In the time of the monarchy, the kings had the sole power of imposing taxes. In the time of the republic, 'tis strange to see this power belonging sometimes to the magistrates, sometimes to the senate, or to the people. We learn from Livy, in the second Punic War, that the senate could contract debt alone. Polybius says, that all money matters belonged to the senate. The censors levied all the taxes, and farmed them out to the Roman knights. The Romans could be no great politicians; since the senate could not gain the sovereignty, nor the censors the supreme magistracy, notwithstanding these advantages.
All French projectors take it for granted that 'tis equally dangerous to make the people too easy as to oppress them too much. Comte de Boulainvilliers.
The charter governments in America, almost entirely independent of England.
Those north of Virginia interfere most with us in manufactures, which proceeds from the resemblance of soil and climate.
Gustavus Vasa is perhaps the only instance of a prince who humbled the clergy while he aspired to arbitrary power.
From 1729 to 1730, imported of corn into Ireland to the value of £274,000,—ascribed to the want of a drawback by the Irish House of Commons.
The exchange to Holland always against us. Craftsman. Not true.
Our exports no rule to judge of our trade: masters enter more than they export, to persuade others that their ship is near full.
The East India Company have offered to pay all the duties upon tea, provided it may be sold duty free.
The interest the crown has in seizures thought to be the cause why they were refused.—Never asked; because afterwards they cannot expect the execution of the laws against foreign tea.