Draft memoranda on legislation under Queen Anne relating to duty on foreign trade

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By the statute of 2 Ann c 9, it is enacted that out of the value by the candle of certain East India goods the duties payable upon those goods & the allowances for prompt payments & warehouse room shall be subducted & upon the clear value which remains to the merchant those duties shall be laid which were formerly laid upon the value of the same good stated by oath. This Act was made to remedy the undervaluing of the goods upon Oath.

Now if by the duties payable in the said statute of 2 Ann c. 9 be understood duties which are laid of Acts of Parliament & are actually to be paid, they will amount to 33li 5s. 11d per cent which being subducted from the value by the candle leave 66. 14. 1 per cent And the allowance for prompt payment & warehouse room amounting to 12. 10 per cent being also suducted leave 54. 4. 1 per cent the clear value to the Merchant.

The duties by the value of these goods stated upon oath amount unto 35li 2s. 9d per cent & be the undervaluing of the goods upon oath would have been very small. But upon the clear value of54. 4. 1 this amount unto 19li. 00s. 11d per cent which added to 14. 5. per cent another duty laid upon the value of the same goods by the candle, made the whole duty payable 33. 5. 11 per cent as above.

Quære. Whether by the duties payable are to be understood such duties as are payable by Acts of Parliament and are actually to be paid as has been explained above, or some other imaginary duties which are not imposed by any Acts of Parliament nor are ever to be paid