Econlib

The Library

Other Sites

Front Page arrow Titles (by Subject) arrow CHAP. IV.: Of the Method of apportioning Taxes. - The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, vol. 1

Return to Title Page for The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, vol. 1

Search this Title:

Also in the Library:

Subject Area: Economics

CHAP. IV.: Of the Method of apportioning Taxes. - Sir William Petty, The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, vol. 1 [1662]

Edition used:

The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, together with The Observations upon Bills of Mortality, more probably by Captain John Graunt, ed. Charles Henry Hull (Cambridge University Press, 1899), 2 vols.

Part of: The Economic Writings of Sir William Petty, 2 vols.

About Liberty Fund:

Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals.


CHAP. IV.

Of the Method of apportioning Taxes.

1. IF a Million is to be raised above the 300 000 l. last mentioned, then 375 000 l. is to be levied on the Stock, and 625000 l. on the People. ‖

Of the 375,000. on the Stock,

216 on the Lands,

54 on the Cattel, &c.

60 on the Personal Estates,

in all image on the Housing.

1 2. To raise 216,000 l. out of 8,000,000 M. Rent, requires image of the Rent, and image of image; but allowing the charge of Collecting, we may express it to a image part.

3. To raise 54000 l. per annum, out of 36,000000 M. requires the annual payment of a 666th part of the whole value; but in regard of Charges, let it be reduced to a 600th part.

4. The like for the 60000 l. of Personal Estates.

5. To raise 45000 l. per annum, from all the Housing worth 30 Millions, or 7500 for the Housing in London-Liberties, worth about 5 Millions, and whose Rent is 4,20 000 l. per annum, requires but image of the annual Rent, which cannot be above 12d. a Chimney per Annum, reckoning 5 to each House. Without the Liberties, about 10 d. the Chimney will effect the same; 6 d. in the Cities and Market-Towns, and 4d. elsewhere. ‖

6. As for the 625,000 l. to be raised by the People, it requires but 2 s. I d. per Pole per Annum, which let rather be divided into a Pole of 6 d. a Head, and an Excise of 19 d. which is not the full image part of the mean expence, 6l. 13s. 4d. so as the image of the value of Consumptions, will with the said 6 d. Pole, raise 625,000 l. per Annum.

[1]From this point the copyist of S has ruthlessly abridged the text.