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GOAL MINES OF

coasting duty taken off, should be gaugedthrough parallel metal bars of about half aninch asunder; and, to prevent the introductionof larger coals under this exemption, that thecarrier should be liable to the payment ofdouble duty in case of any fraud being de-tected ; with several other regulations tendingto secure the revenue from fraud and misap-plication.

To induce the coal owners to adopt thesemeasures, if sanctioned by Parliament, a cer-tain tax was by Mr. Chapman’s plan proposedto be laid upon the masses of coal accumu-lated near the pits, according to their dimen-sions ; which would in some measure compelthe owner to lessen the heaps, and in futurescreen smaller quantities. And in order to aidthe lessee as much as possible, that the smallcoals should not be subject to the same rent asothers when led away , according to the customof rental at these collieries: but to give thevendor, and at the same time the owner orlessor, a profit, that a charge in the proportionof one fourth of the rent upon large coals,should be imposed upon them; whereby theproprietor would derive gain from what atpresent lies useless. And that the Duke ofRichmond’s (now a government) duty of one