horse-tax

Updated: May 26, 2025

By the time a horse has passed through twenty different hands, the Government has pocketed as much as the breeder. When I say the Government, I am wrong; the horse-tax is not included in the Budget. It is an ecclesiastical prebend. Cardinal della Dateria throws it in with general episcopal revenues. "The good shepherd should shear, and not flay his sheep."

Edmond About - The Roman Question