we read that Edward the black prince (ſoon after his ſucceſſes in France) in imitation of the Engliſh cuſtom, impoſed a tax of a florin upon every hearth in his French dominions[1]. But the firſt parliamentary eſtabliſhment of it in England was by ſtatute 13 & 14 Car. II. c. 10. whereby an hereditary revenue of 2s. for every hearth, in all houſes paying to church and poor, was granted to the king for ever. And, by ſubſequent ſtatutes, for the more regular aſſeſſment of this tax, the conſtable and two other ſubſtantial inhabitants of the pariſh, to be appointed yearly, (or the ſurveyor, appointed by the crown, together with ſuch conſtable or other public officer) were, once in every year, empowered to view the inſide of every houſe in the pariſh. But, upon the revolution, by ſtatute 1 W. & M. ſt. 1. c. 10. hearth-money was declared to be "not only a great oppreſſion to the poorer ſort, but a badge of ſlavery upon the whole people, expoſing every man's houſe to be entered into, and ſearched at pleaſure, by perſons unknown to him; and therefore, to erect a laſting monument of their majeſties' goodneſs in every houſe in the kingdom, the duty of hearth-money was taken away and aboliſhed." This monument of goodneſs remains among us to this day: but the proſpect of it was ſomewhat darkened when, in ſix years afterwards, by ſtatute 7 W. III. c. 18. a tax was laid upon all houſes (except cottages) of 2s. now advanced to 3s. per houſe, and a tax alſo upon all windows, if they exceeded nine, in ſuch houſe. Which rates have been from time to time[2] varied, being now extended to all windows exceeding ſix; and power is given to ſurveyors, appointed by the crown, to inſpect the outſide of houſes, and alſo to paſs through any houſe two days in the year, into any court or yard to inſpect the windows there.
VII. The ſeventh branch of the extraordinary perpetual revenue is the duty ariſing from licences to hackney coaches and chairs in London, and the parts adjacent. In 1654 two hundred hackney coaches were allowed within London, Weſtminſter, and
