The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-27 00:00:00

SPAIN.

The Madrid journals of the 21st contain no news
of much interest. The Gazette publishes addresses
of devotedness to the Government from the
civil and military authorities ; also a report from
the Governor of the province of Madrid, statinc,
that the spirit of the population is excellent, and
that they will pay their taxes without delay.

The Courrier de l'Eure states that an ameliora-
tion has taken place in the state of M. Dupont (de
l'Eure), and it is thought he may recover from his
present illness.

A letter from Honolulu of December 20, in the
Moniteur, announces tiTh death of the King of the
Sandwich Islands, Kamehameha 111., on the 15th,
at the age of 42. Ha is succeeded by his nephew,
Prince LioHilo, who has taken the title of Kame-
hameha IV.

• • ,'Atinrs'7%,""‘-'^ =
" '

• ",

- :•~•• ,s

AST AHP BILL. powers, provisions, clauses regulations, and directions, fines':
forfeitures, pains, and penalties had been herein repealed anct
® specially enacted with reference to the said last-mentiol
A bill to alter and amend the laws relating to the stamp stamps and rates or duties, and to the transmission of such
duties on newspapers, the printing and publishing of new: - newspapers, and other printed works, books, and Papers re
papers, and registration and giving securities in connection spectively.
therewith, and the regulation of the duties of postage on XVI. All pecuniary penalties imposed under or by virtu!
printed papers. of this act or any other act or acts relating to any rates
[Note.—The words printed in italics are proposed to be in- duties of postage, or to the Post-office, shall be recoveraho'
serted in Committee.] for the use of her Majesty, her heirs or successors, by Wenn::
Whereas it is expedient to repeal the stamp duties on i tiou or complaint before one or more Justice or Justices mf
newspapers and the acts relating to the printing and pub- the Peace having jurisdiction where the offence shall be c9rk
lisping of newspapers ; and it is also expedient to make fur- mitted, in the manner provided by the act passed in the a
ther regulation of the duties of postage in.respect of printed year of her Majesty's.; reign, chapter thirty-six. t
papers transmitted by post :Be it therefore enacted by the XVII. The following terms and expressions used in this ac
Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and shall have the several interpretations herein-after set f Ft.JEI
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, unless such interpretations are repugnant to the subject matt!.
in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of or inconsistent with the context in which they raaY:2
the same, as follows : found ; (that is to say,) the terms " printed book or priedublic.
I. From and after the time appointed for the commence- paper," " printed work or printed paper," and "
ment of this act the stamp duties now payable in the United books and printed papers," shall include all printed p%
Kingdom on newspapers, and also the several acts aid parts tions and printed newspapers, British, Colonial, or Foren!
of acts specified in the schedule hereto annexed relatiai and the term British newspapers" shall be deemed to 1111:
to the printing and publishing of newpapers, shall be and newspapers published in the United Kingdom ; and for
the same are hereby repealed, save and except with re- the purposes of this act the islands of Guernsey, JeYs e'
u.,
des
pest to any duty or arrears of duty which at the derney, Sark, and the Isle of Man shall respectively bw
time aforesaid shall have accrued or been incurred, or with to be part of the United Kingdom. on the
respect to any fine, penalty, forfeiture, or punishment for any XVIII. This act shall commence and take effect
offence before that time committed ; all which duty and ar- day of one thousand eight hundred and AftYl'
rears of duty, fines, penalties, forfeitures, and punishments
shall and may respectively be sued or prosecuted for, re-
covered, obtained, and inflicted by the same ways and means
and in the same manner as if this act had not been passed.
11. And for further regulating the duties on postage on
printed papers : Any printed book or printed paper and any
packet of printed books or printed papers posted in auy town
or place within the United Kingdom, on which there shall be
affixed on the outside thereof a postage stamp or stamps de-
noting the rate of postage herein-after specified in that be-
half, or which shall be duly inclosed in a cover stamped, or
on which a stamp or stamps shall be affixed on the outside
thereof for denoting such rate of postage, shall be transmitted
by the post between any places within the United Kingdom
free from any further rate or charge of postage. .
111. The rate of postage to be paid for every transmission
by post. of every such printed book or printed paper, if posted
singly, or for any packet of such books or papers, and to be
denoted by a stamp or stamps affixed thereon, or by such
stamped cover as aforesaid, shall be as follows ; that is to
say,
For any weight of such book, paper, or packet, not exceed-

THE SCHEDULE TO WHICH THIS ACT REFE
An act passed in the sixtieth year of the reign of Sing
George the Third, chapter nine ; and so much of 04;
passed in the first year of the reign of his late Afajeett the
William the Fourth, chapter seventy-three, as extends
provisions of th sad first-entiond act.
An act passede i
in the session ofe Parliament holden lull
sixth and seventh years of the reign of the said King Wiu'"—
the Fourth, chapter seventy-six.
So much of an act passed in the Session of Parliament
holden in the sixteenth and seventeenth years of her Prestio,
Majesty's reign, chapter sixty-three, contained in sec of
three thereof, es relates to the stamp duty chargeable en
newspaper or any suplement t a newspaper.
And the whole of another act passed in the Bald last
timed session of Parliament, chapter seventy-one.

