Daily Courant in London, Middlesex

Smuggling Debate in Excise Policy and Tax Fairness

A lengthy critique argues that consumer taxes depend on fair collection and that rampant smuggling undermines revenue and trade. It cites smugglers on England coastlines and Welsh sea communities as evidence, urging stricter methods to prevent illicit imports while avoiding harsh troop deployments. The piece defends proportional taxation where every buyer pays for what they consume and warns of broader economic harm if duties fail.