dom was to be ſtripped of ſuch of his lands as were formerly the property of the crown; was to be again ſubject to the inconveniences of purveyance and pre-emption, the oppreſſion of foreſt laws, and the ſlavery of feodal tenures; and was to reſign into the king's hands all his royal franchiſes of waifs, wrecks, eſtrays, treaſure-trove, mines, deodands, forfeitures, and the like: he would find himſelf a greater loſer, than by paying his quota to ſuch taxes, as are neceſſary to the ſupport of government. The thing therefore to be wiſhed and aimed at in a land of liberty, is by no means the total abolition of taxes, which would draw after it very pernicious conſequences, and the very ſuppoſition of which is the height of political abſurdity. For as the true idea of government and magiſtracy will be found to conſiſt in this, that ſome few men are deputed by many others to preſide over public affairs, ſo that individuals may the better be enabled to attend their private concerns; it is neceſſary that thoſe individuals ſhould be bound to contribute a portion of their private gains, in order to ſupport that government, and reward that magiſtracy, which protects them in the enjoyment of their reſpective properties. But the things to be aimed at are wiſdom and moderation, not only in granting, but alſo in the method of raiſing, the neceſſary ſupplies; by contriving to do both in ſuch a manner as may be mod conducive to the national welfare, and at the ſame time moſt conſiſtent with oeconomy and the liberty of the ſubject; who, when properly taxed, contributes only, as was before obſerved[1], ſome part of his property, in order to enjoy the reſt.
These extraordinary grants are uſually called by the ſynonymous names of aids, ſubſidies, and ſupplies; and are granted, we have formerly ſeen[2], by the commons of Great Britain, in parliament aſſembled: who, when they have voted a ſupply to his majeſty, and ſettled the quantum of that ſupply, uſually reſolve themſelves into what is called a committee of ways and means, to conſider of the ways and means of raiſing the ſupply ſo voted.