ing four ounces, the rate of one penny.
If exceeding four ounces, then at and after the rate of one
penny for every four ounces of the weight thereof.
And for any fractional part of four ounces over the first four
ounces, or over any multiple of that quantity in weight,
the additional rate of one penny.
IV. Provided always, that any printed work or printed
paper not exceeding six ounces in weight, printed and pub
lishcd in the United Kingdom on paper stamped with such
appropriated die as herein-after mentioned for denoting the
rate of one penny, if not exceeding four ounces in weight, or
a rate of one penny halfpenny if exceeding that weight,
shall from time to time, when and so often as the same shall be
posted within the period of seven days from the day of the date
of the publication thereof, be transmitted and re-transmitted
by the post between any places in the United Kingdom
(except by the post of a post town addressed to a person
within the limits of such towns or its suburbs), free
from any further rate or charge of postage, but under
and subject nevertheless to the terms and conditions,
following ; that is to say, such work or paper shall
be printed ou not more than two sheets or pieces of paper
forming one publication ; one of which sheets or pieces
of paper shall be stamped with an appropriated die denoting
the said postage rate ; and on the top of every page of such
work or paper ~there shall be printed the title thereof
and the date 'ckf Publleation ; and such work or paper
at the time when the same shall be poited 6shall be
folded in such manner that' the whole of the stanaP slOnOttisg
the postage rate shall be exposed to view, and be distinctly
visible on the outside thereof ; also no such work or paper
shag be printed on pasteboard or cardboard, or on two or
more pieces or thicknesses of paper pasted together, nor shall
any pasteboard, cardboard, or such pasted paper be trans-
mitted by post with any such work or paper, either as a back
or cover thereto or otherwise.
And whereas under the acts relating to the stamp duties
on newspapers repealed by this act British newspapers con-
taining a superficics of letter press not exceeding two thou-
sand two hundred and ninety-five inches on one side of
the paper on which the same are respectively printed
are chargeable with the stamp duty of one penny
only, and are entitled by law to free transmission by
the post, and it may happen that under this act such news-
papers when transmitted by the post will be chargeable with
the postage rate of one penny halfpenny by reason of their ex-
ceeding respectively the weight of four ounces, and it is ex-
pedient to afford relief with respect to such newspapers
now existing : Be it enacted, That during the period
of ten years from the passing of this act any British
newspaper existing before the first day of January
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, and which is now
existing, and the whole impression of which has hitherto been
duly stamped, and which shall be hereafter printed and pub-
lished on paper stamped with such appropriated die as afore-
said for denoting the postage rate of one penny, and the
letterpress of which shall not exceed the dimensions afore-
said, shall be transmitted and re-transmitted by the post,
notwithstanding that the weight thereof may exceed four
ounces, but under and subject to the terms and conditions
aforesaid in other respects.
VI. The rates and duties by this act directed or authorised
to be charged for the transmission by post of printed works,
books, and papers shall be denoted by postage stamps to be
provided or impressed by or under the direction of the Com-
missioners of Inland Revenue.
VII. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue at the request
and expense of the proprietor or printer of any printed work
or paper shall cause a proper die or proper dies to be pre-
pared under their directions for stamping the paper whereon
such work or paper is intended to be printed, to denote the
rate of postage by this act charged for the transmission
and re-transmission of the same by post ; and the said com-
missioners shall also cause to be prepared a new die for
the like purpose from time to time when and as they
shall think necessary ; and the reasonable costs and expenses
of preparing such dies as shall be from time to time defrayed
by the proprietor or printer of such work or paper, and be
paid to such person as the said commissioners shall appoint,
before any paper shall be stamped with any such die ; and
every such die shall be appropriated to the particular work
or paper, by having the title or some part of the title thereof
expressed on such die in such convenient manner and form
as the said commissioners shall deem proper.
VIII. It shall be lawful for any person at whose request
and expense any such appropriated die as aforesaid shall
have been prepared to send to the commissioners of Inland
Revenue, or to such officer as they shall appoint or direct in
that behalf, any quantity of paper to be stamped with such
appropriated die, and upon payment to the proper officer of
the full amount of the stamps required to be impressed on such
paper, the said commissioners or their proper officer shall cause
the same to be stamped accordingly : provided always, that
during the period of ten years from the passing of this act there
shall be allowed in respect of such appropriated stamps as afore-
said for any newspaper existing in Ireland before the first day
of January one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, and
which is now existing, and the whole impression of which has
hitherto been duly stamped, and which shall hereafter be
printed and published in Ireland, only a discount after the
rate of twenty-five pounds per centum on any sum of ten
