The Sun.
London, England, 1830-05-08 00:00:00

THE NEW STAMP ACT.

'(From the Dublin Morning Register.)
Amongst the beauties of the New Stamp Act
may be reckoned the following:—
Under the head of" medicines," it subjects one
thousand articles to a duty which are at present un-
taxed in Ireland. It it:creases the duties on ap-
prentices' indentures, and subjects the duplicates of
the indentures to a totally new duty. in a case
where a certain deFcription of bond should pay now
a duty of 101., it subjects such an instrument to
eleven times that amount of impost. It imposes
upon certain descriptions of leases entirely new
duties, which are calculated to press with great
severity on the poor, especially the small holders of
Bishops' land. Mortgage deeds, which now pay a
stamp tax of 201. it subjects to a tax of six times
that amount. It imposes OR transfer of shares in
the stock or funds of public companies an entirely
new duty, and a duty in some instances higher than
any existing in England. In this respect it pro-
poses, without giving us back our Parliament, or rt.-
turning a shilling of the four or five millions of
absentee remittances, to do away with the Act of
Union. On " warrants" attached to bonds it pro-
poses to lay an entirely new tax. On policies of
insurance it imposes nearly three times the
former amount of duty in some instances, and
altogether novel duties in others. On certain
descriptions of promissory notes, it proposes to lay
as many shillings as there are pennies payable under
the existing law. On the Bank of Ireland it will
lay an enormous increase of burthen, which, of
course, will ultimately fall upon the mercantile and
trading classes, whose bills are discounted by that
Company. Receipts of charitable bequests de-
posited in bankers' hands, it will subject to an en-
tirely new duty. On probates of wills and letters
of administration, it proposes to lay duties twice,
thrice, and in some cases four times the amount of
the present duties. A charity advertisement, now
free from duty, it proposes to subject to a new duty
of 3s. 6d. All charitable bequests are at present
unexcised in Ireland—this new law IA ill, in certain
instances, subject them to a tax of 101. per cent., or
in other words, confiscate the tenth part of them for
the use of the state, which in Ireland now means
Great Britain. It proposes to lay a new duty on
newspapers,' which will more effectually crush the
press, than the most rigorous censorship that ever
existed under what the loyalists used to instruct us
to call the " odious domination of the Corsican
usurper." It will subject persons, plodding their
weary way to the learned professions, to increased
or entirely novel exactions. But, then, with a ten-
derness for the comforts and well being of the
people, which demands our utmost gratitude, it
lessens the tax on a parson's license of non-residence,
from 31. to 21., and the tax upon a dispensation to
hold a plurality from 251. generally, to 101. in
certain cases, rind 51., or a one-fifth in others !!!

It is expected that when the new law arrange-
ments take place, Mr. Justice BAILEY will be appointed
Lord Chief Baron of the Court of the Exchequer. The
Learned Judge, having had a long course of active exertion,
is now entitled to a little ease.

STATE OF THE CROPS, &C.— (Extract of a
letter from the neigbourhood of Salisbury, dated the 6th
inst.)—" The promises of the season are very gratifying.
The wheat, which at first looked very thin, especially on
the strong lands, is wonderfully improved by a rapid
growth, and extensively branching out : it is now quite
strong and luxuriant. The oats have come up thick and
well, but seem at length to require rain. The barley land
has been well cleansed from couch, &c., and the blade
springs up nicely. Bloom on the apple-trees is great, but
on many trees weak, and hurt by the late frosts ; the
apricots and peaches are the most unfavourable of any;
but the grapes are coming out in great abundance. Our
peas and beans are in bloom, and our potatoes some inches
out of the ground. The grass plentiful, and very forward ;
the beans strong and forward also. Plums and cherries,
if they stand, will afford plenty of work for the faculty.
Currants and gooseberries are early and plentiful."

Alderman WOOD.—It is no such thing; he has
no right to ply at all.
Mr. Hobler,"jun., said that Mr. Shillibeer wished
to avoid as much as possible the imputation of a
nuisance, and therefore drove round to collect pas-
sengers without getting amongst the sharp corners.
Alderman VENABLEs said the omnibuses were
certainly a very great source of accommodation, but
if they were mot under regulations the nuisance
would be quite intolerable. They had no right to
stop at all ekcept they were hired—bonafide hired.
Mr. Shillibeer—l have no objection to the Com-
mittee of Aldermen as Directors, but I have to the
Paddington coachmen, and they have assumed the
power. I have been marked, and it is known to the
public that I am_
Alderman WOOD said, that if he (Mr. Shillibeer)
was marked by the Committee, it was from circum-
stances in his favour. As to the marking of the
Paddington coachmen, that could not affect him
much. All should be treated alike, and the officers
would act with the utmost impartiality. He might
take this case to the sessions if he pleased, but of
this he might be assured, that the citizens of London
must be protected against the existing nuisance, if
it were necessary to call out the whole force of the
police.
Mr. flobler, jun.--My client merely waited for a
vacancy; he will appeal against the conviction.
The LORD MAYOR then fined the defendant 40s.

Another omnibus proprietor was also fined 40s.
for conduct similar to that proved in the first case.
The LORD MAYOR hoped. those examples would
have a good effect. 11. should, he declared, if the
practice was continued, increase the penalty. upon the
proof of each offence.