tyle-maker to pay Duty for what he shall convert to his own Use in Building. This will chiefly, but easily affect only Moneyed Men, infected with the Plaguy Itch of Building.

2. That for every Person who shall Learn Musick, Singing, or Dancing, the Sum of Two Shillings per Month or Quarter, payable at the beginning of each Month or Quarter; one Moiety by the Master or Teacher, and the other by the Schollar. This will as much affect the Moneyed Mechanick, as the Duke, Lord or Esquire.

3. That twelve Pence in the Pound be laid on the Price of all Gold Chains, Rings, Pearl, and Jewels whatsoever, Clocks, Gold and Silver Watches: And three Pence per Ounce on all Silver Plate Bought or Exchanged; and on Gold and Silver Lace and Fringe, or any Lace or Fringe mixed with Gold or Silver, payable by the Consumptioner. These, though not absolutely Necessary, will equally affect from the Crown to the Moneyed Clown.

4. That twelve Pence in the Pound Value be laid on all China Ware, Cabinets, Tables and Stands, Strong Boxes, and Escritoires, payable by the Consumptioner.

5. That the Sum of Five Shillings per Piece be laid on all Pictures Imported, payable by the Importer: And the Sum of two Shillings in the Pound for all Pictures sold by Auction or otherwise; and the like Sum of two Shillings in the Pound on all Pictures Drawn by the Life or otherwise, in Oyl, Water, or dry Colours: The one Moiety by the Drawer or Seller, and the other by the Buyer: Also two Shillings for every Engraved Sculpture on Brass or Copper, or Meza-tinta Plate or Cutt; payable by the Engraver before it shall be printed off.

6. That the Sum of Twelve Pence in the Pound value be laid on all Hatts, Peruques, and Commodes or Head-Dresses for Women, and on Muffs and Tippets (except for Common-Soldiers Hatts, and such as are under the Price of Five Shillings) to be paid by the Con∣sumptioner. It is here meant, and so in other things, that from Five Shillings, and under Twenty Shillings, to pay but Sixpence, and so to advance and pay at the Rate of Sixpence for every Ten Shillings in the Price of any Commodity; and all under Five Shillings for ease of the Poor in paying nothing.

7. That Six Pence be laid on every Play-house Ticket for Box or Pit, and so proportionably for other places; and for all Stage-Plays, and Shows at Fairs, &c. payable by the Spectators, at their entrance into such Play or Show, &c.

8. That Twelve Pence in the Pound value be laid on every ori∣ginal Copy of Book, Pamphlet or Play, that shall be printed; the one Moiety by the Author, and the other by the Purchaser of such Copy; unless the Author shall at his own Charge Print the same; In that case he to pay the whole Tax according to the Value, to be adjudged by two or more Printers to be Sworn for that purpose, before such Book shall be put into the Press. (Except for such Books of Devotion as shall be given in Charity.)

In all the before Particulars all Persons Tax themselves according to such Degrees as their Extravagancies shall prompt to exceed the Decent and Necessary Uses of them: Several whereof not being at all absolutely requisite, (viz.) Musick, Singing, Dancing, Gold Chains, Rings, Pearl and Precious Jewels; Clocks, Watches, Plate, Fringe and Lace, China, Pictures, &c. nor indeed the Excesses in Perukes and Commodes, and particularly Extravagant Building, especially in the middle and under Rank of People, during the present Chargeable War: However, such whose Quality and For∣tunes ought chiefly to have, and that can afford them, and such others whose Pride, Humour, and Excesses in those Vanities, do, and will far exceed such Decent and Necessary Uses (a thing often wish'd and attempted to be restrain'd.) I think (with most Humble Submission) are the Persons who with most Ease, and least Damage or Burthen, can, and ought most largely to contribute to the Extra∣ordinary

Expence of the War, since every such Person may, and can abridge at pleasure.

But few Men are so Critically knowing in the Intrinsick Value of any Commodity herein named (Plate excepted) as to tell within the Sums mentioned for Taxes, whither they Buy Dear or Cheap, so by consequence cannot feel it.

And because very few Yeomen or Farmers will be concern'd in any of the aforementioned Particulars (who have as yet born but small share in the Charge of the War, though seldom (if ever) better Markets for Corn, Butter, Cheese, &c. than since the War. That if

9. One Shilling per Quarter were laid on every Plow of Horses or Oxen, whose owner Farms or Rents above _____ _____ Pounds per Annum (having regard herein for such Free-holders who have paid the Land-Tax for their Free-holds.) And one Shilling per Quarter payable by all Persons who wear or pretend to wear Swords, (Excepting the Army, and with other due Exceptions) together with twelve Pence to be paid for every Motion at any of the Bars of His Majesty's Courts of Record, and also Twenty Shillings for every Cause or Trial, &c. in any of the said Courts; or at Assizes, upon a Verdict given for any thing above the Value of _____ _____ Pounds, to be first paid down by the Plaintiff, and allowed him in his Bill of Costs by the Defendant, if cast, otherwise not; they would make considerable Additions to the Fund.

It may probably be objected, That

'Twill be hard on the Buyer, who parts with his Money for any thing herein named, to pay the Tax, when perhaps he may be out-reach'd in the price; therefore more reasonable to be paid by the seller who gets pro••••i••••, &c.

