5447. MONOPOLY, Tobacco.—[further continued].
If, by a simplification of the collection of the King's duty on tobacco,
the cost of that collection can be reduced even
to five per cent., or a million and a half, instead
of twenty-five millions; the price to the
consumer will be reduced from three to two
livres the pound. * * * The price, being
thus reduced one-third, would be brought
within the reach of a new and numerous circle
of the people, who cannot, at present, afford
themselves this luxury. The consumption,
then, would probably increase, and perhaps, in
the same if not a greater proportion with the
reduction of the price; that is to say, from
twenty-four to thirty-six millions of pounds;
and the King, continuing to receive twenty-five
sous on the pound, as at present, would receive
forty-five instead of thirty millions of
livres, while his subjects would pay but two
livres for an object which has heretofore cost
them three. Or if, in event, the consumption
were not to be increased, he would levy only
forty-eight millions on his people, where seventy-two
millions are now levied, and would
leave twenty-four millions in their pockets,
either to remain there, or to be levied in
some other form, should the state of revenue
require it. It will enable his subjects, also,
to dispose of between nine and ten millions
worth of their produce and manufactures,
instead of sending nearly that sum annually,
in coin, to enrich a neighboring nation.—
To Count de Vergennes. Washington ed. i, 388.
(P.
1785)
