TREASURY DEPARTMENT, . MARCH i, 1798. PUBLIC NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, IN narfuanee of the AS of Cetgrifs joffcd on the fixtK day ®f juljr one thousand seven hundred and ninety (even, entitled " An Afl laying dutieaon v tumped Veiluai, Paicl mcnt and Piper",' and thr Aft pafud on thr fifteenth day of Decvm'er, one thousand seven hundred and ninety-fcveo, entitled " An Ad 10 p'i|tp<.ne for a limited time the commencement of the dutra imposed by the enti tled "An A&laying Dutiea on Stamped Vellum, Parchment and Paper", that from and after the firft day cf Jaly enfaing, thef veral Stamped Duties hereafter enumerated, will be levied mud collec ted throughout uk United :staut. I. For every skin or pieeeof Velhim ir Parchment, or (heet or piece of Paper, upon which (hill be written or pr.nted any or either of the inflrumenta or writings following—to wit: Dls Ctt. Mh Any Certificate of Naturaliration, - - - " 5 Any Licence to praflice.or Certificate of the admiHion,enrolment erregiftryof anv Counsellor, Solicitor, Attorney, Advocate or Proflor, in any Court of the Unted States, ... - 10 Prr*vi<fed, that a Certificate in any one of the Caurti of the United States for one of thefaid Officer, fhal! so far is relatea to the payment of the duty afrre aid, be a fufficient admission in all the Courta of the United Sutes, for each and every of thefaid < dices. Any Grant or Letters Patent, under the seal or authority of the United States (except for lands granied lor military fcrvicea) - 4 Any exemplification or ceriified copy of any fuck'grant or letters patent, (ex cept for lands granted for military services) ... » Any harter-Party, Bott( mry, or Refpendentia Bond, • 1 Any Receipt or dif harge for or on accountaf anyLegacyleftby any Will or e ther teftameetary inflrument, or for any share or part eftate di videtl by force o any statute of diflributions, other than to the Wife, Chil dren or Grand Children of the person deceafed,the amount wheieoflhall be above thr value of Fifty Dollars, and (hall not exceed the value of One Hun dred Dollars, .... . *5 When the amount thereof shall exceed the value of One Hundred Dollara and (hall not exceed five hundred dollars, ... jo And for every further ftim of Pive Hundred Dollara, the additional sum of 1 Any Policy of Insurance or instrument in nature thereof, on any (hip, vefTcl or goods insured from one diflriA to another in the United States, Ij From the United Statea to any foreign port or place, when the sum for which Infuranee is made (hall not exceed five hundred dollars, - 59 When the sum insured (hall exceed five hundred dollara, - I A*J Exemplification, of what nature soever, that (hall pafa the seal of any Court, ■ ther than ftch as it may be the duty of the Clerk of such Court to furnifh for the use of the United States or some particular (late, - 50 Any Eon J, bill Tingle or penal, foreign or inland hill of exchange, promiflory note or other note, other than any recognizance, bill, bond, or other obliga tion or contrail, made to or wi:h the United Statea t»r apy (late, or fur their uferefpefllve'y, .... If above twenty dollars and not exceeding one hundred dollars, • 10 If above on 4 hundred dollar* and not exceeding five hundred dollars, i J V above five hundred dollars and not exceeding one thousand dollars, .50 And if above one thousand dollars, ..... 75 Provided- that if any bbndsor notes (hall be payable at or within sixty days, such bonds or notes (hall be fubjeft to only two fifth parts of the duty < aforefaid—vix. - - - If above twenty dollara and not exceeding one hundred dollars, . I 4 If above one hundred dollars and not exceeding five hundred dollars, I lo If above five hundred dollars and not exceeding one thousand dollars, ' 10 ■lf above one thousand do'lars, .... 3® Any Nrtes ifluedfcy thebanks now eflabliflied, or that may hereafter be eftab lifted within the United States, other than the ilh'es of such of the said Banks as (hall agree t' an annual composition, o f one per centum on the annual d vidciid* made by such Banks, to their Stockholders refpedively, according to jhe following scale. ..... , On all notca not exceediag fifty dollars, for each dollar, - ® On all rotes above fifty dollars, and not exceeding one hundred dollars, 50 C n all notes above one hundred dollars and not exceeding five hundred dul'ara, » - ... X Or »ll notes ab«ve five hundred dollars, . 1 Any Pr»teO or other Notarial ail, .... 