Ha! Assessed Taxes will do.

You're not in the House of Commons; you're not Chancellor of the Exchequer--but haven't you an opinion of your own about taxation, in spite of that?
Must you and I be in Parliament before we can presume to see that the feeble old British Constitution is at its last gasp---- ?" "And the vigorous young Republic drawing its first breath of life!" I burst in; introducing the Pratolungo programme (as my way is) at every available opportunity.
Nugent Dubourg instantly wheeled round in my direction; and set me right on my subject, just as he had set the rector right on reading _Hamlet,_ and Mrs.Finch right on clothing babies.
"Not a bit of it!" he pronounced positively.

"The 'young Republic' is the ricketty child of the political family.

Give him up, ma'am.

You will never make a man of him." I tried to assert myself as the rector had tried before me--with precisely the same result.