pounds or upwards of the amount of such appropriated
stamps purchased at one time.
IX. Provided always, That it shall be lawful for the said
Commissioners, if they shall think fit, to use for the stamping
of such paper, under this act, any appropriated die provided
under any former act for denoting the stamp duties charge-
able on newspapers, in any case where such die shall be appli-
cable and proper for the stamping of paper under this act for
the same publication for which such die was originally pro-
vided.
X. And whereas certain treaties and arrangements have
been made and entered into by and between her Majesty's
Government and certain foreign and colonial Governments for
regulating the transmission of British newspapers abroad ;
and it is expedient to make provision for enabling her Ma-
jesty's Postmaster-General to secure for such newspapers re-
spectively the privileges and advantages of such treaties and
arrangements : be it therefore enacted, that, upon the Post-
master-General being satisfied that any printed publication is
a newspaper, or entitled to the privileges of a newspaper,
within the meaning of such treaties and arrangements as
aforesaid, it shall be lawful for the proprietor or printer of
such newspaper or publication, if he shall think fit, to regis-
ter the same at the General Post-office in London, in such
form and with such particulars relating to the same, and sub-
ject to the payment of such fees, not exceeding five shil-
lings respectively, as well on registration as afterwards
periodically for being continued on the register, as the
Postmaster-General, with consent of the Commissioners of the
Treasury, shall from time to time direct or require in that
behalf; and thereupon such newspaper, being printed on
paper duly stamped with an appropriate die under the pro-
visions of this act, shall be entitled to, all the privileges and
advantages secured to newspapers by any such treaties and
arrangements as aforesaid.
XI. The forty-second section of an act passed in the ses-
sion of British Parliament holden in the third and fourth
years of her present Majesty's reign, chapter ninety-six, and
so much of the seVentysfirst section of the same act as defines
the meaning of the term " British newspapers," shall be and
the same is hereby repealed.
XII. It shall be lawful for the Commissioners of her Ma-
jesty's Treasury, by warrant under their hands, to allow any
printed book, printed newspaper (British, colonial, or
foreign), or other printed publication or papers, to be trans-
mitted by the post between places in the United Kingdom,
or between the United Kingdom and her Majesty's colonies
or foreign countries, or between any ports or places beyond
the sea (whether through the United Kingdom or not), either
free of postage or subject to such rates of postage as the
Commissioners of the Treasury or the Postmaster-General,
with their consent, shall from time to time think fit.
XIIL It shall be lawful for the Commissioners of her Ma-
jesty's Treasury at any time or times hereafter, by warrant
wader their hands, to make and issue such orders, regula-
tions, conditions, and restrictions as they shall deem to be
necessary or expedient for the purpose of regulating the re-
ceipt, transmission, and delivery by post of newspapers and
other printed works, books, or papers, under the provisions of
this act, or for preventing or detecting frauds or abuses in
relation thereto, and for giving effect to the purposes of
this act; and it shall also be lawful for the said last-men-
tioned conittiiNSidriets from time to time to rescind or revoke
all or any such warrants, orders, regulations, conditions, and
restrictions, and to make and issue any new ones in lieu
thereof.
XIV, All British newspapers and other printed works,
books, and papers sent by post otherwise than in cairformity
with the terms, contlitione, and regulations establishell by or
under the authority of this act shall be chargeable with the
like rates of postage as if the same Were letters transmitted
by the post : Provided always, that it shall be lawful for the
Commissioners of her Majesty's Treasury, by warrant under
their hands, to authorise her Majesty's Postmaster-General to
charge the same with any such less rate of postage as to him
shall seem fit.
XV. All powers, provisions, clauses, regulations, (Erec-
tions, fines, forfeitures, pains, and penalties now in force,
contained in or -imposed by any former act or acts, for the
regulation of the duties of postage or for purposes relating to
the Post-office, or referred to or mentioned in any such act
or acts, or incorporated therewith, shall (so far as
the same may be applicable and may be consistent
with the provisions of this act), in all cases not hereby ex-
pressly provided for, be of full force and effect with respect
to the stamps to be provided under this act, and to the paper
on which the same shall be impressed or to which the same
shall be affixed, and to the rates and duties by this act
made payable, and also to all newspapers and ether
printed works, books, and papers to be transmitted by post
under the provisions of this act, and to any warrant, order,
consent, or authority of the Commissioners of her Majesty's
Treasury which shall be issued or given under or by virtue
of this Act, and shall be observed, applied, enforced, and
put in execution for collectink, securing, and accounting for
the said rates and duties, and for preventing, detecting,
and punishing all frauds, forgeries, and other of-
fences relating thereto, and to the transmission by post
of such newspapers or other printed works, books, or
papers, and for giving effect to the purposes of this act, as
fully and effectually to all intents and purposes al if such

;~., .

~' y~,..i