15 Any Letter bf Attorney, except for an invalid penfioa, or to obtain or fell War ranis for Land granted by the United States as bounty for military services prrinrmidii. ihv fate war, - 2J Ary Cersifciterr Dehenture for drawback of Customs or duties, for less than fiv* Vundred dollars, - - • I For five hundred dollars in 1 not exceeding two thousand dollars, * For more tl)an two thousand dollars, ... 3 Abv or bill of lading for g «d* or merehandixe to be exported, If frrm in. diftriiS to another diftriil as the United States, not being in the fame State, - .... 10 • If from the United States to any foreign port or place, • 15 Any Inventory or Catalogue of any furnituri, goods or e(T-<fls, made in any cafe required by law, (except in cases of goods and --chattels distrained for rent or taxee, and poods taken in virtue of any legal prncefs by any officer,) 50 Any Certifica-e of a Share in any Inf-rance Company, of a (hare in the Bank as the United Stats, or of any State or other Bank, - - If above twenty <i liars and cot exceeding one hundred dollars, - to If above one handred dollars, ... if If under twenty dollars, at the rate of ten tents for one hundred dollara. 11. The duti« aforefaid will be eolle&ed and received by the Snpcrvifors, tnfpeflors aud other Officers of fnfpeflion, in the several Pi'triftf, Surveys and Divisions of th<- United States, and by such other perfens as (hall from te time be specially appointed and employed by the Suparvifors of Diilridls for that purpose. 111. The Superviftrs of the several DiftriSs will, prior to the firft day of July enfaing, and at soon as may be pradlicable. mark or (tamp, without fee or reward, any quantities or parcels of Vellum, Parch ment or Paper, with ;.ny < f the rates of duties before enumerated, on payment of tbef»id duties ; Or (lamped vellum, parchment and paper n.av at the option as the Citizens of the United States be ob tained at the rates preftrib'd by law, by application to any Supervilor, InfpeAor, Officer of liifpeAien, or other person appointed for the distribution of Stamps, by the Supervisors of D'.flrids. GIVE N vndtr my Hand, at Philadelphia thl Jay and ytar ahnvtmenti-ntd. OLIVER WOLCOTT, March JO. Secretary as the Treasury. City Commidioner's Office, January tub, 1798. FOR THE INFORMATION l»F THE CITIZtm. r I ""HE f-illowing arrangement is made by the -L said eommiflioners, for cleansing the streets, Sec Diflritf No I. —From the north fide of Vine ftr«et,to the south fide of Mulberry street j t» be ÜBder the fuperintendance of Nicholas Hirks a From the south fide of Mulbrry street, t< the south fide eif Ckefnut ftrreet, to he under the fupcrintendance o' William Moulder. 3. From the south fide of Chefnut flreet to the north fii'e of Spruce street, to be under the foperintendance of Joseph Claypoo'e. 4. From the solh fide of Spruce street, to the south fide of Cedar Arte', to be under the fu perinteodance of Hugh Roberta. €T When pumps are out of order south of Hi»h •street, please apply to Thomas Dixey, at the corner i f Sruth and Fifth-Rreets, or Godfrey Geb ler. >n Hutth, fear C'btfnut.ftrcet ; and north of Higli-flrert, to Clixey and Deharen, in Saflafrat ftr-rt b*twe<*n Sixth and Seventh-ftrefta. FOR SALE, By WHARTON & LEWIS, No 115 .South Front Street. A quantity of Tanner's Oil, • » 4th proof Janniea Rom, 1 entitled to Ift and id proof Brandy, J drawback. Madeita Wine, Juniper Berries, See. <ce. Feb. 9 eodtf Red Clover Seed ®f the best quality. MjlfilJKA Wlh'B, Old, and fit for immediate ofe, in pipei, half pipes and Quarter calks. Teneriffe "Wine, And, Window Glaf~-all of whith will he fold on »«ry reafonakle terms, by John Craif, No. n, Dock Street, march? wScnf St. Croix Sugars. -.6 hegfheada bert ST. CKOIX StTGAR, TOR SALE BY JOHN NIXON U Co. Feb. p. fm'wtf Hyson and Young Hyson Tea. A few che*»« of exc 1! Nt quality, for fair, cor ? r of Scesad aid Pine f reef*. Dae l<—nil EdWAKIJ DvNANTy No 149, South Front-Arete, Has (till remaining of the Cargo ot the Johanna, from Malaga, 66 kegs Sun Rai/ins 91 jars fine Bloom ditto »i hhd" } su P erior Catalonia Wine Mountain and Malaga Wine, in hogfhends and quarter calks And a few qr calk* fine old Colemenar Wine. He bat alfe, a few packages of Calcutta and Madrafs Goods, Confifti, gof Humhums, 'Pickeries, PatnaChints, Bandanna, Pullicar and Barhar Handkerchiefs, Choppaßomals, Mack and coloured Persians, and black Pepper. (jp Pl anted—A Male and Female