e young nobility,
who begin by associating with him, soon leave him disgusted
with the insupportable profligacy of his society; and Mr.
Fox, who has been supposed his favorite, and not over nice
in the choice of his company, would never keep his company
habitually.
"He has not a single idea of justice, morality, religion or
of the rights of men, or any anxiety for the opinion of the
world. He carries that indifference to fame so far, that he
would probably not be hurt were he to lose his throne,
provided he could be assured of always having meat, drink,
horses & women."
_Essex Register,_ Aug. 26, 1830.
* * * * *
President Stiles of Yale College on the public revenue.
_Extract from President STILES's Election Sermon._
BUT I pass on to another subject in which the welfare of a
community is deeply concerned, I mean the publick
_revenues_. National character and national faith depend on
these. Every people, every large community is able to
furnish a revenue adequate to the exigences of government.
But this is a most difficult subject; and what the happiest
method of raising it, is uncertain. One thing is certain,
that however in most kingdoms and empires the people are
taxed at the will of the prince, yet in _America_, the
people tax themselves, and _therefore cannot tax themselves
beyond their abilities_. But whether the power of taxing be
in an absolute monarchy, a power independent of the people,
or in a body elected by the people, one great error has, I
apprehend, entered into the system of Revenue and Finance in
almost all nations, viz. restricting the collection to
money. Two or three millions can more easily be raised in
produce, than one million in money. This collected and
deposited in stores and magazines, would, by bills drawn
upon these stores, answer all the expenditures of war and
peace. In one country it has been tried with success for
ages; I mean in _China_, the wisest empire the sun hath ever
shined upon. And here, if I recollect aright, not a tenth of
the Imperial revenues hath been collected in money. In rice,
wheat and millet only are collected 40 millions of sacks, of
one hundred and twenty pounds each, equal to 80 million
bushels; in raw and wrought silk one million pounds. The
rest is taken
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