on each foot hawker, &c. and 40s, on each fuch person who fhall travel with any beast, bearing or drawing a burthen.

The above thirty three refolutions were feverally agreed to by the house without any amendment.

34. A tax of ts. per barrel on all her rings imported.

N. B. This refolution was agreed to, after being amended, by adding except British berrings.

35. An additional duty of 6d per yard on the importation of all damafk, towelling or napkins, not exceeding one yard in width; of rs. per yard on all such from one yard to eight quarters wide; and of 25. on all fuch from eleven to twelve quarters wide.

N. B. This alfo paffed, with the amendment of excepting from Great Britain. 36. That the fum of 265000l be raised by life annuities, wit hbenefit of furvivorthip.

37. That for the faid fum, in flares of Fool, each, be paid an intereft of 61. per cent; and fuch additional interest as shall accrue by furvivorship, to natives or foreigners.

N. B. This refolution was amended, by putting the words, his majefty's fubjects inftead of the word natives; as otherwife the king's fubjects, not born in Ireland, would come under the denomination of foreigners.

t

38. That of each 100l. fo fubfcribed, 201. be paid into the treafury by the day of February, 1774; 401. by the ft of May; the remaining 401. by the 24th of June, at which time the names of the annuitants fhall be declared.

39. That no nominee be named for lefs than one hundred pounds, but a nominee may be named for more than one share.

40. That the nominees be divided into three claffes; one of perfons above forty years old; a fecond from twenty to forty; and the third of perfons under the age of twenty years.

41. That as the nominees of each clafs fhall die off, the intire interest of each clafs be divided amongst the furvivors.

42. No divifion of accrued intereft fhall be made, unless it amounts to one half per cent.

43. That all money advanced be forfeited by thofe who do not compleat their fubfcriptions.

44. That fubfcribers, who die before they have compleatedtheir payments, their

executors, administrators or affigns may compleat the fame.

45. That every nominee, not claiming payment for the fpace of three years,thall be confidered as dead.

46. That towards raising the supply, the following famp duties be paid from the 25th of March 1774, to the 25th of Dec. 1775.

47. On every grant, or letter patent, under the great feal of Ireland.-31.

48. On every pardon, warrant of reprieve, or relaxation of any punishment, fine or forfeiture, (except paffed in forma pauperis)—31.

49. On every grant for any fum exceeding 100l. which fhall pass the great feal-31.

50. On every grant of any office, og employment, above the value of sol. per annum-31.

51. On every grant of lands, in fee or leafe, for years, which fhall pass the great feal, or feal of the exchequer (except cuftodiam leafes)-21.

52. On every presentation, or donation to any living of ecclefiaftical promotion of the value of 6ol. a year, or upwards-21.

N. B. This refolution was amended by putting one hundred pounds, in the place of fixty pounds; and alfo by adding,the value to be ascertained by the certificate of the archbishop, or bijkop, or vicar general of the diocese.

53. On every ecclefiaftical difpenfati-on to hold two benefices, or dignitie

51.

54. On every admittance of any fellow of the college of phyficians, attor ney, clerk, advocate, prostor, notary, or officer of any court whatfoever (except annual officers of corporations, or where the office is under the value of ten pounds a year-31.

55. On every appeal from the court of admiralty, or the prerogative court, or from any other ecclefiaftical court-31.

N. B. This refolution was amended by fubftituting the word archiepifcopal in the place of the words other ecclefiaftical.

56. On every conveyance, or deed, enrolled in any court of 1ecord-5s. 57. On every writ of covenant for levying fines-2s. 6d.

58. On every writ of entry for fuffering a common recovery-2s. 6d.

59. On every fkin of any exemplifi-' cation that shall pafs the feal of any court -5s.

60. On every skin of any decree or difmiffion.

.

difmiffion, in the chancery or exchequer -6d.

61. On every ecclesiastical institution -55.

N. B. This refolution paffed with the amendment of adding thefe words,-provided that an inflitution to two or more benefices, epifcopally united, fhall be confidered as to a fingle benefice.

62. On every writ of error, certiorari, or appeal, (except to the delegates) -5s. and on every writ of Habeas Corpus-is.

63. On every fentence, attachment, or relaxation of the court of admiralty5s.

64. On every probate or letters of administration, of any estate above the value of thirty pounds-5s.

65. On every recognizance for the payment of money, or performance of covenants or agreements, ftatute ftaple, or statute merchant, entered on record

55.

66. On every skin or fheet of record of nifi prius, or poflea-2s. 6d.

67. On every judgment—2s. 6d. 68. On every commiffion from any ecclefiaftical court-2s. 6d.

69. On every warrant, monition, or perfonal decree of the court of admiralty-2s. 6d. except in fuits for the payment of feamens wages.

