The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

THURSDAY, MAY 22, 1766.

Total Repeal of the
STAMP ACT

Hic diet alienat vitam adfert.

The happy Day is at length arrived, wherein we can Congratulate our Readers on the most interesting Event that ever grac'd the British Annals. The STAMP-ACT IS Now No More.

That Act which but lately threw us into the utmost Consternation and Dejection, has providentially produced the greatest Blessings to America; the Guardians of the English Nation have at length seen the Importance of the Colonies, their Eyes may be said to be opened, and they now view us in a more favourable Light than ever; we have Reason to hope and expect every Burden on our Commercial Connections will be taken off, and every Encouragement given to extend it beyond our most sanguine Expectations. By the political Disputes, the People have been informed when their Liberties and Properties were in Danger, and have prudently protested against every Instance that was not founded on the Constitutional Basis; that their Posterity may know they have not willfully enslaved them--But these our Fears are now vanished, nothing gloomy or melancholy obstructs our Joys, our Cause has been heard, and the Justice of our Complaints has been happily decided. What now remains but to improve the Favours we have received, and thankfully express our Gratitude to an over-ruling Providence, for disposing the Heart of our gracious SOVEREIGN to listen to our Distresses, and wisely to adhere to such salutary Advices as have restored Peace and Harmony to such of his Subjects as are placed in these most distant Parts of his Dominions.--Let us bear in Mind at this Time every Friend of America, and forgive them that have despitefully used us--Let PITT, the immortal PITT, receive our most unfeigned Thanks: that great and good Man, who, (tho' amidst the most alluring Temptations) dar'd to be honest; may Posterity join the Records of the present Time, to continue his Name to the latest Generations, as the PATRIOT of America-Nor let the Names of CONWAY, BARRE, HOWARD, and many other noble Sons of LIBERTY be ever forgotten; and while we toast their Healths in FLOWING Bowls, us moderately gratify our Mirth and check every inordinate Desire of Excess. Above all, let the anxious Solicitations of our Friends in England, be strictly regarded, who have earnestly and repeatedly requested, that in our Hours of Joy and Pleasure we offer no Insult to the Name of any known or supposed Enemy we have in P--t, --let party Spirit and Distinction be now buried in Oblivion; and every one of us strive to Emulate each other in preserving the Peace and Happiness of Society.

Nullum Numen abest, Si sit Prudentia praesens.

BOSTON, May 19.

Last Friday about an Hour before Noon, arrived here in 6 Weeks and 2 Days from LONDON, the Brig Harrison, Shubael Coffin, Master, belonging to John Hancock, Esq; a principal Merchant in this Town.--In her came the long wished for Act of Parliament for a TOTAL REPEAL OF THE STAMP-ACT, Which received the Royal Assent the 18th of March last.--It scarce possible to describe the Effect of this glorious and important Piece of Intelligence. The Bells in all the Churches were immediately ringing: The Colours of all the Ships hoisted, and by Cannon discharged from different Parts of the Town: The Sons of Liberty repairing to the ever memorable TREE, regaled themselves on the Occasion with firing Guns, drinking loyal Toasts, and other decent Expressions of Joy:--In the Afternoon the Selectmen of the Town met at Faneuil-Hall, and appointed this, for a Day of general Rejoicing: About Sun-rise the Morning was ushered in by Ringing of Bells, displaying of Colours on the Vessels in the Harbour, and on the Tops of many of the Houses, the whole making a beautiful Appearance: The Guns of the several Ships, at the Forts, and at Castle-William, are to fire Royal Salutes: On the Tree of Liberty waves the British Standard, and there, as well as other Parts of the Town, are conspicuous the finest Tokens of Festivity: In short, the reciprocal Salutations of every Fellow Citizen and Countryman in this Day of our Deliverance, are at once pathetically expressive of Loyalty, Gratitude and Joy. In the Evening the Shew will be continued by Illuminations, Bonfires, and Exhibitions, hitherto unequalled by any Thing in this Part of the World; a particular Account of which we shall give our Readers the ensuing Week.

The Advices brought by Capt. Coffin, to the 31st of March are as follows, viz.

From the LONDON GAZETTE.

WESTMINSTER, March 18, 1766.

