An Inquiry into the Principles of Political Oeconomy (Vol. 2 of 2): Being an essay on the science of domestic policy in free nations. In which are particularly considered population, agriculture, trade, industry, money, coin, interest, circulation, banks, exchange, public credit, and taxesSteuart, James, Sir
General
An Inquiry into the Principles of Political Oeconomy (Vol. 2 of 2): Being an essay on the science of domestic policy in free nations. In which are particularly considered population, agriculture, trade, industry, money, coin, interest, circulation, banks, exchange, public credit, and taxes
Steuart, James, Sir
Economics
The fifty two collectors send the amount of their collections to London
eight times a year, _almost entirely in bills_. As the same may be said
of the remittances of all the other taxes, we may from this circumstance
observe by the way, that London alone must constantly owe to the country
of England a sum equal to all the bills drawn upon it; that is to say,
to all the taxes which the country pays: a circumstance not to be
overlooked, from which many things may be learned, as will be taken
notice of in the proper place.
The bills sent by the fifty two collectors, are drawn payable to the
commissioners of excise; they indorse them to the receiver general; he
carries them to the bank as they fall due, and gets a receipt for the
amount; this receipt he carries to the exchequer, who charge it in their
account with the bank, and deliver tallies to the receiver general for
the amount of his payments; these tallies he delivers to the
commissioners of excise, who enter them in their book of tallies. This
operation is performed once every week, and serves as a discharge from
the commissioners to the receiver general.
The bank, again, keeps an account with the exchequer, which is settled
once every day, by two clerks, who go from the bank to the exchequer for
that purpose. When coin is wanted by the exchequer, for payments where
bank notes will not answer, the coin is furnished by the bank; when
paper will serve the purpose, paper is issued.
Besides this operation in the receipt of taxes, the bank advances to
government, that is to the exchequer, the amount of the land or other
taxes imposed, which are to be levied within the year. This we see is a
loan upon _government security for a short term_, quite consistent with
the principles upon which the bank is established. The large sums the
bank is constantly receiving of public money, and the great assistance
it obtains from thence in carrying on the other branches of their trade,
enable it at present to make advances of money to government at 3 _per
cent._ It observes the same rule with respect to the great companies of
the East Indies, and South Sea, for the same reason: but no advances are
made to private people; and in discounting of bills and notes of hand,
the regulations above mentioned are adhered to.
Thus the whole amount of taxes is poured into the bank, in the manner we
have been describing.
The bank also keeps the transfer books of all the funds negotiated at
the bank; and out of the public money in its hand, it pays the interest
of those debts, for which government allows to the bank a sum
proportionate to the expence of that branch of management.
When the bank, as a company, lends to government upon a permanent fund,
the capital whereof is not demandable, this operation is foreign to
their business as a bank, and is conducted by the company, as an article
of management of their private property.
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