The Answer hereunto is Obvious, if Consider'd, that first, none will be Burthen'd with Taxes for any Commoditie, that lies on hand dead and unsold: Secondly the seller is debarr'd of any Just preten∣sions for Inhancing the price thereof, beyond the usual Value, now common in all things Taxed, as Bottles, Glass, Coles, Stamp'd Paper and Parchment, &c. But in the Manner here Proposed, such pre∣tensions are wholly taken away: And Lastly, the Tax will more certainly be pay'd, for no seller will put himself at the Mercy of any Informing Buyer, since it comes not out of his, but the Buyers Pocket.

Now the Method Proposed for the Easie Collecting a Tax thus laid, is Briefly thus,

That in every House or Shop, where these Commodities are made, or sold, there may be fixed, the Kings Box, so contrived, (which I can do), as not to be pick'd or open'd! whereof the King's head Re∣ceiver, of each Parish, Ward, or Hundred to keep the Key: the Ma∣ster of each such House or Shop to have Three pence in the Pound for all Taxes put therein, and to be answerable as well for the due payment as the goodness thereof: Having Books for that purpose, wherein to be Entred, the Buyer and Sellers Name, and the Name of the Commodity, and price sold for, with the Summ paid for Tax: which the said House or Shop-keeper, shall be obliged to re∣ceive and put into the said Box, in the view of such Buyer, before delivery of such Commodity, whether for ready Money, or on Cre∣dit: And for avoiding all Fraud and Deceit therein, upon the In∣formation of any such Buyer, and proof thereof upon Oath before any Justice of Peace, or two or more Commissioners for Taxes, within 48 hours after any Goods or Commodity so Taxed, being sold and delivered, for which the Tax hath not been Demanded and actually pay'd into the Box, and fairly Enter'd in the Book as afore∣said, the seller of such Commodity to forfeit the Summ of for every such Omission, the one Moiety to the King, and the o∣ther to the Informer: And every such House or Shop keeper, to be answerable for their Wife, Servants, and Apprentices unfaithfulness therein: The said Box to be opened by such Receiver at Pleasure, in the Presence of two or more of the Commissioners within that Parish, Ward, or Hundred, and of the House or Shop-keeper: And being adjusted with the Book of Entry's; the said Receiver to give Acquittance for the Summ therein found, and a fair Copy thereof attested under the Hands and Seals of the said Commissioners, and House or Shop-keeper, to be returned Quarterly into his Majesties Exchequer, so as the said Receiver may be charged to answer the same.

The Teachers of Musick, Dancing, and Singing, to be obliged not to Teach, under a Penalty, until the Tax be first paid, at the next Box to the place where such Schollar shall be Taught.

The Tax on Plows and Swords to be Collected and Assessed as the Tax on Marriages, Christenings and Burials.

And if any thing herein named should be sold where no such Box shall be fixed as aforesaid, or be sent to Persons Houses and there a∣greed for &c. It may be very easie for such Persons to send a Ser∣vant with the Seller to the next place where such Box is, and there to pay the Tax, and Enter the Names of Buyer and Seller as afore∣said; which every House or Shop-keeper where such Boxes are, may willingly, or be injoyned to do Gratis, by reason of the Three Pence in the Pound to be allow'd him as aforesaid.

One of which Boxes may be carry'd into any Court, &c. un∣der the care of the Clerk of the Crown, or Peace; or other Offi∣cer daily attending there. And one also may be fixed at each Play-House under the Care of him or them who give out the Tickets, &

[Query,] Now supposing the several particulars herein named, were Taxed according to this Proposal? what Sums may reasonably be expected to be raised thereby.

[Answer,] This is (I humbly conceive) equally uncertain with other Taxes of this kind, As on Glass, Paper and Parchment, &c. neither being possible to be even so much as guessed at, till after some time for Tryal, &c. However according to such Estimates as I can make from Persons who are dealers in some of them, of what, for Years past, have been spent therein; I shall give two or three In∣stances, and submit them to better and more certain Experience.

	l.	s.
1. 'Tis Conjectured that there have been for several Years past, upwards of 40 Millions of Thousands of Bricks and Tyles used yearly; How∣ever I will only compute for the one third part thereof which at 1 s. per Thousand will amount to	666,666	13
2. By several Computations, 'tis thought there are upwards of Seven Millions of People (some say Eight) in England and Wales: Now suppose one fourth part of Seven, one with another, to lay out for Hatts, Peruques, Commodes, Muffs, Tip∣pets, Musick, Singing and Dancing, &c. Twenty Shillings each yearly, which at 12 d. per Pound, amounts to	87,500

	l.
3. If Disbursed for China Ware, Cabinets, Es∣critoires, Pictures, Imported, Drawn, Bought and Sold, at Playes. For Plate, Jewels, Clocks, Watches, Fringe and Lace, &c. to the Value of 200,000 Pound yearly, at 12 d. per Pound that will amount unto	10,000
	l.	s.
These three Heads amount to	764,166	13

Without Reckoning for Plows, Motions, Causes or Tryals, or for Swords, &c.

	l.	s.
Now this Tax being laid for Seven Years (for then no Persons would suspend or alter Measures in their intended and accustomed Uses of any of these particulars depending on the Expiration of this Tax) by the Computation as above would raise the Summ of	5,349,165	11

But supposing some of the Particulars before mentioned be omit∣ted, or that some or all of them be over computed, and 349,165 l. 11 s. being struck off, the remaining Five Millions, to me (with humble submission) seems very probable to be raised with much more Ease, and Equality, than by any other Proposal I have yet seen. And,

If the Mite here Humbly offer'd, in the whole, or in part, prove Useful to the King and Publick, I shall account my self very hap∣py in being Instrumental therein.

J. M.

FINIS.