The Virginia Gazette

EDINBURGH, March.

Extract of a letter from London, March 2.

ON DAY last the Chairman of the Grand Committee on the American Stamp Act (Mr. Fuller) reported to the great House the resolutions to which the Committee had agreed; they are in substance as follow:

1. That it is the opinion of the Committee that his Majesty, with the advice of Parliament, has full power and authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind the colonies and people of North America.

2. That insurrections and tumults of the most dangerous nature have been raised and carried on in several of the North American colonies, in open defiance of the power and dignity of his Majesty's government, and in manifest violation of the laws and legislative authority of this kingdom.

3. That the said insurrections have been greatly countenanced and inflamed by votes and resolutions passed in several of the Assemblies of the said provinces, highly injurious to the honour of his Majesty's government, and tending to destroy the legal and constitutional dependence of said colonies on the Imperial Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.

4. That such persons who have suffered any injury or damage, by manifesting a desire to comply with and assist in carrying into execution any acts of the British Legislature, relating to the American colonies, ought to have full and ample compensation made them for the same, by the respective colonies where such damages were sustained.

5. That all persons who have manifested their desire to comply with, and assist in carrying into execution such laws, have acted as dutiful and loyal subjects, and are therefore entitled to, and will assuredly have, the protection of the H. of C. of G. Britain.

6. That all persons who, by reason of the tumultuous and outrages, have not been able to procure stamp paper, ought to be indemnified from all penalties and forfeitures which they may have incurred by writing on paper, vellum, &c. not duly stamped, conformable to said act.

7. That it is the opinion of the Committee that the House be moved for leave to bring in a bill to repeal an act passed last Session, entitled "An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties, and other duties, in the British colonies and plantations in America, towards further defraying the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same; and for amending such parts of the several acts of Parliament, relating to the trade and revenues of the said colonies and plantations, as direct the manner of determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein contained."

The first of the above resolutions being read a second time, a motion was made, and the question being put that the said resolution be postponed, it carried in the negative; upon which it was agreed to by the House.

The five next resolutions being read a second time, were likewise agreed to.

The seventh resolution being a second time read, a motion was made to recommit it: but, previous to the question being put, the House was moved that part of an act made in the 5th of Queen Anne, entitled "An act for the union of the two kingdoms of England and Scotland," might be read; which being accordingly done, the question was put that the said 7th resolution should be recommitted, but it passed in the negative: Upon which it was ordered that leave be given to bring in a bill to repeal said Stamp Act; and the following Gentlemen are ordered to prepare and bring in the same: Mr. Fuller (Chairman of the Committee) Mr. Secretary Conway, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Townshend, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir George Saville, Lord John Cavendish, Mr. Thomas Townshend, jun. Mr. Onslow, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Cooper, Mr. Alderman Beckford, Mr. Huey, Mr. Prowse, Sir William Baker, Mr. Cooke, Sir William Meredith, Colonel Barre, and Mr. Burke.

A motion being afterwards made, and the question put, "that it be an instruction to the said Gentlemen that they make effectual provision in said bill for preserving the just rights and authority of the British Legislature, by directing all votes and resolutions of the Assemblies of any of the American colonies, repugnant to the said rights and authority, to be erased and expunged, before the said repeal shall take place in such respective colonies," it passed in the negative.

It was then ordered that bills should be brought in, upon the first and sixth of said resolutions, and that Mr. Fuller, Mr. Secretary Conway, Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord John Cavendish, Mr. Thomas Townshend, Jun. Mr. Onslow, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Solicitor General, and Mr. Cooper, should prepare and bring in the same.

The second, third, fourth, and fifth of said resolutions, were ordered humbly to be laid before his Majesty.

The House then resolved that an address be presented to his Majesty, humbly desiring that he would be graciously pleased to give directions that said resolutions be transmitted to the Governors of his Majesty's colonies and plantations in America, to be by them communicated to the Assemblies of their respective governments.