A. The greatest part of the money must arise from law-suits for the recovery of debts, and be paid by the lower sort of people, who were too poor easily to pay their debts. It is therefore a heavy tax on the poor, and a tax upon them for being poor.
Q. But will not this increase of expence be a means of lessening the number of law-suits?
A. I think not; for as the costs all fall upon the debtor, and are to be paid by him, they would be no discouragement to the creditor to bring his action.
Q. Would it not have the effect of excessive usury?
A. Yes, as an oppression of the debtor.
Q. How many ships are there laden annually in North America with flax-seed for Ireland?
A. I cannot speak to the number of ships, but I know, that in 1752 ten thousand hogsheads of flax-seed, each containing seven bushels, were exported from Philadelphia to Ireland. I suppose the quantity is greatly increased since that time, and it is understood, that the exportation from New York is equal to that from Philadelphia.
Q. What becomes of the flax that grows with that flax-seed?
A. They manufacture some into coarse, and some into a middling kind of linen.