List members, I continue to come up with perplexing questions in Joseph Ball's letter book. I wrote yesterday about the vexation of Virginians over being taxed to help pay for what we call the French & Indian War. Now I find another puzzle in a letter Ball wrote to his good friend Benjamin Waller, attorney of Williamsburg. He writes on 8 September 1758: "I don't like the land tax. I DOUBT IT WILL EVER BE TAKEN OFF AGAIN. It was first laid here [England] to carry on a vigorous War against France and Spain: and reininsuated when that war was over, it should cease. but it never has; and I believe never will. When a tax is once laid, it scarce is taken off. (La plus que ca change, n'est-ce pas?) However, I had always thought the land tax was instituted only after the Revolution, and first imposed in 1782 as a way for all of the colonies to pay its war debts. The passage indicates a land tax had already been levied in Virginia in 1758. Again, I'm asking our erudite list members for further details. I am, your humble servant Craig Kilby ______________________________________ To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html