for not read only

[chopin7]

Hello

It's the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.
The syntax and all the rest is so-so for obvious reasons, 1700s and all.
Anyway, Ben is talking about some governor who is asking form Assembly to exempt the proprietaries from the taxes.
So, being very cunning, he proposes some little amendment to the money-bill.

"In one of the last (money-bills), indeed, which was for granting fifty thousand pounds, his propos'd amendment was only of a
single word. The bill expressed 'that all estates, real and personal, were to be
taxed, those of the proprietaries not excepted." His amendment was, for not read only: a small, but very material alteration".

I am not sure at all about this.
How does "not read only" fit into the bill?
Is it simply literal?
Any idea?

Thank you

 

[entangledbank]

those of the proprietaries not excepted." His amendment was: for not, read only - This makes an exception for those people.

 

[anthox]

Hello

It's the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.

Hello, autobiography of Benjamin Franklin. Nice to have you drop in.

His amendment was, for not read only: a small, but very material alteration".

Have you reproduced the quote exactly as printed? Does it not read, "for 'not' read 'only'", as in, replace the word "not" with "only"?

 

[chopin7]

Yeah, non intentional humor is the best🙂
That must be it.
Thank you, Anthox

 

[chopin7]

Thanks again, Entangledbank