SERVANT, of unexceptionable charaflers. march (. *3teod At a Meeting of the President and Managers of the Deuawaie and Schu vlkill Canal Com pa ny, Febru ry 17th, 1798, Refalved, That ten dollars on each (hare of Stock be railed for ; and that the Treasurer give public notice thereof agreeable to law. Extractfrom the Minutes. GVdRGE WORRAIX, Secretary. AGREEABLE to a refutation ol the President and Managers of the Delaware and SctvyUtiU Canal Company, the Stockholders are hereby requ red to make a payment of ten dollars on each of their refpeSive (hares on or before the ift of pril next, «o WM. GOVETT, Treasurer. February »8, jawtA A PRINT. I 'HE Print, representing Ginkial Wajhikc to* and his family, all whole length* in one g'ouDr, will be ready for delivery by the tyh of March "*>t. An anfinifhed rmpreffinn it '• be seen at Mr M'El wcet'» Wore No. 70South Fourth Street. TKe wili elofe on the 10th of March next. Sobfc'ibert may depend on having the'btft Printtat eneghinca+ndan halj. To non-2ubfcribers, the nrice will be two guinea*. Febroary 19. TO RENT, A good three ftorv House, TWO roemi on each Hot, with' a convenient Kite en— in Front, near South-street.——Enquire of th Pri liter. ruaach 3—jawjtw , C O N G R E •$ S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. STAMP ACT. TUESDAY—MARCH 6. The hotfc having resolved itfelf into a cjnrr.it' tee of the mthvle on the bill supplementary to the a3 for laying a duty on (lamped vellum, parchment and paper, and the clause for al lowing per cent, on pur chafe i offlamps to the value oj dollar: being under con fderation, Mr. Harper proposed to fill the laftblank with 20 dollars. Mr. J. Wiilinns fuggeflcd th*- propriety of making the sum ten 01 twelve dollars, in stead of twenty. Mr. Harper thought that any person purchafiug stamps for the purpose of retail ing tham, would not wish to do it to a lifs amount than 20 dollars. It was the sum the fecrctary of the treasury recommended. Mr. Thatcher was in favor of ten dollars. Mr. Blount would propose a motion, which he fupppfed would fcpcrcede the pre sent ; it was to strike out the firft fedtioa of the bill, as he did not approve of the prin ciple of it. The question was put and negatived. The iecfe of the committee was then taken on filling the blank with 20 dollars, and negatived, there being only 22 votes for it. Fifteen and ten were then proposed. Mr. Blount (aid, to allow this discount was to lower the duty, and he could not fee why those who purchased a small quan tity, ought not to have the fame allowance with those who purchased a larger. The question on fifteen was negatived ; and it was then taken on ten, and carried, there being 56 vote 3 in its favor. Mr. Harper moved to fill the blank fix ing the amount of the discount with Mr. Bleupt thought 2$ would be fuffi -1 cient. Mr. Otis was in fatfor of i\. Mr. Matthews proposed ten per cent. Mr. Bayard was of opinion that ten ought to be fixed upon at firft, in order to induce persons to purchafr, and by that means get the stamps well diilributed. The discount might afterwards be lowered. He believed, that in England ro per cent, was originally allowed ; it had since been reduced to five. Mr. J. Williams was opposed to teu Me supposed merchants, and others using any considerable quantity of stamps, would always take advantage of this discount. He thought 1\ would be fufficient. Mr. Blount said it had been ®bferved that a large discount would facilitate the distri bution of stamps. To do this, he suppos ed was the duty of the secretary of the trea sury and the supervisors. He wished tokoow whether there was any thing in this bill, 01 the law, to prevent stamps from being fold at a higher rate than the law diredted ? Mr. Harper replied, that by the law, the secretary of the treasury was diredted to cause the stamps to be diftiibuted and fold all over the country, at the price fixed by law, and no more, without any charge for paper. And persons being appointed all over the country to fell them at this price (for the trouble of doing which they were to have an allowance not exceeding five per cent.) a competition would be produced be twixt them and persons who bought them on their own account, which would be a se curity against a higher price being deman ded, than the real price of the stamp. Mr. H. thought 10 per nent. too much, and that i\ would be e proper allowance. The question for filling the blank with ten was negatived, there being