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.

    33/74 (page 29)
    But whether it be a Reafon fatisfaftory to the Publick, will be feen by the Event. Th e s e Gentlemen have drawn a Kind of Argument from this Jhameful Secrecy, and with great Pertnefs animadvert upon thofe who have honeftly, and with great ability, oppos’d it when it was yet in Embrio. Some of them, with an awkard Sneer, have endeavour’d to retort a little of that Ridicule, which has been jujlly and liberally bellow’d upon them- felves. They have attempted to be very witty upon Thofe who have written againfi the in¬ tended Excije, as they pretend, without know ing what it was they were writing againft* They have compar’d them to a mad Man in a dark Roomy throwing his ArmSy and kicking his Legs againft the Wainjcot, We muft allow it to be a pretty Thought, and one of their Coups de Maitre. But yet I muft be fo free to tell them, that this is not their Talent; Ri¬ dicule is an edg’d Tool, not to be trufted in ch'ddi/h Hands. It cuts both ways, and the ftriker, if he wants Judgment, or if the Ob- je<5t of his Blow be hard and knotty, often finds, to his Coft, that he wields a dangerous Weapon. This they have all good Reafon to know •, they have all paid dearly in their Turns, for neglect ing this Obfervation. And they