The Virginia Gazette

An American LOOKING-GLASS, exhibiting a two-fold Picture; which it is hoped, at this Time, will be of great Service to the wise and virtuous AMERICANS.

FIRST, a Specimen of the taxable Articles in Great Britain at this Day viz. The Land Tax, Poor Tax, Tavern and Alehouse Licenses, &c. with Taxes and Duties on Tea, Coffee, Leather, Plate, Soap, Candles, Beeswax, and Wax Tapers; Coney Hair for the Hatters Use; Starch, Treacle, Sugars, Tobacco, Snuff, Glass, and House Window Lights; Painters Colours, Wheels of Carriages, Wines of all Kinds, that is, foreign and Home made; all Sorts of spirituous Liquors; and Beer, Cider, Mum, Metheglin, Perry, Malt, Hops, Salt, Paper, Quills, Printers Ink, Stamps, and many other Articles which are too tedious to enumerate.

Secondly, a Specimen of an Act of the British Parliament, which will show the rapid Increase of British Duties and Customs in Britain, on a very few Articles only. for the Space of but a few Years past. The Substance of the said Act, which took Place there on April 21st, 1760, is as follows:

"For every Gallon of Spirits (over and above the Duties on Low Wines) made for Sale, of the Materials mentioned in this Act, which are Malt and Corn, &c. or any of them, to be paid by the Makers thereof, the additional Duties of 1s. 3d. Sterling. For every Gallon of Low Wines, made or drawn from any foreign or imported Materials, or any Mixture therewith, to be paid by the Makers thereof, 1s. 3d. Sterling. For every Gallon of Low Wines from Cider, 6d. three Farthings Sterling. For every Gallon of Spirits made for Sale from Cider, or any Sort or Kind of British Materials, except those before mentioned, to be paid by the Makers thereof, 1s. 1d. three Farthings, &c. &c."

Be pleased to remark, from this Act alluded to the surprising Advance of the Duties in Britain beyond what they formerly were; and also that it appears, from former Acts that in the Course of between twenty and thirty Years they have increased their Duties from 3 d. Sterling to 3 s. 3 d. Sterling a Gallon.

Now if we once submit to the landing of the infamous Tea, which is now approaching us, certainly it will establish a Modus, by which arbitrary Power may saddle us with such a dreadful Catalogue of grievous Taxes as are above enumerated, and which would most assuredly be repented of by all America, when it is too late, the Tax Gatherers themselves only excepted.

I suppose the foregoing Pictures of Grievances are sufficient to rouse the Resentment of every Man, in this yet happy Country, who is capable of distinguishing between Good and Evil, between a State of Freedom and Slavery. If they are not, I can exhibit such a Picture of Oppressions, in the doleful Case of our Fellow Subjects of Ireland, that must affect, with the deepest Pity and Resentment, the most callous and arbitrary Hearts amongst us.

Therefore, brave Americans, I call upon you once more, Associate Without Distinction. Be as one Man: Concord Success ensures, There's not an honest Heart but what is yours.

AN OLD PROPHET.