A PROPOSAL for the Raising the sum of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds or more per Annum as a Fund or Security, for Advancing Moneys for the Service of the Government, with great Ease to the Subject.  
BY a Duty( being laid upon all sorts of hats, according to the Proportionable Prices underwritten, there being a Variety and Sortment of that Commodity that Answers every Respective Price.)  
s. s. s. d. That A hat under— 05 Value— Pay— 00 — 03 That A hat of— 05 and under— 10 pay— 00 — 06 That A hat of— 10 and under— 20 pay— 01 — 00 That A hat of— 20 and under— 30 pay— 02 — 00 That A hat of— 30 and under— 40 pay— 03 — 00 That A hat of— 40 and under— 50 pay— 04 — 00 That A hat of— 50 and under— 60 pay— 05 — 00 That A hat 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 hats 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 hats, 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 sum of Two Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Pounds per Annum.  
And Considering the Duty is laid so easy,( every Man Charging himself by the Price of his hat 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 hat.  
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 sum before-mentioned) yet the Change of Fashions will greatly Augment the Revenue.  
The Collecting of this Duty will be easy and Practicable, and not attended with a Numerous Train of Officers; For not only the greatest Number of hats, but hats 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 hats that shall vend or expose to Sale any sort of hats without having first received a Seal or Impression from the Office Appointed for that purpose, according to the value of the said hats.  
The Seal or Impression to appear visible in the Middle of the Crown within the hat, 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 hats 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.  
By T. H.   

A PROPOSAL  
For Raising a Supply of Two Hundred Thousand Pounds per Annum, and upwards, By a Certain Duty upon hats.