only 19 votes in favor of it. Seven and one half and five were then mentioned. Mr. Gordon thought that 5 per cent, would be fufficient, which, with other ex pences attending the business, would pio ducc a drdudtion of at least ten per cent, from the amount of the duty. Mr. A. Foster said it ought to be recol ledted, that by allowing this discount, more money would be brought into the trea sury, than the bare amount of stamps real ly used would amount to, as not only those made use of but those on hand, would be paid for. Mr. Lyon would be willing to allow 10 per cent, if he was afTuted that stamps would not be fold at a higher rate than at which they are damped : but he thought there was no security against this. Mr. Macon differed in opinion from gen tlemen who thought this per centage would eperate an injury to persons who used but few stamps, and consequently could not a vail themselves of the discount : he believed they would be mod benefited by it, as shop keepers would be induced to keep them for the fake of the profit ; for if they could only be had of supervisors and colledtors, persons in the country would upon an aver age, have to ride twenty miles for a stamp, whenever they hadoccafion to use one.. Mr. Sewall said it ought to be considered that persons purchasing a quantity of stamps took upon themselves the rifle of paying for what they might not use or dispose of. Be sides, lofTes might be sustained by perfonr entrusted to fell stamps by commission, but none could be had from purchalers, as cash was to be paid at all times for them. Mr. S. Smith said, that he was in favor of repealing the law altogether j but as this could not be done, he wished to make it as palatable as he could. Nothing would renderjit more odious, than to render it diffi cult for the people to obtain the stamps. He hoped, therefore, a fufficient profit would be allowed to induce floTe-keepers in general to keep them. The motion for filling the blank with 7 j was carried without a division. The clause for repealing that part of the law whieh laid a,flamp duty on debenture*, ) which was found would operate very Hue quail)') and enacting in its (lead that per cent, should be retained in addition *a the one per cent, now retained on draw backs. Mr. Harper moved to fill the blank with three-fifths which would produce a sum e qual to that proposed to be raised by the (lamp duty. ■ Mr. S. Smith hoped the bjank would be filled with one quarter, which, upon the debentures of last ye.ir, would produce the sum of io,o:c dollars. This, he said, would be a direct tax upon the merchants, which they could not get repaid from their cuflomers. He had also doubts as to the principle. Btfides, it might be forgot, a few years hence, that this wasacomprom ife for a stamp duty, and theft iulhuraents might hereafter be taxed. Mr. Harper had no ohjcdti.iii to one quarter. The committee thought it a high duty ; but they believed it right to fay what would be equal to the (lamp tax pro posed. Mr- J. Williams renewed the motion for two-fifths. The amount of drawbacks al lowed, he said, amounted to more than one third of all the revenue. He had an in tention of bringing this fubjedt of draw backs b»fore the house on some other occa sion, in order to have some alterations in tioduced into it. He thought two-fifths ought to be agreed to. ' Mr. Sewall said, he had also his doubts as to the propriety of taxing debentures, as it was well known they were given to secure the drawback upon goods re-exported. The export business, said he, is of great import ance, and as to the present drawbacks a■ mounting to one third of the revenue, this was of no consequence, since the duty on goods imported are intended to be piid by the consumer, and not by the merchant.— At present one per cent of the duty is re tained, which more than ppys all the ex pences attending the collection jf the im port duty. Two fifths per cent, would be more than the proportion which had been observed in taxing of notes. He hoped one quarter per cent, would be agreed to. Mr. J. Williams said, that though the one per cent, retained on drawbacks paid the expence of cwlledting the duties, as far as the centage on the ad valorem amount, it did not pay also for weighing, measuring and gauging. He had made some calcula tions on this fubjedt, but he had not them now before him. He thought; this draw back a great advantage given to merchants, and he was not for lowering the