Chapter 21 appendix

Since the publication of this book has exceeded the original plan, considering various circumstances, I think it is necessary to explain the reasons for the postponement of publication. The reader may find some parts of the tax relief plan in this book so similar to parts of Mr. Pitt's opening address to this session of Parliament on Tuesday, January 31, that it is not the author who has Mr. Pitt's proposal. Inspiration, that is, Mr. Pitt was inspired by the author. —I will first point out the similarities, then state what I know, and leave the reader to draw his own conclusions. It is almost unprecedented that tax exemptions be proposed; it is equally astonishing that such a proposal should be proposed by two persons at the same time; Tax.Mr. Pitt mentioned in his speeches the wagon tax - the maid's tax - the lowering of the candle tax, and the exemption from the three shillings tax on houses below seven windows.

Each of these specific taxes is part of the plan outlined in this book and is also recommended for exemption.It is true that the tax reduction proposed by Mr. Pitt does not exceed £320,000; the tax reduction proposed in this book is nearly £6 million.I calculated it on the basis of an annual income of only £16.5 million, or judged "very close to it, if not seventeen million." Mr. Pitt said it was £16.69 million. .I can be sure he said that he didn't over-exaggerate.Having described the similarities between this book and Mr. Pitt's speech, I would like to present some illustrative facts.

As a consequence of the French Revolution, the first hints of tax relief were found in the "Speeches and Manifestos" of the gentlemen assembled at the Cottage Hotel on August 1791.Among the many questions raised in that speech was a passage posed to those in the government opposed to the French Revolution: "Have they not lamented that the pretense of imposing heavy new taxes and the opportunity of continuing to levy many of the old taxes are coming to an end?" It is well known that those who frequented the Cottage Hotel were those connected with the court, and they were so disgusted with this "speech and manifesto" concerning the French Revolution and tax reduction, that the hotel owner was obliged to inform the organizers of the meeting of August 20th. And the gentlemen who were about to call another meeting said he could not receive them.

The principles of taxation and government, only hinted at in the "Speeches and Proclamations," become a formal institution in this book.But, as there is a similarity in Mr. Pitt's speech concerning taxes, I will now give what has been mentioned above. The thing is this: the book was meant to be published on the eve of the opening of Parliament, and for this reason a large part of the manuscript was delivered to the printer during the month, and the rest up to page two hundred and forty-four— - which included parts similar to Mr. Pitt's speech - was given to him a full six weeks before Parliament, and he was notified of the time of publication.He arranged almost the whole manuscript about two weeks before the session of Parliament, and had printed it up to page one hundred and eighty-six, and handed me proofs up to page two hundred and fifth.Judging from the situation at the time, it could have been published at the scheduled time, because there are two other proofs ready to be printed.I told him in advance that if he thought that the man who signed the "Speech and Declaration" was Mr. Horn Tucker, the chairman of the meeting, it was generally believed that he drafted the document, and he praised the document, so everyone He scolded him for boasting in a funny way.In order to save him from this embarrassing situation, and save him from having to explain again and again who the original author was, I can state plainly that, thanks to the convenience afforded to me by the French Revolution, I have drawn up this document and have shown it to the Chairman of the Conference and several other gentlemen. ; they fully agreed with the document, held a meeting, decided to publish it, and donated fifty gold coins as publicity expenses.

I believe that a greater number of persons in England are at present acting on the principles of justice, and are determined to study for themselves the nature and measures of the government, than to place blind and general confidence in either the government or the Parliament, or the opposition parties in it, as has been the case in the past.If this had been done a century ago, corruption and taxation would not have been as serious as they are now. --author If there was too little time, I could send part of the manuscript to another printing house, and he expressed his hope that I would not do this.This was the week before Tuesday's session of Parliament, but with no prior notice—though I had met him the night before—he suddenly sent a workman to print the paper from 186th All the rest of the pages at the beginning of the page were returned to me, expressing my reluctance to be typed, and without any room for negotiation.

I was almost bewildered by this sudden move, for he stopped right where the part on the system and principles of government ended and the plan for cutting taxes, educating children, and supporting the poor and old began; , when he set about printing and before seeing the full draft, he offered a thousand pounds for the rights to this part and the future rights to the first part.I said to the person who brought the offer that I did not want to accept it, nor would I wish to renew the contract, on the grounds that, although I believed the printer to be a gentleman, I would never allow any printer or publisher to copyright to stop the distribution or falsification of my work, nor to grant him the right to sell my work to any minister or anyone else, or to make as a mere commodity what I intended to use as a principle. trade.

Unable to buy my work, he refused to complete the printing, and I was obliged to seek another printer, and consequently postpone publication until after the opening of Parliament, otherwise it would appear that Mr. Pitt had only studied my work more fully. part of the plan described. Whether that gentleman or others read my work or part of it beforehand, I cannot say.But, "the way the book was returned, and at the critical moment, and after his offer to buy the rights was rejected, it's suspicious. I know booksellers and publishers are skeptical What do you think, as for my own opinion, I am determined not to disclose it. There are many ways for others to get a proof of a work before it is published to the public; to this I would like to add:

There was a bookseller in Piccadilly, who used to print books in the same printing-house which I used.The bookseller is said to have been hired by a secretary of a Ministry closely connected with the Cabinet (Commerce and Colonization, headed by Hawkesbury) to publish what he called My Life ②This book (may his own life be as good as that of all the cabinet members); but, when the first part was published, he took his book in a rage; a week or so before the printer returned my draft About ten days later, he went to the printer again and handed over the book to him for printing again, and the latter agreed.This gave him free access to the printing shop where the proof copy was at the time; and, as booksellers and printers interacted so casually, he had the opportunity to see the book being set. —But whatever the case may be, Mr. Pitt's modest plans would appear embarrassing if the book were published on the date agreed with the printer.

I have given the details of the circumstances that led to the delay of publication of this book—from the offer to buy the rights to the refusal to print it.If all these gentlemen are innocent, it is extremely unfortunate for them that so many suspicious incidents should have so coincidentally conspired by themselves. After finishing this part of the situation, I would like to say one more thing to end this article. About two or three weeks before Parliament the soldiers were paid a small additional pay, about twelve shillings and sixpence a year, or rather underpaid them so much.Some gentlemen who have heard of a project in my book concerning the improvement of the ill-treatment of soldiers would like me to add a note to the book that the part on this subject was passed to the printers weeks before the raise was proposed. ①Piccadilly Avenue is a bustling street in London, which is a commercial district. - translator

② Refers to the defamatory book "The Life of Thomas Paine" by Jocha Chalmers, under the pseudonym "Francis Aldiz," M.A., University of Pennsylvania. ——Original Editor up.I refuse to do so, lest I should be thought to be pretentious, or to create the suspicion (perhaps unfounded) that certain gentlemen in the government have tried various means to ascertain the contents of this book: and if it were not for the typographical These words in the appendix would not have been written if the work had been interrupted so suddenly that publication had been delayed. thomas paine