THIS Day his Majesty came to the House of Peers, and being in his royal robes seated on the throne with the usual solemnity Sir Francis Molineux, Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, was sent with a Message from his Majesty to the House of Commons, commanding their attendance in the House of Peers. The Commons being come thither accordingly, his Majesty was pleased to give his royal Assent to

An ACT to REPEAL an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, intituled, an Act for granting and applying certain Stamp Duties and other Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America, towards further defraying the expences 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 mentioned.

The bill for securing the dependence of the British Colonies in America in the Crown and Parliament of Great Britain.

Also ten public bills, and seventeen private ones

LONDON.

March 19. Yesterday there was a Meeting of the principal Merchants concerned in the American trade, at the King's Arms tavern in Cornhill, to consider of an Address to his Majesty on the beneficial Repeal of the late Stamp-Act.

Yesterday morning about eleven o'clock a great number of North American Merchants went in their coaches from the King's Arms tavern in Cornhill to the House of Peers, to pay their duty to his Majesty, and to express their satisfaction at his signing the Bill for Repealing the American Stamp-Act, there was upwards of fifty coaches in the procession.

Last night the said gentlemen dispatched an express for Falmouth, with fifteen copies of the Act for repealing the Stamp-Act, to be forwarded immediately for New York.

Orders are given for several merchantmen in the river to proceed to sea immediately on their respective voyages to North America, some of whom have been cleared out since the first of November last.

Yesterday messengers were dispatched to Bristol, Birmingham, Sheffield, Manchester, and all the great manufacturing towns in England, with an account of the final decision of an august assembly relating to the Stamp-Act.

We hear that when the King goes to the House of Lords this day, there will be in the Park the greatest number of Weavers and other Artisans ever known, in order to testify their gratitude on this joyful occasion.

Two ships, with American oak timber, arrived a few days ago at Milford-Haven from Piscataqua in N. England, where the keels of two third rate men of war are laid upon the stocks to be constructed on the model of the Prince of Wales, launched there in June last.

Canada Bills were up at fifty-four and a half per cent. when the last advices were received from Paris.

It is said the Right Hon. Mr. Secretary Conway will have the first Troop of Horse-guards, late the Earl of Delawarr's. BOSTON, May. 19.

London-Gazette being come to Hand, containing the important News of the total Repeal of the Stamp-Act, His Excellency summoned the Council to meet this Day, and acquainted them that he had given Orders for Firing the Guns at the Castle and the several Batteries in Boston and Charlestown, on this happy Occasion, which was very much to the satisfaction of the Council: and his Excellency also gave an Invitation to the Gentlemen of the Council to drink the King's Health, on Monday Evening next, at the Province House, which the Council cheerfully accepted of. And it was ordered that the Town-House and Province House should be illuminated the same Evening.

When the KING went to the House of Peers to give the Royal Assent, there was such a vast Concourse of People, huzzaing, clapping Hands, &c. that it was several Hours before His Majesty reached the House.

The following is the Act of Parliament for Repealing the STAMP-ACT.

An ACT to repeal an Act made in the last Session Of Parliament, intituled, An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp-Duties and other Duties in the British Colonies and Plantations in America, towards further defraying the Expences 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 mentioned.

WHEREAS an Act was passed in the last Session of Parliament intituled, An Act for granting and applying certain Stamp-Duties, and other Duties, in the British Colonies and Plantations in America, towards further defraying the Expences 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 mentioned: And whereas the Continuance of the said Act would be attended with many Inconveniences, and may be productive of Consequences greatly detrimental to the Commercial Interests of these Kingdoms; May it therefore please your most Excellent Majesty, that it may be enacted; And be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That from and after the First Day of May, One Thousand Seven Hundred and Sixty Six, the above mentioned Act, and the several Matters and Things therein contained, shall be, and are, and are hereby repealed and made void to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever.

Immediately on His Majesty's Signing the Royal Assent to the Repeal of the Stamp-Act, the Merchants trading to America dispatched a Vessel, which had been in waiting, to put into the first Port on the Continent with the Account.

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BOSTON

Extract of a Letter from London, March 28, 1766.

