1820. Aug. 19.

Rid Yourselves

Lett. 3 Ultramaria Submissive

Creoles Willing

Note (a)

(a) Mine rents - meaning taxes on the

produce of the mines, as it comes out of the mine. In any account of the " Revenue received in America", I can not find any mention

made of any such rent or tax. In Townsend's journey through Spain spoken of in the

Introduction to these Letters II. 413, 2 d Edition, mention is

indeed incidentally made of " the tribute in gold and

silver": and, on that occasion, the rate of the impost is mentioned, as it

varied from period to period. Before the year 1776, but from what time is not mentioned, it had been one

fifth: rate, the same on silver and on gold. In that

year it is spoken of as being reduced to one tenth upon

silver, and one twentieth upon gold.

In the general account, which has been seen as above, of this same " Revenue received in America" no mention however appears of

any sum, received at the mines from the proprietors as such: " duties on gold and silver exported" is the name given to the only item in which mention is made of these precious metals as

contributing a source of revenue to government. Is it that, instead of being paid at the mine, what is paid was not paid but on exportation? If so, then whatsoever was expended or

hoarded by the proprietors and those who were employed by them - in a word,

whatsoever was not known to be exported stood exempted from

the tax.