70. On every special bail-1s. 71. On every common bail-6d. 72. On every skin of any bill,anfwer, replication, rejoinder, interrogatories, depofitions, or any other pleading in the chancery or exchequer-is.

73, Ón every admiffion to any corporation or company-6d.

The Seventy fourth refolution for a duty of 6d. on every affidavit and copy thereof, was poftponed.

75. On every indenture, leafe, or deed roll, (except indentures for binding charity children)-Is.

76. On every original writ of fubpara, writ of capias, quom inus, dedinus poteftatem, to take answers, examine witnefles, or appoint guardians, or any other writ that fhall pass the feals of any court, holding places of the value of forty fhillings or upwards-6d.

57. On every entry of an action in any corporation court-6d.

78. On every rule or order of any court of law or equity, in Dublin-6d. This refolution paffed, with the amendment of adding,—except in cafes profecuted upon indiments relative to prefent

ments.

79. On every copy of the faid rule or order, and on every fheet or fkin of any copy of any other records or proceedings -6d.

This paffed with the fame amendment as the preceding.

On Wednesday Dec. 1. Mr. Edward Tighe prefented heads of a bill to punifh chalking, which were read and committed for the following Saturday.

The house then proceeded to confider the other twenty Seven refolutions of the committee of ways and means, reported by Mr. Malone.

80. On every skin or sheet of every citation, monition, libel, allegation, depofition, anfwer, fentence or final decree, of any ecclefiaftical court, or court of admiralty, or of any copy thereof (except in fuits for feamens wages)-6d.

81. On every charter party, policy of affurance, paflport, bond, release, contract or obligatory inftrument, or any proteft, procuration, letter of attorney, or any other notarial act-6d.

82. On every skin or fheet, of any pleadings in any court of law; and for the copies of the fame-id.

83. On every skin or sheet of any depofitions or pleadings in any court of equity; or the copies thereof-id.

N. B. On the two laft refolutions, motions were made for amendments in putting one halfpenny instead of one penny, but thofe motions paffed in the negative.

84, On every skin or sheet of a copy of a will-id.

83. On every certificate or debenture for drawbacks of cuftoms-4d.

86. On every almanack or calendar, printed on one fide of a fheet-id. 87. On every other kind of almanack or calendar-2d.

The 88th, 89th, and 90th refolutions, of a stamp duty of 4s. on every wine licenfe, pailed in the negative by confent of the gentlemen in adminiftration. The 91ft refolution was in these words" that a duty be laid upon all papers called pamphlets, and upon all news papers, or paper containing public news, intelligence, or occurrences, which shall at any time or times, during the time aforefaid, be printed in this kingdom, difperfed and made public; and for, and upon advertisements in any printed paper."

As this was the prefatory refolution to the taxing news papers, pamphlets, and advertisements; and the fubfequent refolutions were only to regulate the quan

tums

tums of fuch tax, fuch gentlemen as were against the general idea, began the oppofition here: and on the question being put, that the house do agree with the committee in this refolution, a long debate began, of which the following is a fuccinct account.

Mr. Fortefcue faid, the duty on advertifements would be a great hardflip on the trustees of the linnen board, who were obliged to advertise frequently in the country papers, and hoped they would be excepted.

Mr.Ponsonby declared his diflike of all and every part of a stamp act, as laying a tax on juftice, and cramping the liberty of the prefs; but he must now particularly object to the tax on advertifements, as a tax on trade, which would be fenfibly affected by this additional expence; and as every encouragement was rather wanted at this time of declining trade (if a little internal traffic could bear that name) he hoped gentlemen would not infift on what would manifeftly hurt it-That he would not pretend to debate, he would only intreat and implore; he would appeal to humanity, and be a beggar for the beggars.

Mr. Barry Barry was of the fame opinion, and moved to expunge the words relative to advertisements, leaving the duty on new papers, and pamphlets.

Mr. Mason replied, that this part of the tax was expected to raise one fourth of the whole ftamp duties, which would be greatly abridged by leaving out advertisements; and fome other tax muft be found, to fupply that deficiency, which would bear harder on the neceffaries of life, than ftamps. This duty would not hurt traders, for it would be repaid by the confumers in the goods they purchase, So that 6d. on an advertisement would be fo diffeminated that it would be lefs to individuals that any nominal coin.

