Briefwisseling en aantekeningen. Deel 2

412
R. Wolters aan Willem Bentinck

[B.M., Eg. 1745]

Rotterdam, 25 augustus 1748

I hope that you will be so good as to keep the affair of the tapestry in your mind¹⁾.

In the hurry that I was in yesterday, I forgott to mention to you two articles which I take this opportunity of mentioning.

1^o. It is very much to be wished that some means may be found of laying a taxe upon brandy and distilled liquors, since we begin allready to find the bad effects of the cheapness of those commodities which, I can assure you, is most sensibly felt in the province of Utrecht, where the mob now that gin is att half a penny a glass instead of two styvers, is seen drunk every day. You know better than I do the dire effects that may arise from this.

2^o. Wines I suppose cannot be loaded with a higher duty, as to be sure the court of France will like to have the tarif to be regulated as much to her advantedge as can be and as French wines without excise will be come very cheap, everybody will drink them, which will turn the ballance of trade in that branch more and more to the advantedge of the French. Will it not be possible by some means or other to lay a heavy tax upon wine, which those that are used to drink wine can very well pay, and which will not make the body of the people grumble? In this as well as in other things that may have your approbation, you may be sure, that I shall with those that I have some influence over allways sett a good example. I take it that the present scheme of redress is, or att least should be, to ease the body of the people and it is not a button matter, whether people that are in higher classes pay even as much as they did by the pagts. If they grumble, it is of very little consequence, provided these measures ease to people, who will smile att the complaints of those of higher classes.

1) Het is niet duidelijk wat hiermee bedoeld wordt.

[p. 138]

God grant, that this opportunity may be properly improved to graft the affection for the Prince so well in the hearts of the people, that all the tricks of malicious and secret ennemis may not root it out. This is our sheet anchor, the ground in which it holds is good.

Nothing in my opinion is wanting to make the people easy than to convince them, that the late tyrants of the land are neither countenanced nor screened; one example of severity will go further than a thousand favours.

I believe your voyage by water must depend upon the wind. If att east as it is now, it will not well be practicable²⁾.

2) Doelt Wolters hierbij op Bentincks reis naar Amsterdam? Maar daartoe werd pas op 27 augustus besloten, De Voogd, p. 141; Geyl, Revolutiedagen, p. 141; Archives IV, I, p. 241.