Autograph letter signed : London, to Mr. Ward, 1849 February 15.

Thanking him for his letter and asking for his help "...on the same subject; but the want I feel of technical knowledge on a matter upon which I have strong general opinions must be my excuse - It has struck me as a [illegible] view of the case that to meet the demands of justice, either all kinds of property, & especially that of the rich, ought to be brought equally within the scope of the probate & legacy duties, or otherwise that mode of taxation ought to be wholly abandoned - Your letter has I think gone far to show that the former alternative is practicable - My immediate object in troubling you (& it is imposing unwarrantably upon your valuable time) is to ask your opinion upon the pamphlet which I enclose - It is by Mr. Evans, 2 Tavistock Place, a stranger to me, but who has had the kindness to send me a copy - It appears to me that the difficulty alluded to at p. 7, has been partly met by himself in the next chapter. But I am so entirely in the dark, from ignorance of the law & its technicalities, that my only safe course in forming a judgment on such matters is in eliciting the opinions of those who are professionally learned in conveyancing business. I note your inquiry as to whether commercial transactions are not carried on to a large extent without stamps - No - the stamps on bills of Exchange & receipts form a large item - Railway stamps also are for [illegible]. This however is a distinct question, as also that of burdens on land - But as a general principle I am against all such bungling legislation as to charge more than is just upon one interest & then compensate it by charging a little more upon another;" asking him to return the pamphlet when it is convenient.