Mr. French faid, he must oppose including of pamphlets, as it would be a tax on genius in reverfion. Anonymous pamphlets have been frequently of the greatest service in ftating affairs of confequence, fetting people on their guard, and roufing a proper fpirit: An anonymous pamphlet, written by lord Somers, was the great means of the glorious revolution. The pamphlets written by Dean Swift, and the fervice they did in 1724, against the ruinous measure of Wood's halpence, are fresh in every one's It may be thought proper to tax news papers, but pamphlets and advertisements ought to be exempted,

memory.

Mr. Prime Serjeant anfwered, that if news papers only were itamped, and not pamphlets and advertisements, the duty might be evaded. A paper might be printed containing only advertisements, and no news, and thus escape the tax; and if pamphlets were exempted, there would be foon no news paper, for by adding one page more, if it contained only one line, it would become a pamphlet. Taxing pamphlets would not decrease the number of them, for fince they have been taxed in England, they have multiplied above four-fold. A right honourable gentleman hath mentioned the liberty of the prefs; but the liberty of the prefs could not be hurt by this tax, as the names of the printers only would be publifhed; and, if they fuck to legal liberties they had nothing to fear: But he knew no reafon any printer fhould ftand concealed, only to trample on truth, and the characters of individuals; as, by abuse of the best things, they become the worst, fo has this liberty. What was to be understood by liberty, but the privilege of acting conformable to law? Whilst a printer did that, he was safe: Should a man publifh any thing concerning the parliament that was ftrictly truth, though from thofe truths he should even draw falfe confequences, and say such and fuch a measure of the house would be the ruin of the country, and destroy the liberties of the fubject; yet, as thete were only the private opinion of the writer, he might be faid to be mistaken; and if a profecution was begun against the printer, a grand jury would hardly find the bill, or, if even it did, no petty jury would find a verdict against the defendant. This would be liberty protected by law : For, liberty is a wild beast of prey, a foe to humanity, till it becomes guided by reafon. That if we confider the London news papers, they have not been lefs free than before the flamp act. The richeft printer in Dublin, George Faulkner, had been pretty free in his paper, though his name was annex-ed to it; he had been very patriotic, but, as he was an honest man, he never hurt private characters.

Mr. Barry Barry perfifted that trade would be hurt by a tax on advertisements, if even the charge was repaid by the con fumers, for if the expence is to be made up to the advertiser, commodities would thereby become dearer, according to that rule. But the rule would not hold; for as buyers had the choice of going to shops

and

and traders who did not, as well as thofe who did advertife, commodities must be fold as cheap by the one as by the other, therefore the lofs will fall on the traders, and not the confumers.

Mr. Chapman faid, he abhorred alike the private affaffin who ftabbed the character of the individual in a news paper, as in a pamphlet; but he feared to prevent one evil we might run into another, and the printers names being published, might fubje&t them to profecution, for what was even the legal liberty of the prefs. It was not here as it was in England, where a man profecuted for any bold publication against government, was fure of protection. Here it would be the reverfe; for though, if all men were like the right honourable gentleman, (Mr. Prime Serjeant)no juries would condemn, a printer; yet no gentleman can fay a profecution, even if the man is acquitted, would not be a heavy punishment; and that a man in flender circumftances might be ruined before his cause came to a trial. To fhun fuch an evil, men would be timid in printing, and make any fubmiffion to the powerful man, who might think himself offended. An inftance of this we have in the cafe of a printer in this city, who having in a periodical pamphlet published fome reflections on a certain perfon, was, on being threatened with a profecution, fo intimidated, that he made a moft mean, abject, slavish and fhameful fubmiffion.

Mr. Tighe obferved, that people had departed from the conftitutional liberty of the prefs, as men not measures were now attacked, therefore it was neceflary the printer's name fhould be fixed to news papers, which from their number and contents, were become a nuisance, and created idleness, as now, a labourer would hardly go to work, till he had read the

news.

Colonel Jephfon was of opinion, that a ftamp act could not obftruct the just liberty of the prefs. It would not hinder writers of genius, who through modefty, diffidence of the opinion of the public, or love of retirement, chofe to be unknown, from being kept secret. The printer's name only was wanted, that an injured perfon might know where to refort for the juftice the laws allowed him, and that an anonymous paper might no longer be a dark lanthern, to light the villainous affaffin of private reputation, to give the wound. And at the fame time concealed him from the eyes or reach of the injured.

Serjeant Dennis faid, gentlemen had wandered from the point in queftion, which was only, whether advertisements should or thould not be taxed. He faw no reafon, why the printer, who by exacting five fhillings from the advertifer, firit raifed the tax, fhould not pay a few pence out of it to government.

