| Title: | John Foster, [Location?] to Sir Richard Heron, [Location?] |
|---|---|
| ID | 1094 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Foster, John/73 |
| Year | 1778 |
| Sender | Foster, John |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | politician |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Ireland? |
| Destination | Ireland? |
| Recipient | Sir Richard Heron |
| Recipient Gender | male |
| Relationship | business |
| Source | D.562/8321: Presented by Viscount Massereene and Ferrand, Clotworthy House, Antrim, County Antrim. |
| Archive | The Public Record Office, N.Ireland. |
| Doc. No. | 9510046 |
| Date | 26/10/1778 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | LET |
| Log | Document added by LT, 12:10:95. |
| Word Count | 975 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | Dr. [Dear?] Sir I enclose you what occurred to me upon the papers you sent me on Friday. Those books which might be useful to me on such a subject are mostly in town & therefore there may be many inaccuracies & misrecollections in what I have written, but it will however show that the Circumstances of the Treasury will not require Part: to meet before the usual time. I will also show too truly, that this Kingdom is in a very bad Situation & that upon the system pursued since 1757 it cannot longer exist. In the 2 Yrs [years?] ending L [last?] day 1755 the Revenues exceeded the Expences in 224,000 [224,000] but in 1757 the Expences exceeded the Revenues in 1757 222,000 in 1758 183,000 in 1761 268,000 in 1763 304,000 in 1764 17,000 in 1767 105,000 in 1769 95,000 in 1771 221,000 in 1773 201,000 in 1775 278,000 in 1777 87,000 & will in 1779 nearly 558,000 not withstanding large taxes were added in 1773 & 1775, which will continue, calculated to produce above 140,000 [140,000] yearly In such a state, the only means that occur is to me for our valuation are 1. a Reduction of Expence 2. a more effectual & cheaper collection of the Revenue 3. Such Indulgences in our trade as may by giving Wealth, give ability to us to bear further taxes, at least under those already imposed more productive. As to the 1st it lies within your immediate knowledge therefore I shall only say to it, that I fear, the gradual practicable reduction is not adequate to our necessities. As to the second I am no judge of the cause of the present expensive mode nor of the practicability of allowing it, but I will state to you a few facts from my recollection. Our revenue has been collected from 1750 to 1761 at from 9 to 10 1/2 per Cent thence to 1771 is varied from 11 to 19, but in 1774 it rose to 14 & in 1775 was 16 per Cent - The Revenues of England are collected I understand at 6, or 6 1/2 pr. [pence per pound?] tho [although?] it could not be expected that ours which is so much smaller should be collected as cheaply yet these facts show, it was long collected at less Expence, than now, & the saving between 9 the lowest & 16 the highest rate would on a million be 70,000 a year. I need not mention to you the immoderate sale of the Stamp Collection nor that our [____?] only a yearly tax, as early levied as any private rents costs about 12 pr. [pence per pound?]. In respect of the third point- The effect of the Taxes imposed in 1773 & 1775 would alone, if other circumstances are wanting, show our inability to raise larger annual supplies - & that new Taxes, tho [although?] they may change the object of Revenue will not increase its amount. This want of ability is in other words a want of wealth and there is no probable means of increasing that wealth but by an almost total freedom of trade a freedom which I think I could easily demonstrate would benefit not injure Britain It might be vain to expect any of these three matters to operate separately for our relief by itself, but if the three could be set in motion & by all working together, each contribute a little, we might hope to flourish again. Will you give me leave to trouble you further on this subject & to suggest to you further reasons for the enlargement of our trade, peculiar to this season & why England ought immediately to extend to us the fullest benefit she ever extends? The moment American troubles cease, Emigration from hence will probably begin. Thousands will leave a Country sinking into ruin, where Industry is cramped & the natural means of wealth cut off. But if the strongest Prospect of every commercial Benefit, by a Certainty of being allowed to make full use of every natural advantage of their island be given to us before that time, those thousands may be induced to stay at home & assist themselves and their Mother Country in their native soil. The times are such that an Enlargement of our trade is not only necessary in the general, but is now essential to prevent that Dispondency in the kingdom which would extend itself even into the Linen Country & sink that manufacture by Emigration. Gr. [Great?] Britain must one day or other for her own sake of herself open our trade, my thoughts run not so much in the general for her doing, as for her doing it now while it yet may save us. If the popular dependences will not allow the whole of the woollen trade to be opened- the liberty of exposing Lurgan, singly, mixed goods such as Poplins, Cheques &c with Glasses & stockings would ____[instigate?] the jealousies of a much smaller part of Great Britain than what the cloathing [clothing?] trade would & the more immediately beneficial to us, as we do not produce cloathing [clothing] wool enough for our consumption. I have taken the liberty of troubling you with a very long letter & if I did not restrain myself I should make it yet longer. This is a time in which most essential service is wanting & might be done to this country, & I will truly say, that we never had a lordlieu [Lord Lieutenant] & secretary more sincerely anxious to promote its welfare, none within my knowledge so much so, therefore I may hope this letter long as it is will be excused from its subject I am &c. Oct.[October]25.1778. Copy of my letter to Sir R [Richard?] Heron Oct.[October] 26 1778 |
