BY a Duty ( being laid upon all sorts of Hatts , according to the Proportionable Prices under-written , there being a Variety and Sortment of that Commodity that Answers every Respective Price . )

s . s . s . d . That A Hatt under — 05 Value — Pay — 00 — 03 That A Hatt of — 05 and under — 10 pay — 00 — 06 That A Hatt of — 10 and under — 20 pay — 01 — 00 That A Hatt of — 20 and under — 30 pay — 02 — 00 That A Hatt of — 30 and under — 40 pay — 03 — 00 That A Hatt of — 40 and under — 50 pay — 04 — 00 That A Hatt of — 50 and under — 60 pay — 05 — 00 That A Hatt of — 60 and under — 70 pay — 06 — 00

Whereas the Proof of this Matter must be made good by the Computation of the Number of Persons that do wear Hatts of one Price or other .

The Proposer takes it for Granted that it will be Allowed that there are three Millions of Males at least in this Kingdom , when according to Sir William Pettys Calculation and others , there are about Eight Millions of Males and Females ; and the former much the Majority , besides Strangers and floating People .

Then if it be agreed that there are three Millions of Males , besides the many Females that wear Hatts , and that upon an Average it cannot be reduced to less than 1 s . 6 d . per Head , taking the higher Prices with the lower : According to that Number it amounts to the Summe of Two Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Pounds per Annum .

And Considering the Duty is laid so Easie , ( every Man Charging himself by the Price of his Hatt what he pleaseth , ) if it should be thought fit to advance the Rates above-mentioned , the produce would rise by Equal Proportion without any manner of Injury .

In all other Taxes those that have Families have born the greatest part when the least able ; By this it Appears that a single Person shall pay equal .

Besides there 's no one Commodity that is more Universal , or that the People love to have in a better Decorum than a Hatt .

And although it be computed that the Medium Price according to the Rates set down will be One Shilling and Six Pence per Head ; ( which amounts to the Summe before-mentioned ) yet the Change of Fashions will greatly Augment the Revenue .

The Collecting of this Duty will be Easie and Practicable , and not attended with a Numerous Train of Officers ; For not only the greatest Number of Hatts , but Hatts of the greatest Value are made in and about London to serve the Nation in General , and Consequently three parts in four of this Duty will be Collected in this City .

The Certainty of having this Duty paid , will be by laying a Penalty upon every Maker or Retailer of Hatts that shall vend or expose to Sale any sort of Hatts without having first received a Seal or Impression from the Office Appointed for that purpose , according to the value of the said Hatts .

The Seal or Impression to appear visible in the Middle of the Crown within the Hatt , without any Dis-Ornament , being the place where all Eminent Haberdashers fix their Own Seals , to be known by .

Neither can there be any manner of Encouragement to Counterfeit the said Seal or Impression , being so Trivial and so subject to a Discovery .

And although all Hatts be obliged to receive such Seal or Impression to prevent any Fraud , yet that it may not be a discouragement to the Exportation of that Commodity , Every such Person as shall Export the same , upon Certificate from the Custom-House shall receive the Draw-back at the Office where first paid .