Mr. Flood thought fome tax ought to be laid on advertisements, though it might be proper to mitigate the quantum to a fmaller fum, than first mentioned; but pamphlets furely ought not to be taxed. They were not generally here made ufe of for the purpofe of defamation, that was the province of news papers, which had dealt pretty largely in it. Some indeed were more moderate than others; fome of the anonymous papers had rather difcuffed measures, than attacked men, though they had fometimes fallen into the evil; yet it must be owned, that there had never been so much rancorous abufe, fo much low dirty malice, fo much fenfeless stupid defamation, or fo much base wanton calumny in all the papers and pamphlets in this kingdom put together, as in that vehicle of wickednefs and nonfenfe, the MONITOR. It is true a man wrapt up in confcious integrity may defpife the shafts and fcan dal, and let the conftant tenor of his life give the lie to malice; therefore this abufe of liberty is the more to be flighted, and not made a plea for abridging that liberty, which may probably be hurt by taxing pamphlets, wherein a freedom of difcuffion of political points is more the peculiar province than in a news paper, whole limits will not afford the neceflary scope. For the integrity of juries can be but little fecurity, when, in cafe of a future bad viceroy, and a future bad adminiftration, the nomination of fheriffs being in their power, and the impannelling of juries in the power of the sheriffs, every evil might be apprehended.

Colonel Blaquiere faid, he should confider this question chiefly as a mode of taxation. It was thought, that this article would produce a fifth part of the whole, and there could be no inconvenience in obliging printers to put their names to what they publifhed, as it could only ferve to prevent thofe writers of more malice than wit, and more fcurrility than fenfe, from dipping their pens in poison, not in ink. If pamphlets were not taxed, the feat of calumny would be only removed from news papers to pamphlets; for if fcandal was extinct in the former,

they

Mr. Scot faid, he thought news-papers, not pamphlets, were the proper conveyance for political knowledge, and pamphlets were generally appropriated to literature and science; but if they alone were to be untaxed, they would be worse than news-papers; and being larger, would be only a larger fpecies of fcandal. The petty dealer in calumny, would then have nothing to do but to extend bis malice, and become a wholesale merchant in detraction. That, for his own part, he was always glad to be abused; for if it flewed he had enemies, it fhewed alfo that they had that method of vent. ing their malice, without which they night, perhaps, be fo fwelled with stifled fpleen, that they might ftab him at fome corner. Yet, although he defpifed it, and men of fuch great abilities, known talents, and avowed integrity as his honourable friend below him (Mr. Flood) might defy scandal, yet that was not univerfally the cafe, and fome method fhould be taken to fave them from it who might be materially hurt by it. Women, for example, had not usually that itrength of mind; their reputations ought to be held facred, and defended against a fet of ruf fians who would fo far pervert truth, and give a loose to malevolence, that a woman would be afraid to go to church, left fome of them might publifh, in that most infamous of all papers ever known, that he was going on fome fhameful errand. For these reasons he fhould think a ftamp act was rather a warrant for a legal freeprefs than a restraint; and no printer was ever profecuted here for fuch legal liberty.

Doctor Clement replied that one Harper, a printer, had been profecuted, and a proclamation had been iffued against another.

Mr. Scot asked if either had a verdic against him?

Mr. Prime Serjeant faid, in regard to the true liberty of the prefs, he thought, January, 1775,

in a free country, every public measure and every public man was a proper fub ject for difcuffion. That his ftation as a fervant of the crown, and the fhare he had in administration, rendered him fo far accountable to the public, that he applauded writers who canvaffed his actions, which ought to ftand the test of public difquifition, but it is far otherwise with merchants, women, and people in trade, whofe reputations might be materially injured by fuch vile detraction as had lately flowed fo much in a particular paper. So that none could advertise in that paper who had any regard for public tranquility and private character. As the printer of that paper was not fo publicly known as to be made accountable for the base, unjust, and difhoneft injuries he had done to worthy and virtuous people, by publishing indifcriminate calumny fome of thefe people had complained to him, and had led to this idea, which ought not to difhearten any honest printer. In regard to advertisements, he propofed they should be mitigated, if gentlemen would not give any farther oppofition to this general, and, what he thought, ufeful idea.

Mr. George Hamilton faid, the advertifing the fale of houfes and lands, by bringing fo many bidders, was one caufe of the high price thereof, and ought to be taxed.

Colnel Brown thought it proper to tax licentioufnefs, which could not more affect the juft liberty of the prefs, than the act against chalkers could prevent the lawful ufe of the knife; and, that he looked upon a wound in his body, better than one in his character, as it might be easier cured, would not pain him fo much, and might excite the pity and compaffion of his friends, and not their hatred and contempt.

Mr. Chapman perfifting in his motion, the question was put and the house divided.