Читать книгу Documents Relating to the Constitutional History of Canada 1759-1791, Part I - Adam Shortt - Страница 121
Observations.
Оглавление1st I had the Honor to inform the Lords of the Treasury very fully of the state of the Kings ports, in a Letter to Mr Martin their Secretary, of the 7th November last, at the same time that I transmitted all accounts relative thereto by Mr Ainslie whom I intrusted with the management of them until I could receive instructions from home, I am thoroughly persuaded the proposal I therein made to their Lordships of selling them to the highest bidder, for a Term of Years, is the surest expedient to make them profitable to His Majesty.
2 — The duty on Liquids will ever bring in a considerable sum, for tho' the Canadians in general are not much given to drunkenness, Yet Men, Women and Children are used to drink a certain quantity of strong Liquors, the severity of the Climate having probably introduced this practice. By the great improvement likely to be made in the Fisheries the consumption of these will considerably increase.
3 — As the Canadians seem thoroughly reconciled to the use of British made Corn spirits, the consumption thereof could suffer no diminution, from a moderate duty upon the same of 6d pr Gallon, and that of Rum or New England Spirits might be raised to a Shilling, this would check the importation of the latter and favor that of the former, that the Revenue may not suffer by this measure, it will be necessary to prevent any attempts which may be made of smuggling by the Lakes while they are navigable as well as when they are to be travelled over with carriages. — The like precaution will be necessary to be taken for the lower part of this River, which abounds with little bays, Creeks, and Rivers favorable for such practices, as detrimental to the fair Trader as to the state itself.
4th — As there have been few or no purchases made since we have been in possession of Canada, the people having no money and being uncertain of their fate, the Lots et Vents, have produced nothing considerable; when a settlement takes place this branch of the Revenue will probably receive a large encrease.
5 — The tax upon Houses in the City and Suburbs of Quebec for the support of the Barracks, could not be levied upon the Inhabitants since the Town has been in our possession, as great part of it was in ruins, and many of these who were formerly wealthy have been reduced to great distress thereby, besides that it might prove a disencouragement to the rebuilding it.
6 — As probably it may be thought right, not to receive the duties on dry goods, a Tax upon Horses might be introduced in lieu thereof, it would serve also to restrain a piece of luxury the people of this Country are too apt to run into, in that respect, and prove a means to encourage the breed, of horned Cattle of which at present by the unavoidable waste of War, they are very short, besides, as Cattle must be housed here for a long time during the Winter, the Horn'd kind are fodder'd with more ease, less cost, and afford a double utility.
7th — The small salaries given by the French Government to the Civil Officers in general made them neglect their duty and wreck their invention to cheat and trick both King and People; This was carried to such a length that many instances may be cited of clerks and men in petty Offices with Yearly Salaries of only Six or Eight Hundred Livres, raising to themselves in the compass of three or four Years Fortunes of three or four hundred thousand.
8. — Before I close this article I must add that the duty on Wine may be easily revived without distressing the people or lessening the consumption, as there is no doubt that an additional one may be raised hereafter upon spirits. But it must be observed, that the lighter the burthens are laid at present upon the people, the more it will ingratiate their new Masters, the more it will enable them to repair their past losses and the sooner they will be in a condition to contribute a proper portion to the public expences.
