An Answer to a Paper Set forth by the COFFEE-MEN; Directed to the HONOURABLE, The Commons in Parliament Assembled. BEING Reflections upon some Propositions that were Exhibited to the Parliament, for the Changing the Excise of Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, into a Custom, upon the Commodities.  
THey acknowledge the said Paper seems to be in Favour of the retailers of Coffee, etc.  
And in Reality it is so: Because, as the Tax before was upon the Liquor, many paid more than they Ought, and many Less:  
And therefore, they themselves Petitioned the Parliament, that there might be an Impost laid after this manner: And do not complain of the manner of the Tax, but that the Rates are too high; when in truth, the Tax is not half so high, as it is by the Statute, if every man paid his just due: And therefore, unjustly Complain of the Paper, as going about to ruin them, and their Families.  
They accuse the Paper of great Falsities in the Proportions of the Coffee, Tea, and Chocolate, to make the several Quantities of Liquors, though the Proportions are the same as are used in most Coffeehouses in and about London.  
And have set out a Calculation of their own, which is much further from Truth.  
But suppose their own Calculation about the Proportions of the Quantities to be true.  
By the Act, every Coffee-Seller is to pay Eight Pence per Gallon for Coffee; Sixteen Pence per Gallon for Tea; and Sixteen Pence per Gallon for Chocolate.  
Now, by their own Calculation, a Pound of Coffee makes two Gallons and an half of Coffee Liquor, which is to pay Twenty Pence.  
But by the Paper, a Pound of Coffee is to pay but Ten Pence.  
A Pound of Tea, by their Calculation, makes Nine Galons of Liquor, which by the Act, at Sixteen Pence per Gallon, amounts to Twelve Shillings per Pound.  
But by the Paper, a Pound of Tea is proposed but at Five Shillings per Pound.  
Chocolate, by the Act, is to pay Sixteen Pence per Galon, and One Pound makes but One Gallon by their Calculation.  
But this must be a False Calculation: For if a pound of Chocolate, which commonly is sold for Four Shillings per Pound, will make but One Gallon, and the Gallon containeth, by their Estimation, but Twenty Dishes. which at Three Pence per Dish, comes to but Five Shillings per Gallon: Now the Duty being Sixteen Pence. and the Chocolate Four Shillings, amounts to Five Shillings and Four Pence per Gallon; So that they lose in every Gallon Four Pence by the Retailing of it, if their Calculation were true.  
But if the Calculation of the proportions in the Paper, which was for Milk-chocolate, and to be sold at Two Pence the Dish; or if one third part of Chocolate be allowed more to the same proportion of Liquor to make it with Water, and sold at Three Pence the Dish, there would appear some Profit to the Retailer, which ought to be more believed than their Calculation, which produceth Loss.  
For Cocao-Nut, they make no Objections; so it's taken for Granted, that may pay One Shilling per Pound.  
So it plainly appears, by their own acknowledgement, that the Rules set down in the Paper, are not half so great as those already appointed by the Act, if every man paid his full due.  
And it is not to be supposed, that the Coffee-men designed, by their Petition, to lessen the Duty of the Excise; but to make it more Equal, by changing it into an Impost.  
And if they pay no more than they ought to do by the Act, they have no reason to complain: And therefore they must acknowledge, that the Paper was Written with a design of Ease and Friendship to them, as well as out of Service to the Crown; to Improve the Revenue to the KING, and render the Tax more Easy to the Subject.  

The Consumption of Coffee as appears by the Coffee-mens' Calculation delivered with their Petition, amounts to 100 Tuns a year, which by the Statute Pays 20d. per Pound, is— 16666. 13. 4.  
Tea, 27000 Pounds a year, at 12 s. per Pound, is— 16200. 00. 00.  
Chocolate, 6000 Pounds at 16 d. per Pound, is— 400. 00. 00.  
Cocao-Nut, 300 Hundreds at 1 s. per Pound, is— 1500. 00. 00.  
in all 34766. 13. 4.   

Whereas the Rates proposed in the proposition for changing the Excise into an Impost, amounts to but— 17033. 6 8.   
There is frequently Sold in Coffeehouses, these following Liquors, which pay the Duties, either of Excise or Customs, viz. Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, Mum, Mead, Metheglin, Cider, Perry, Vsquebaugh, Brandy, Aquavitae, Strong-Waters, Beer, and Ale.  
Now, if all other Invented Liquors (which pay no Duty) be Prohibited under such a Penalty as this Honourable House shall think Fit, it would cause a far greater Consumption of those Liquors that 〈◊〉 Duties.  
FINIS.