The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

The Honorable House of Commons on the 7th of February passed 55 Resolves, which we hear are since passed into an ACT OF PARLIAMENT.

The Resolves are for imposing certain Stamp Duties in America: The following is an Abstract, and contains the Substance of each Resolve.

On all Declarations, Pleas, Rejoinder, Demurrer or other pleadings in any court of law, each Three Pence Sterling.

All bail bonds, &c. Two Shillings.

All petitions, and other papers in chancery, One Shilling and six pence.

For all court copies, each Three pence.

Each original paper in the courts of probate, &c. One shilling.

All probate copies, each six pence.

All Diplomas. &c. from any Academy, two pounds.

All original papers in the admiralty, each one shilling.

All admiralty copies, each six pence.

All appeals, writs of error, dower, ad quod damnum, certiorari, statute merchant, statute staple, attestation, or certificate by any officer, or exemplification of any record or proceeding in any court whatsoever within the American colonies and plantations, except from a Justice of the peace, each Ten shillings.

Covenants for fines, writs of entry for a common recovery, each Five shillings.

Record of each judgment, decree, sentence,&c. Four shillings.

Every affidavit, common bail or appearance, interrogatory, deposition, rule, order, warrants, dedimus potestatem, capias, subpoena, summons, compulsory citation; commission, recognizance, or any writ, process, or mandate, except relating to criminal matters, One shilling.

For the admission of any counsellor, solicitor, attorney, advocate,proctor or notary, Ten pounds.

Every sheet or piece of parchment or paper for bills of lading, contracts or clearances, Four pence.

Letters of mart and commissions for privateers, One pound.

For each civil commission, Justices of the Peace excepted, Ten shillings.

For all grants of corporation privileges and franchises, Six pounds.

Every licence for retailing, One pound.

Retailers of Wine only, Four pounds.

Ditto of Wine to retailers of spirituous liquors, Three pounds.

Probate of wills, letters of administration and guardianship, for all estates on the continent above 20l. each Five shillings.

For ditto in the West-Indies, Bermuda and Bahama excepted, each Ten shillings.

All bonds not exceeding £10 Six pence.

Ditto from £10 to £20 One shilling.

Ditto from £20 to £40 One shilling and six pence.

All orders or warrants for surveying or laying out lands, if under 100 acres, Six pence.

Ditto from 100 to 200 acres, One shilling.

Ditto from 200 to 320 acres, and so in proportion, One shilling and six pence.

All deeds of land not exceeding 100 acres, One Shilling and six pence.

If above 100 acres and under 200, Two shillings.

If above 200 and under 320 acres, and so for every 320 acres, Two shillings and six pence.

For all such Grants and deeds of land in the West-Indies not exceeding 100 acres, Three shillings.

If above 100 acres and not exceeding 200, Four shillings.

If above 200 and not exceeding 320 acres,and every other 320 acres, Five shillings.

All grants or appointments to any public office not before mentioned, above £20 per annum in salary, fees and perquisites, within any of the plantations on the continent, Bermudas and Bahamas, except commissions of officers of the army, navy, militia or justices of the peace, Four pounds.

For any other part of the British dominions in America, Six pounds.

All Indentures, leases, contracts, bills of sale, charter-parties, protests, &c. (except for hire of servants not apprentices) two shillings & six pence.

All warrants for auditing public accounts, grants or certificates under the sign or seal manual of any governor or public officer, alone, or in conjunction with other persons, or any council and assembly ; and all pass-ports, surrender of office, and policies of insurance, Five shillings.

All notarial acts, bonds, deeds, letters of attorney, procurations, mortgages, releases, and other obligatory instruments not before mentioned, Two shillings and three pence.

For registering all deeds or other instruments before mentioned, Three pence.

For ditto not before mentioned, Two shillings.

For every pack of cards old or used,One shilling.

For every pair of dice, Ten shillings.

For every NEWS-PAPER, or pamphlet, containing half a sheet, One half penny.

For every whole sheet, ditto, One penny.

For every advertisement. Two shillings.

For every Almanack printed on one side only of any one sheet of paper for one year, Two pence.

For every other Almanack for ditto,Four pence.

For every Almanack calculated to serve more than one year, the duties to be paid for every year.

For every pamphlet not exceeding six sheets octavo, or twelve sheets in quarto, or twenty sheets in folio,at the rate of Two shillings a sheet.

The sum of 1d per pound for all money, not exceeding 50l. which shall be paid or contracted for placing out apprentices.

The sum of 1s. on a pound for all sums exceeding 50l. for ditto.

Every sheet of paper printed in any other than English language, to pay double duty.

The produce of all the said DUTIES to be paid into the receipt of his Majesty's Exchequer: and there reserved, to be, from time to time, disposed of by parliament, towards defraying the necessary expences of defending, protecting and securing the said colonies and plantations.

It is said that the following observation was made by a Member, on the Hardships of the above-mentioned Resolves, viz. That where the Colonies stand on such Pretensions of Independence on the supreme Legislative Authority of Great-Britain there is no moderating any Thing.

We hear that at the Debate in the House of Commons, when the Resolves passed, not a Man spoke who did not declare his Opinion that America ought to be taxed : Nor would any one introduce a Petition which should impeach the Parliament's Right. even the most interested, -and those who are of the Opposition, all refused to present such a Petition.

It is said there will be some Relief in Regard to the Lumber Trade,certainly in respect to Ireland, and it is thought to the Azores: Endeavours are taking for the whole Restraint being taken off, which will ease the Trade of the Bond and Certificate.