On Mr Pit's Hair-powder Tax
written in 1795
On Mr Pit's Hair-powder Tax - context Summary
Composed 1795 Tax Satire
A short, topical mockery aimed at William Pitt’s 1795 hair‑powder tax. Burns addresses "Billy Pit" directly, ridiculing the tax as a scheme that separates the wealthy (marked by guineas) from the poor. The poem compresses a political grievance into blunt, humorous language, turning fiscal policy into social insult and exposing class tensions over taxation and appearances. Its punchy, dialogic tone makes the poem an immediate public reaction to a specific government measure rather than a private meditation.
Read Complete AnalysesPray Billy Pit explain thy rigs, This new poll-tax of thine! 'I mean to mark the Guinea Pigs From other common Swine'
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