Sk. VIIL 2.

Finances.

s 67

teded ; and yet this proportion has been contro*verted by an author of fome note *; who maintains,‘‘ That the food and raiment furnifhed to the focietycc by hufbandmen and manufadurers, are all thatthefe good people are bound to contribute : and“ fuppofing them bound to contribute more, it isa not till others have done as much for the public.”At that rate, lawyers and phyficians ought alfo tobe exempted from contributing ; efpecially thofewho draw the greated fums , becaufe they arefuppofed to do the mod good. That argument,the fuggedion of a benevolent heart , is no proofof an enlightened underdanding. The labors of thefarmer, of the lawyer, of the phyfician, contributenot a mite to the public fund, nor tend to defraythe expenfe of government. The luxurious pro-prietor of a great edate has a dill better title to beexempted than the hufbandman ; becaufe he is agreat benefador to the public, by giving bread toa variety of indudrious people. In a word, everyman ought to contribute for being proteded ; andif a hufbandman be proteded in working for himfelfone-and fifty weeks yearly, he ought thankfullyto work one week more, for defraying the expenfeof that protedion.

* L’ami des hommer.