The nature of the present excise, and the consequences of its farther extension, examined / In a letter to a Member of Parliament. [Anon].

Date:
1733
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The nature of the present excise, and the consequences of its farther extension, examined / In a letter to a Member of Parliament. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    23/74 (page 15)
    ( !5 ■)' thoie of an inferior Order, lie is better able to refill, and to flruggle with it *, and it could never take its full Swing upon him. Whereas the poor Wretch mull bend, and Jink^ and be crujhed under its Weight. I fay therefore, for thefe Reafons, no Gentleman of Honour can be work’d upon by this Argument ; and I hope there are very few, who would think the Liberties of England liifficiently iecured, it they found themlelves in this Condition ; or, that the Gentry of Great-Britain would be fatisfied to enjoy tht fame kind of Freedom, and the fame kind of Freedom only, with the Noblejje of France. If there fhould be any Gentlemen fo felfijh, as not to be influenced by thefe Confident tions, let them look to themfelves, and fee how they will preferve their own Liberties entire, after thole of the common People are invaded ; Slavery will bear the fame Comparifon, which ti^e Excife has already oorne. It is a kind of Serpent, which if he can once find Entrance for his Head, will readily draw his whole Body alter it. Liberty, like a Woman’s Virtue, is only to be preferved by keeping its Enemy at a Difcance-, the leapt Indilcretion, the leapt Familiarity allowed, expofes it to extreme Danger, ii not to unavoidable Dcftrudlion. G % But