:A Hundred Years Ago
" THE SPECTATOR," MARCH 19TII, 1836.
The pressure of Parliamentary matter is lighter this week than usual, in" consequence of there having been, in technical phrase, " no House of Commons on Wednesday; and an adjournment at an early hour on, Thursday. Tuesday's proceedings, however, inake'up for these deficiencies. One of the most important measures of the session was on that day explained to the House by Mr. SPRLNG RICE. We allude to the Consolidation of the Stamp-duties, which the Government seems at length to have undertaken in earnest.. . . The principle which the Chancellor of the Exchequer has adopted in consolidating and amending the Stamp Acts is that which has often been advocated in this journal. The value of the property bought, sold, or leased, is to regulate the price of the stamp necessary to give validity to the deed; bond,- promissory note, or contract, as the case may be. Stamps on letters of admini- stration and probates of wills are to come under the same rule. The adoption of this ad valorem principle will get rid of an incon- ceivable amount of every-day injustice.
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