Sir,

I suppose long before this comes to Hand you will receive by the Merchants packet, the particular account of the repeal of the Stamp-Act here by the King, &c. the 18th Inst. as the letter for our Merchants is directed to you, I should have wrote you by the Packet, but no private letters were suffered to go in her on this happy event of the TOTAL REPEAL OF THE STAMP-ACT. I heartily and sincerely congratulate my countrymen, and you my dear friend in particular, who had the repeal of this Act so much at heart; may you and every friend of America long enjoy the happy fruits of its repeal, by an extensive trade and commerce, which the present wise Ministry seem much to favour. The House of Commons are now upon the Molasses-Act, the duties on which I believe is to be reduced to One Penny per gallon. The Parliament are much concerned for fear the Americans should set up manufactures of their own, which they are told will certainly be the case, unless they give us a free and extensive trade, which they seem much inclined to do: and I make not the least doubt the Americans will be on a much better footing than they have ever yet been, and thought of more consequence: There are vast quantities of goods putting up for America, and Quebec in particular, no less than 16 ships up for that place, and 2 or 3 already sailed."

Extract of a Letter from London, March 1, 1766.

"The Regulations for trade, at present in agitation, as far as I can recollect, are the following, viz. A sterling paper currency over the whole Continent--The duty of molasses lowered to one penny per gallon,--Free trade with the French and Spaniards in the West-Indies--Free import of West-India commodities, duty free, into provincial warehouses,, under the King's lock, the duty to be paid when taken out for home consumption, to be exported on bond, duty free,-- Drawbacks upon wines, &c. upon exportation--- Import of Portugal, Spanish, and Italian Wines, Fruit, &c. manufactures only excepted, under very light duties-- part of the present duty on tea to be taken off. A bounty upon pig, and perhaps bar iron--There may be some others; but these are the principal regulations; I hope they will all pass, but the spirit of opposition must certainly overset some of them."

Extract of a Letter from a Gentleman in London to his Friend in Boston, dated March 19. 1766:

"His Majesty went in State yesterday to prorogue the Parliament, and to give the Royal Assent to the Stamp-Act Repeal. His Majesty seemed much pleased, and in high Spirits: I hope the Americans will receive this joyful News with Gratitude and Thankfulness.—Governor Bernard is looked upon here to be the only Governor in America that has wrote against the Stamp-Act: Lord Camden challenged every Person in the House of Lords to produce a single Line from any Governor in America, except (said he) from that honest Man Governor Bernard, who wrote the Stamp-Act would never do in America."

Extract of another Letter from London.

"The Repeal of the Stamp-Act, and doubt not you will be very merry, and not without Reason; though I fear there will be some heavy Hearts among you, who will be obliged to grin horribly, a ghastly Smile, and will be heartily sorry they are mistaken in their fixed Opinion that the Stamp-Act would not be Repealed, but that will be no Alloy to your Joy: Tell them they are known; tell them the LORD Reigns, and you that are glad the Act is repealed, WILL REJOICE, in sure and certain HOPES, that it will never be passed again. as We were very merry here on the blessed 18th Instant. At 10 o'Clock in the Morning about a hundred American Merchants met at the King's Head Tavern and breakfasted: from thence we went to the Parliament House in Procession, about Sixty Coaches and Chariots; when we got there, we were conducted to the Robe-Chamber, where waiting 'till about half after One o'Clock, the KING came, amidst the Acclamations of Thousands, when he was immediately Robed and Crowned: After which the several Acts lately passed in Parliament were read; amongst the rest,the TOTAL REPEAL of the STAMP-ACT: Immediately on hearing which his Majesty smiled, and seemed very much pleased, as were all those present; (none were admitted but American Merchants ) after which the King went to the House of Lords and signed the Repeal, -and then return'd to the Robe-Chamber and was uncrowned and unrobed: after which he return'd to his Palace amidst the Shouts and Huzzas of a crowded Multitude: We then went to the Queen's Head near St. Paul's, and dined very elegantly; in the Evening a Number of Houses were illuminated, one in particular had 108 Candles, it being the first Majority in the House of Commons for the Repeal of the Stamp-Act. Mr. --- and - went to Bow Church and Set Men to ring Bow Bells, and after staying with them about an Hour and an half, join'd the Merchants, about a hundred of whom were at Supper at the Half Moon in Cheapside, where the Committee of Merchants had a very grand Entertainment prepared; many Loyal Toasts were drank, and the Evening concluded with the greatest Pleasure and Satisfaction.

Extract of a Letter from the late Agent Mr. Mauduit. dated March 28.

I took as much Pains, as also every Step I could think of to bring about a Repeal of the Stamp-Act, as I should have done, had I continued your Agent, and 'tis with Pleasure I say it, that Gov. Bernard's Letter to the Ministry, and the Province's Petition to the House of Commons were much to the Honor and Credit of both, and greatly forwarded the Repeal; the former was now laid before the House by their Order; the latter I gave, together with so much of my Instructions as were relative to the Stamp-Duty, unto a Member much respected and of considerable Weight in the House, and he made a very good Use of them there, in Answer to the Charge of Disaffection, and of Rebelling against Acts of Parliament."

