VII.]
OF ENGLAND.
77
I was told that it is utterly impossible to collect more than one-third nominal rents. At the same time, the owners of property have never done with the tax-collector. The following is a list of the local burdens:—
| s. | d. | |
| Annual poor rate. 5s. in the £ | 5 | 0 |
| District rate, 2s. in the £ | 2 | 0 |
| Watch rate, 6d. in the £ | 0 | 6 |
| Water rate, 6d. in the £ | 0 | 6 |
| Borough rate, l½d. in the £ | 0 | 1½ |
| Church rate, 7d. in the £ | 0 | 7 |
Then come the Imperial taxes:—
| Property tax, 9d. in the £ | 0 | 9 |
| House tax, 1s. in the £ | 1 | 0 |
| 10 | 5½ |
I have not put down the assessed taxes which are levied on horses, dogs, male servants, carriages, armorial bearings, hair powder, and almost every tangible luxury of the rich. But, irrespective of the assessed taxes, and possibly some other burdens I have missed, it will be seen by the above list that the inhabitants of Coventry who have property are now paying 10s., 5½d. in the £ in the shape of taxes.
At Nuneaton an over-stout gentleman farmer
