Folios 102-105. Notes of the proceedings in the House of Commons for Ambassador Williamson....

Folios 102-105. Notes of the proceedings in the House of Commons for Ambassador Williamson. 9 April. Sir Thomas Littleton's report of the resolutions about charging grants. The House in committee on the bill for the Russia trade. House in committee on Mr Cowper's bill of election. 12 April. House in a committee of Ways and Means about raising part of the Supply by establishing the East India Company by Act of Parliament in connection with which Mr Bohun, Governor of the Company, Sir Christopher Musgrave, Mr [John] Smith are mentioned; Mr Godolphin's proposal, following the proposal of 'some loose things' as funds, of 'taxing people according to their expenses in the lump going by way of political arithmetic, supposing there were six millions of people in the kingdom and that one with another they expended £6 per annum each which made £36,000,000 in the year; and he would have every one pay the fortieth part of this expense whereby £900,000 might be raised, he computed 10,000 parishes in England, which may have 600 souls each one with another'. It was moved that this proposal being 'so near a poll tax they should rather go directly into it'.