Select Charters and Other Documents Illustrative of American History, 1606-1775

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1899. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... assisting, or otherwise concerned, either in the loading outwards, or in the unshipping or landing inwards, such goods, or to whose hands the same shall knowingly come after the loading or unshipping thereof, shall, for each and every offence, forfeit treble the value of such goods, to be estimated and computed according to the best price that each respective commodity bears at the place where such offence was committed; and all the boats, horses, cattle, and other carriages whatsoever, made use of in the loading, landing, removing, carriage, or conveyance, of any of the aforesaid goods, shall also be forfeited and lost, and shall and may be seized and prosecuted, by any officer of his Majesty's customs, as herein after mentioned. No. 57. Stamp Act March 22, 1765 A stamp act formed part of the plan of colonial taxation outlined by Townshend in 1763, and adopted by Grenville when the latter became prime minister (see note to No. 56). In September, 1763, the commissioners of stamp duties were requested to draft provisions for the extension of those duties to America. In March, 1764, shortly before the passage of the Sugar Act, Grenville announced his intention of introducing, at the next session, a stamp bill; and the plan received the approval of Parliament. In the meantime, opportunity was given the colonial agents to communicate with their respective governments, in order that the colonies, in case the stamp tax were deemed objectionable, might agree upon some other method of raising the desired revenue. The prospect of parliamentary taxation was viewed with alarm in America, where a stricter enforcement of the acts of trade was already thought to threaten disaster to commerce. When, however, the subject was again brought before Parliament by Grenville, in Febr...