REASONS Humbly offered by the Soap makers of the City of London to the Honourable the House of Commons in Parliament assembled against a Duty to be laid upon Soap.  
1st. THat the Excise of Soap in the time of the late Civil Wars amounted but to about 7000 l. per Annum after all Charges of Collecting paid.  
2dly. That since the present War with France, the Excise of Soap being discoursed of, it was thought more convenient to lay a Duty upon the Commodities it was made of, they being more easy to collect at the custom House, and accordingly a great Duty was laid upon the Ingredients of which Soap is made, to the value of about a half penny per pound( being 10 s. per Barrel) by reason whereof, and of the present War, the Commodities are so dear, that the Trade of Soap is much decayed in London, for that in many Counties especially the North and West, the Chandlers and others privately make Cake Soap, Ball Soap, and white Soap of Wood and Fern Ashes and Kitchen-stuff, and the like, which much lessons the sale of Soap in London.  
3. That if any Excise be laid upon Soap it will cause many People to make Soap in private, which will much lessen the Revenue, and tend to the Ruin of those that honestly pay the Duty.  
4. That Soap in London, being made of Olive oil and foreign Pot-ashes, and Tallow, which Commodities are the return of Fish, Cloath, led, Tin, &c. A new Duty will make Soap so very dear, that the sale of it will be much lessened, and consequently the Exportation of these Commodities will be very much lessened also.  
5. That if a Duty be laid upon Soap it will subject the Soap-makers to great grievance, by Officers continually Night and Day disturbing their Houses, as is well remembered by some Soap-makers, who were Traders in the time of the late Civil Wars.  
6. That there being already great Duties laid upon the Ingredients, Soap is made of, as aforesaid, if an Excise be now laid on Soap it will be taxing the Labouring and Manufacturing of the Commodity, and a great Grievance to great numbers of poor People, who depend upon the said Trade, and those that use Soap, and what is got by the will in great measure be lost by the other.  
7. That the Multitude of Officers necessary to look after this Duty in all parts of England will be such a very great charge and liable to so much corruption that the Duty will signify very little to the ends for which it is designed.  
Which Reasons considered it is humbly hoped this Honourable House will be pleased to lay aside an Excise upon Soap.   

Against laying a Duty upon Soap.