Truth Brought to Light, Or, The Corrupt Practices of Some Persons...
A 1694 Proposal to Reform the Taxation of Maritime Cargoes [Crosfeild, Robert]. Truth Brought to Light: Or, The Corrupt Practices of Some Persons at Court Laid Open. Whereby Their Majesties, And the Kingdom, Have Been Prejudiced Near One Hundred and Fifty Thousand Pounds this Year; Besides Other Evils that Have and do Attend it. London: [S.n.], 1694. viii, 23, [1] pp. Quarto (8-1/4" x 6-1/4"). Stab-stitched pamphlet bound into contemporary mottled calf, rebacked in period style, blind rules to boards, blind fillets lettering piece and gilt-stamped date to spine. Light rubbing to boards, moderate rubbing to extremities, small chip to head of spine, corners bumped and somewhat worn, hinges cracked. Title printed within double-ruled border. Moderate toning to text, faint dampstaining to upper corners of a few leaves, light soiling to title page. $1,250. * Only edition. Crosfeild proposes an act of tonnage, whereby coastal vessels would be charged a fixed rate per ton to the collector of each port, and all outward bound ships, except colliers, going either to Holland, Flanders, Portugal, Denmark, or Ireland, would pay twelve pence per ton. However, if any of the latter were taken by the enemy before their voyages were complete, this money would be refunded to them. Inward bound ships, either English or foreign, would pay two shillings per ton, unless they were not fully laden, in which case deductions would be made. Crosfeild thought the abolition of the Receivers-General, who were allowed to take a portion of the taxes they collected, would be beneficial to the finances of the country. He concluded that their interests were being protected by a party of corrupt persons at court because no one there would consider his proposals. OCLC locates 16 copies, 7 in North America, none in a law library. English Short-Title Catalogue R29667.
Price: $1,250.00
Book number 70101