Proposals for raising a very considerable summ of money on ships and other vessels whereby the sea as well as the land may be made to contribute to the defence of both.

PROPOSALS For Raising a very Considerable Summ of Money on Ships and other Vessels, whereby the Sea as well as the Land may be made to Contribute to the Defence of Both.

• I. THAT there be a general Tax laid on all the Ships, Barques, Barges, Lighters, Boats, Bottoms, or other Vessels, whatsoever, that go upon the Water, by way of Tunnage, at the rate of twelve pence per Tun to be paid by the Owners and Proprietors of all such Vessels, that are for the time being within this Kingdom of England, Dominions of Wales, or Town of Berwick upon Tweed, or within any of the Ports, Havens, Harbours, Creeks, and Roads belonging to the same, to be paid within a limited time. And publick Gaugers to be appointed at every Custom-House or Port to Collect it, taking in all the Havens and Creeks within their respective Districts.
• II. Secondly, That all Ships and other Vessels, that are at this time abroad in Voyages, do pay their Tunnage at the aforesaid rate of twelve pence per Tun on their arrival to their respective Ports of Discharge in England, and not admitted to be discharged at the Custom-House till this Duty be paid.
• III. That after all the aforesaid Ships, Barques, Barges, Lighters, Boats, and other Vessels have paid this General Tax of twelve pence per Tu••, all Trading Vessels to pay twelve pence per Tun Outwards, and twelve pence per Tun Inwards, to the Officers appointed to Collect the same at th•• ••••••p••ctiv•• Custom-Houses during the Term of three years from the twenty fifth of December next ensuing.
• IV. Tha•• ••ll Coast Trading Vessels, Barges, Lighters, Boats, &c. pay twelve pence per Tun yearly during the Term aforesaid; besides the general charge of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 pence per Tun in the first Article.
• V. That there 〈…〉〈…〉 General Office kept in the Port of London, for a Correspondency with all the Out Ports in reference to this Duty, and for the observance of such Orders, Rules, and Directions as shall in pursuance of an Act of Parliament be given to this purpose.

The Method for Collecting this Tax, and the proper Officers to be employed: their Qualifications, and the Provisions to be made for se∣curing the payment of this Duty according to the just Gauge of every Vessel, and the Penalties of such as shall make default, with divers other things relating to this Duty shall be ready to be presented in due time, when the ma••••••r herein is approved of.

The Reasons for this Tunnage-Tax (amongst many others) may be these.

• I. FIRST, Because it will amount to a very considerable Summ.
• II. It may be made a certain Fund for a security to any Bankers that shall advance Money on the Credit of the Act.
• III. A great part of the Money will be raised in a very short time on all the Ships and other Vessels, that for the time being, after the passing the Act, shall be in the Kingdom.
• IV. The Method of Collecting it will be less chargeable than other Publick Taxes.
• V. 'Tis most reasonable that the Product of the Profits of the Trade at Sea should bear some part of the Burthen with the Land.
• VI. 'Tis a most easie Tax in Comparison of the usual Land Taxes, for according to the lowest computation there are few Vessels that with Rigging, Tackle, and all their Furniture, are not worth, to be sold, more than three pounds per Tun, for which is paid but one Shilling, the sixtieth part: Whereas the Land Taxes, at three pence per pound per mensem, come to three Shillings in the pound, which is near a sixth part per an∣num, whereas the Tunnage proposed is but the sixtieth part of the Intrinsick value of the Ships and Vessels hereby charged.
• VII. A Tenement of thirty pounds per annum pays, at the rate aforesaid, about five pounds per annum to the Publick Tax, and a Ship of an hundred Tun pays no more. And after the deduction of Laborers and Servants Wages, and other necessary Charges in manuring the Land Estate of thirty pounds per annum, and deduction of all the Charges of a Ship of an hundred Tun for one years Trading, the Product of the clear Profit of this Ships Trade for one year, is usually at least four times as much as the profit of this Tenement of thirty pounds per annum, that pays notwithstanding, at the rate aforesaid, as much as the proposed Tunnage.
• VIII. It is also to be considered the Land hath on all occasions for some scores of years last past been burthened with many repeated heavy Taxes, whereas the Merchants and Owners of Ships, that Trade at Sea, have been wholly exempted.

Objection. If it be Objected that the Merchants pay a Duty for all Goods that they Export or Import.

Answer

• I. THERE must be a distinction made between the Profit of the Ship by way of Freight, and the Product of the Merchants Cargoe, which are different things.
• II. Many Owners get great Estates, only by the Freight of their Ships, that never Trade by way of Merchandize, and they pay no Duty.
• III. The Merchant never loseth, but often gains, by the Kings Customs; for he advanceth the price of the Commodity answerable to the Charge of the Customs, only the Merchant lays it out, and the Country reimburse them again with Advantage.
• IV. But when the Merchant runs his Goods without paying Custom (which is not unusual) in this Case the Merchants Gains are much the greater by reason of the Customs, for he sells as if he had paid the Duty, and makes the Country pay accordingly.
• V. The Revenue arising by the Customs is applyed solely to the Use, Service, Benefit, and Advantage of those that Trade at Sea. And the Customs by the Act of Tunnage and Poundage, are given to that very end and purpose, for the Guarding and Defending of the Seas, and very probably the King adds a great part of the other Revenue also towards it. So though the Country as abovesaid, in effect, do repay the Customs, yet the Merchants and Owners have the sole benefit of it.

And for all these (and other Reasons, too large to enumerate) the Duty of Custom can be no reason to exempt the Merchants and Owners from the Duty of Tunnage herein proposed.

If any other Objections should be made, when known, they may receive an Answer.

If the Proposer receives Encouragement, he intends to offer Proposals for Advancing the Revenue of their Majesties Customs at least 40000 l. per annum, without any Additional Imposition; and which shall be also for the Advantage of all Merchants that fustly pay their Majesties Customs.