Extract of a Letter from London, March 26.

"The Regulation of North-American Trade . is now under the Consideration of Parliament. It is said the Duty proposed on Foreign Sugar and Molasses, was 5 s. a Hundred on Sugar, and 1d. per Gallon on Molasses. But as the Ministry have been made sensible of the Prejudice so high a Duty would be on Sugar, to the Trade of the Northern Colonies, and that it would be a Tax on them paid to the Planters; I think you may depend the Duty will be 2s. 6d. a Hund. and 1d a Gallon on all Sugars and Molasses, English and Foreign, imported into the North American Colonies; and the 2s. 6d. paid there will be deducted on Importation here, and other Regulations will be made in your Favor."

"There was a Majority of 34 in the House of Lords, for repealing the Stamp-Act."

Extract of a Letter from Bristol, March 25.

"We have the trade bill now much at heart, and are settling it out with the London West-India merchants, and hope in the conclusion we shall be able to procure you in America such advantages as you could wish yourselves, to and from the Spanish and French settlements in America.- We now come to beg your attention to three things on which solid and lasting advantages will accrue to yourselves. I. See that your Rejoicings be within bounds, and that no person be burnt in effigy.-- 2. Let no indecent reflections be permitted to be inserted in any of your news-papers against the legislature.--3. Discountenance and inform government of any illicit trade that may be carried on from the East Country; Say St. Petersburgh, Holland, Hamburgh, &c. This very thing has bro't on all that has happened."

There were the greatest Rejoicings possible in the City of London, by all Ranks of People, on the TOTAL Repeal of the Stamp-Act, the Ships in the River displayed their Colours, Illuminations and Bonfires in many Parts;--In short, the Rejoicings were as great as was ever known on any Occasion.

It is said the Acts of Trade relating to America would be taken under Consideration, and all Grievances removed. The Friends to America are very powerful, and disposed to assist us to the utmost of their Ability.

Capt. Blake, who sailed the Day before Capt. Coffin, from London, arrived here Yesterday: Also Capt. Shand, who sailed a Fortnight before him.

As every Heart is now filled with Joy and Gratitude, there has been a GENERAL GOAL DELIVERY of all Debtors this Morning, a number of public spirited Gentlemen having paid their Debts.

We hear that the Rev. Dr. Mayhew, by Desire of the Brethren of his Church, will preach a Thanksgiving Sermon next Friday Afternoon, on the
joyful Occasion of the Repeal of the Stamp-Act,-- Divine Service to begin at Four o'Clock, Afternoon.

P O R T S M O U T H. May. 22,1766.

Last Saturday Morning at 6 o'Clock the Town was agreeably surprised at the sudden Arrival of Mr. Bartholomew Stavers, from Boston, some Hours sooner than his usual Time, who first brought us the certain Intelligence of the total Repeal of the Stamp-Act, after him came two Expresses, confirming this Account.--Upon which the Bells immediately were set a Ringing, and an unaffected Joy appeared in the Countenances of every one THIS DAY in particular, is set apart to celebrate this fortunate Event, the Bells are now Ringing Guns Firing, Colours flying, Illuminations and Bonfires, with a Variety of Fire Works will this Evening be exhibited.-- Several Gentlemen, we hear, intend to open their Magazines of the best of Wines, and other Dainties; so that it is expected a Diffusion of unparallel'd Satisfaction will universally prevail throughout this Town and Province; and we have the Pleasure to hear no Effigies will appear, or personal Insults offer'd to any Person.

We have exerted ourselves to publish this Paper a Day sooner than usual, that the glorious NEWS may spread far and wide as quick as possible, and add to the general Joy, which we hope will be within Bounds - and no indecent Reflections cast upon any Person who have been, or still are in Authority.

We hear from Bristol that a Person there, no ways connected with Mr. Sandeman's Principles. but having read the Epistolary Correspondence between him and Pike, and well understanding the Welch Language, has been at the pains to translate it into Welch, for the benefit of the People in that Country; we are informed it is well and justly done, and he is now about translating the letters on Theron and Aspasio; what the End of it will be we must leave to the Sovereign Pleasure of God, but hope it may be a means of setting up the Light of the Gospel in that part of the World.