It is confidently believed, however, that the parliament
will be immediately recalled, the stamp tax and land tax repealed, and
other means devised of accommodating their receipts and expenditures.
Those supposed to be in contemplation, are, a rigorous levy of the old
tax of the _deux vingtiemes_, on the rich, who had, in a great measure,
withdrawn their property from it, as well as on the poor, on whom it had
principally fallen. This will greatly increase the receipts: while they
are proceeding on the other hand, to reform their expenses far beyond
what they had promised. It is said these reformations will amount to
eighty millions. Circumstances render these measures more and more
pressing. I mentioned to you in my last letter, that the officer
charged by the ministry to watch the motion of the British squadron, had
returned with information that it had sailed westwardly. The fact was
not true. He had formed his conclusion too hastily, and thus led the
ministry into error. The King of Prussia, urged on by England, has
pressed more and more the affairs of Holland and lately has given to the
States General of Holland four days only to comply with his demand.
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