proposed duty. Mr. Lyon 1 observed, that he had oppo sed the Stamp tax here, but he had endea voured to make the bell of it to his confti luents, who disliked it exceedingly, by tel ling them that it would fall heaviell on the merchants ; but if this article was to be lowered, this apology would be done away. Mr. Coit was in favour of the quarter per cent. Mr. J. Williams moved that the commit tee might rife ; but after some obiervations he withdrew his motion. Mr. S. Smith said, the gentleman frem New-York seemed to be much concerned as to the drawback allowed on goods* re-ex ported The two last years left to the reve nue at one pet cent, an average of 40,000 dollars per annum. One quarter per cent additional would produce 10, coo dollars more. The whole estimate of duty to be produced by stamps dollars ; so that upon onefingle articlealoneone tenth part of the amount was to be raised ; yet gentlemen wished to increase this sum by 6000 dollars, tho' out of eighteen articles upon which a (lamp-duty was imposed, thir teen of them fell exclusively upon the mer chants. The gentleman frem New-York needed not to be afraid of the lauded inter est, there was scarcely auy thing in the adt which could affedt them. But that gentle man was opposed to the bill, and he wifhad to make it as odious as puflible. Mr S. said his policy was different ; since it must pass he wished it to be an unexceptionable as pi f. fible, as he had now no idea that the stamp. law would ever be repealed. Mr. Blount said, the committee of ways and means had no intention of lowering the duty; and they only wished to equalise it. It was calculated to produce upwards of 13,000 dollars, as the law now (lands, and the present proportion of an additional de duction of two fifths would produceupwards of 12,000. He hoped, therefore, two fifths would be agreed to. 1 The question on two-fifths was pnt and negatived, there being only 12 votes for it. One quarter was then carried, without a division. Mr. S. Smith then moved to add an addi tional fedtion to the bill to this effedt : " Tliat no note, other than Bank Notes, made payable at or within 60 days from the date thereof, shall be liable to any stamp or duty; and no bill of lading liable topaymore than cents,any thing in the said adt to the contrary notwithstanding." Mr. Sewall said, that the part of the law which this clause went to repeal, imposed a duty upon a set of men who could not re imburse it. The duties laid upon merchants were generally considered as refunded to them by the public ; but in this cafe, no such reimbursement could take place. Our merchants had been greatly injured, it is well known, by the spoliations committed upon cur comnacice, by the French, and many of them are consequently uiider considerable embarrafTments, and being under the neces sity of continuing their contrails,from time to time, would be obliged to pay a high duty kpon renewing their notes. This would add to the hardlhips they already buf fer. As to the bills of lading, he always thought the duty exceflive, and hoped the amendment woi.ld be agreed to. Mr. Champlin said, that the American merchants were the holders of a very con siderable part cf the capital flock of all the Banks in the United States. And es the stamp-ait new flood, merchants who *r;te holders of tUf defcriptijn of Stock and had auy rejociations with the Banks, would be taxed ia a three fold degree* They would pay a (lamp-duty frji, upon the etc. tificate of their stock ; secondly, upon tRM notes itTued by the banks ; and thirdly, pon their private rotes made payable, at within 60 days, to ai;d discounted by the Banks. And as the amendment propofrd went to remedy, in some degree, this evil, and to rentier the aft inqueClion less unequal and oppteffive in its operation, he was deci dedly in favor or it. Mr. S: Smith believed it would be pro per to divide the question. It was aceordingly divided, and the form er part was under consideration when Mr. Harper said, the gentleman from R. Island seemed sb confound a bank as an in flitution with the individuals who .compose that iuftrtution. Individuals may doubtlef# pay taxes in three or thirty different ways, but he could not fee the force of this obser vation. With refpeft to the motion itfelf, lie believed it ought not to be adopted.