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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 14

[introduction]

Like other of our national fiscal errors, these date back to the ill-omened reign of William III.—the period that launched the National Debt, invented the sanguinary chimæra called the "Balance of Power in Europe," and loaded the trade of the country with every conceivable burden. The first Stamp duties of 1694 varied from 40s. to 1d. upon each sheet or skin of vellum, parchment, &c., used for certain legal processes, while simultaneously every London hackney-coach was charged with a 50s. licence, to be good for 21 years, on payment of £4 per annum in addition. Three years later, the Exchequer attacked the poor class of Pedlars and Hawkers, charging each of these £4 a year, and an additional £1 for every ass or other beast they might employ in the earning of their living. In 1778, it appeared that this duty on Pedlars, &c., realizing £8,000 a year, cost £2,800 (or 35 per cent.) to collect, whereupon the tax was handed over to the Hackney Coach Commission, and in 1831 this office was further amalgamated with the Board of Stamps, which body in 1856 became a Commission of Inland Revenue. But though offices are consolidated and expenses of collection reduced to a minimum, the main grievances imposed by such class taxes and imposts remain substantially unredressed, if indeed they are not yearly augmenting. For instance, take the following table showing the gross amount collected from what are called "Stamps," and the details of each head of revenue included in that term :—
Years ended 31st March. Deeds and other Instruments. Probates of Wills. Legacies and Successions. Insurances, Fire. Insurances Marine. Bills of Exchange, Bankers' Notes, and Composition. Receipts and Drafts. Other Receipts. Total.
£ £ £ £ £ £ £ £ £
1868 1,602,193 1,635,835 2,882,748 971,019 162,974* 820,796 562,548 834,064 9,475,177
1869 1,572,571 1,591,729 2,769,711 1,018,654 79,637 827,152 567,455 814,541 9,241,450
1870 1,686,942 1,769,130 2,953,591 442,861 83,923 853,201 583,569 915,336 9,288,553
1871 1,665,110 1,856,250 2,949,047 99,300 900,080 603,275 906,667 8,979,729
1872 1,842,422 1,852,560 3,360,489 283 109,772 987,100 648,843 938,079 9,739,548
1873 1,955,287 1,943,306 3,177,710 119,159 1,102,111 694,604 1,005,856 9,998,033
1874 1,991,006 2,065,210 3,413,712 127,398 1,127,945 733,158 1,039,478 10,497,607
1875 1,995,792 2,153,797 3,400,375 124,734 1,044,496 747,301 1,081,234 10,547,729
1876 2,204,251 2,253,842 3,531,142 49 119,259 993,591 781,907 1,139,333 11,023,374
1877 2,091,551 2,184,979 3,675,802 118,975 910,162 789,130 1,106,464 10,877,063
1878 2,090,157 2,236,173 3,722,161 120,379 915,068 814,668 1,132,508 11,031,114
1879 2,040,787 2,284,760 3,304,965 112,601 859,506 825,560 1,193,342 10,621,521
1880 2,076,196 2,532,492 3,700,606 120,560 839,109 812,792 1,225,159 11,306,914
1881 2,175,475 3,064,616 3,592,777 130,383 867,854 877,300 1,224,709 11,933,114
1882 2,120,761 3,515,409 3,540,585 141,693 884,487 889,520 1,255,720 12,348,175
1883 2,048,271 3,759,391 3,536,538 153,690 889,334 910,485 393,316 11,691,025
1884 1,912,514 4,063,011 3,335,816 158,434 875,578 934,046 402,032 11,681,431
1885 1,811,945 3,978,586 3,741,609 145,554 827,241 934,381 446,869 11,886,185
1886 1,800,681 4,103,644 3,332,963 136,381 777,461 963,260 447,696 11,600,614

* Duties reduced.

Stamp Duty upon Fire Insurances repealed from 25th of June, 1869.

Receipts from Fee and Patent Stamps carried to "Miscellaneous Revenue" from 1st April, 1882.