of them, soon made them surrender up their Pretensions to that Branch of Trade, and indeed all others into our Hands; where I hope they will long continue to improve, and especially if this Treaty be once agreed to in all its Articles, as I doubt not, it will very suddenly.
I have but little to say of the Revenues of this vast Empire, since I propose not to write to your Lordship, what is to be found in every printed Account of them, but only such Alterations as are of more modern Date, and little known in Europe. It is certain within this last forty Years, they have applied themselves much to raise them, even beyond the excessive Bounds of the late Emperours, who seem'd to strive to make up by new Taxes, the lost Revenues of their old Provinces, torn from them on every side.
They have laid immense Excises on all Eatables and Drinkables, and excessive Customs on all Imports and Exports except our British Manufactures, on all Mills, Taverns, and every Trade, not only subservient to the Pleasures but the Conveniences and even Necessaries of Life. They have besides loaded their Lands with great Impositions, and laidTaxes