— He could not fee why notes at 6c day* should not pay a duty, though he did fee why they ought not topay so high a dutyas others, which was the reafou why the dif tinflinn hndbeen made in their favour. The merchants, he said, were the mere payers ef this duty, as they would charge it upon their merchandise, in the fame way as they charged other duties and expences. He saw no reason why the alteration should be made with refpeft to bills of lading. Mr. S. Smith observed that it was tery difficult to convince theoretical gentlemen of their errors. Practical men will tall you that it is nnpoffible to charge these dnties to their customers. There was a duty char ged on inftrumeuts which admitted 1.-iwyer» to praftice, he wished t© know how they could be charged to their clients. Wheu this fubjeft was originally before the com mittee of ways and means, after well con sidering the fubjeft, 60 days notes were excluded; but when the bill came into a committee of the whole, gentlemen, defir. ous of defeating the bill, introduced such tilings into it as might have a tendency to ; damn it, arid this was the reason why 60 days notes were introduced. These notes he said, did not come under the design of other bonds and notes. They were now become the passing medium of this country. To tax them was the fame as -to tax everv dollar that Went through his hands, as all purchases and falcs were made by notes of this description. Mr. S. said he was awate of the difficulty of impressing a body like this, in which there is so little commercial interest, with the impropi-iety and hardfliip of a meafare of this kind. And as "infigni ficant as some gentlemen might think this duty, he could inform the committee that one merchant in Baltimore had gone into a calculation of what the stamp duty would (land {iim in, anchhe supposed it would be at least 800 dollars; and a house in Philadel phia had informed him that their (lamp du ties would amount to 1200 dollars, of which they never would be able to get a cent from their customers. Mr.Harper could not help congratulating the house upon this information. He hop ed there would be many persons of the de scription which the gentleman frorl Mary, land had mentioned. If so, this tar would prove an extensive fouree of revenue, refpeft to the lawyers, he believed they might be fafely trusted to get back Whatever they paid. After Mr. Champlin had said a few words in reply to Mr. Harper, the question was taken on each part of the feftion separately and nigatived. Mr. J. Williams then moved an addition al feftion, to exclude from duty all bonds, bills and notes, under 50 dollars, whieh was negatived without debate. The committee rose andche house concur red in the amendments. FRIDAY MARCH 9. A meflage was received from the Senate informing the house, that they hail receded from their amendment to the bill providing relief for the widows and orphans of certain deceased officers. It will be recollefted that this was a propofitioe to strike out militia cjfic rt—which being receded from, relief will now be granted to the widows and or phans of militia officers. The following bills were read the third time and pafled, via. The bill declaring the alTcnt of Congress to an aft of the commonwealth of Mailachn fetts; The bill limiting the time within which claims against the United States for credits on the books of the Treasury, (hall fce pre sented for allowance; which was (L-xed for the firft of March, 1799, and The bill for the relief of Sylvatvus Cro well. Mr. D. Foster made an unfavorable re port on the petitions of J. Brown, J. Zim merman, and two others, who seek for con#- penlatioa for fupplics, services, ac>d lo(Tes f lurnifhed and fuftaincd in the war, which was concurred in. Mr. Gillefpic proposed a refol|ition for inftru&ing the committee of comnjerce and manufactures to enquire into the exj icdiency of passing a law declaring the assent of Con gress to the appointment of a health officer at Wilmington in N»rth Carolina, and to report by bill or othcrvvife, which was a greed to. Mr. Livingfton moved an addition al mem ber might be added to the committee, to whom was referred the bill for the re li»f of Cck and disabled fearnen,as Mr. Swan 57 ickV health prevented his attendance upon rj* rbu finefs. Agreed, and Mr. S. Smith was appointed. Another meflage was received frrv n the Seaate, informing the house that tk sy in» fitted upon their amendments, whil h had been disagreed to by this house, to the bill for relief of the refugees from Can; da and Nova Scotia.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers