WALPOLE, Robert.

Inquire · Offered by Peter Harrington

Some General Considerations Concerning the Alteration and Improvement of Publick revenues. First edition of this pamphlet by the sitting prime minister, defending his efforts to impose an excise tax on wine and tobacco. By 1733, Walpole had served as de-facto prime minister for over a decade and built up an extremely strong position of power in the Whig party. Early that year, Walpole attempted to use that power to challenge the fiscal losses resulting from smuggling. However, he had miscalculated the extent of popular opposition to the increased scrutiny that would follow from such measures. His enemies played on this opposition to stoke fears about a "general excise", and it is this charge in particular that Walpole aims to address in the present pamphlet.

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