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Editorial
March 19, 1772
The Virginia Gazette
Richmond, Williamsburg, Richmond County, Virginia
What is this article about?
Satirical editorial proposing a plan to discharge Britain's national debt via new taxes on bachelors, public entertainments, race horses, negro servants, livery servants, dogs, lawyers, pawnbrokers, publicans, and stock speculators, estimating £2,790,000 annual revenue plus existing taxes.
Clipping
OCR Quality
95%
Excellent
Full Text
A Plan for discharging the NATIONAL DEBT.
A Tax on all Bachelors in England, Scotland, and Ireland, above thirty Years of Age, suppose Half a Million of People, at one Pound per Annum, £500,000.
A Tax on all Frequenters of Places of publick Entertainments, in Town and Country. Reckon this Article, in the Gross, at the moderate Sum of £50,000.
Abolish all Pensions under the Government. This Article may be rated at £300,000.
Tax every Race Horse, kept in this Kingdom at twenty Pounds per Annum (reckon one Thousand) £20,000.
Ten Pounds per Annum on every Negro Servant kept in these Kingdoms (suppose five Thousand) £50,000.
Five Pounds per Annum on each Livery Servant kept by any Nobleman, Gentleman, Merchant, &c. (reckon one Hundred and ten Thousand) £550,000.
A Tax of ten Shillings per Annum on every Dog kept by any Person except a Butcher, or others whose Business may demand the Assistance of that Animal. We cannot allow a less Sum for this Article than £300,000.
A Tax of twenty Shillings per Annum on all Butchers, &c. keeping Dogs under License (suppose twenty Thousand) £20,000.
A Tax on thirty Thousand Lawyers, at twenty Pounds per Annum, £600,000.
Ditto on ten Thousand Pawnbrokers, at ten Pounds per Annum, £100,000.
Ditto on fifty Thousand Publicans, at five Pounds per Annum, £250,000.
Ditto on the Bulls and Bears in Change Alley (suppose one Thousand) at fifty Pounds each per Annum, £50,000.
£2,790,000.
Let all Taxes hitherto imposed for the Purpose of paying the Interest of the national Debt be continued, and it is certain that the Taxes above recited will discharge the Principal in a reasonable Number of Years.
A Tax on all Bachelors in England, Scotland, and Ireland, above thirty Years of Age, suppose Half a Million of People, at one Pound per Annum, £500,000.
A Tax on all Frequenters of Places of publick Entertainments, in Town and Country. Reckon this Article, in the Gross, at the moderate Sum of £50,000.
Abolish all Pensions under the Government. This Article may be rated at £300,000.
Tax every Race Horse, kept in this Kingdom at twenty Pounds per Annum (reckon one Thousand) £20,000.
Ten Pounds per Annum on every Negro Servant kept in these Kingdoms (suppose five Thousand) £50,000.
Five Pounds per Annum on each Livery Servant kept by any Nobleman, Gentleman, Merchant, &c. (reckon one Hundred and ten Thousand) £550,000.
A Tax of ten Shillings per Annum on every Dog kept by any Person except a Butcher, or others whose Business may demand the Assistance of that Animal. We cannot allow a less Sum for this Article than £300,000.
A Tax of twenty Shillings per Annum on all Butchers, &c. keeping Dogs under License (suppose twenty Thousand) £20,000.
A Tax on thirty Thousand Lawyers, at twenty Pounds per Annum, £600,000.
Ditto on ten Thousand Pawnbrokers, at ten Pounds per Annum, £100,000.
Ditto on fifty Thousand Publicans, at five Pounds per Annum, £250,000.
Ditto on the Bulls and Bears in Change Alley (suppose one Thousand) at fifty Pounds each per Annum, £50,000.
£2,790,000.
Let all Taxes hitherto imposed for the Purpose of paying the Interest of the national Debt be continued, and it is certain that the Taxes above recited will discharge the Principal in a reasonable Number of Years.
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Economic Policy
Taxation
What keywords are associated?
National Debt
Tax Plan
Bachelors Tax
Dog Tax
Lawyers Tax
Satirical Finance
British Economy
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Plan For Discharging National Debt Through New Taxes
Stance / Tone
Satirical Proposal
Key Arguments
Tax Bachelors Over 30 At £1 Per Annum For £500,000
Tax Public Entertainment Frequenters For £50,000
Abolish Government Pensions For £300,000 Savings
Tax Race Horses At £20 Each For £20,000
Tax Negro Servants At £10 Each For £50,000
Tax Livery Servants At £5 Each For £550,000
Tax Non Working Dogs At 10 Shillings For £300,000
Tax Licensed Working Dogs At £1 Each For £20,000
Tax Lawyers At £20 Each For £600,000
Tax Pawnbrokers, Publicans, And Stock Speculators For Additional £400,000
Continue Existing Debt Interest Taxes To Pay Principal