An Attempt to Rectify the Public Affairs of the United Kingdom and Empire (Volume 1); And Promote Their Private Prosperity, Illustrated by Many Natio (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1804. Excerpt: ... found sufficient to produce the whole revenue that ought to be obtained from these articles. The general subject of rectifying the finances may be proposed under the four following heads; a view of the old or present system of finance; the proper principles on which a different or new system of finance should be founded; an enumeration of the means proposed to constitute this system, with general observations; and a particular consideration of each mean. Thus an immense field is opened for investigation, which it is impossible to pursue, s0as to render ample justice to it, in this treatise. It must however be attempted, so far as it is necessary to point out the proposed method of setting right the finances; and the view given for this purpose must be concise, as your sojourn in attending parliamentary business is almost expired. For my wish is to lay at this time the first part of the design before at least a few members of your two august houses; and there appears to be no other alternative than that of offering my proposals in a plain and simple form, and leaving them to evince their own powers and energies, as qualified to accomplish what is proposed to be effected by their means. Reference will occasionally be made to the following plans, intended to be given, perhaps with some improvements, in the appendix to the second part; namely, for maintaining the poor of the kingdom, for supporting it's roads, for suppressing smuggling, for pro curing a public revenue from bank paper money, and for the consolidated malt-tax, by which plans, as well as by other means, the public revenue is proposed to be raised in a manner not only unexceptionable, but desirable. In the mean time they can, if necessary, be produced from my Treatise on the Practical Perfection ...