TAXATION

OF

THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

LONDON: PRINTED BY S. BENTLEY, DORSET-STREET.

TAXATION, AREA, AND POPULATION OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE.*

* The nearest approximation to correctness which existing Public documents afford.

TAXATION

OF

THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

BY

R. MONTGOMERY MARTIN.

Industry is the mother of virtue ;
Poverty and ignorance the parents of crime.

LONDON:

EFFINGHAM WILSON, ROYAL EXCHANGE.

MDCCCXXXIII.

13-164 18 67,825,595

18

INTRODUCTION.

"The increase of the population of England from 1814 to 1832 was 25 per cent.; of poor rates 300 to 400 per cent.; of crime 300 per cent.; of emigration 4000 per cent.; and of insolvencies 100 per cent."-House of Commons Debate, 23d May, 1833.

REVOLUTION and REPUBLICANISM are the topics of the day. What has England to gain by the adoption of the one or the execution of the other ?

These are questions which every thinking individual (high and low) should seriously ask himself, and calmly revolve in his own mind; and while fulfilling this imperative duty, let him bring to the aid of his judgment the experience derived from the past, as the surest guide for present or future conduct. If we look towards other countries in which revolutions have been effected by physical force, do we see any thing to excite our admiration and stimulate us to follow their example? The historic scroll of nations is pregnant with this truism, that popular commotions, if unsuccessful, have been