APPENDIX to the CHRONICLE. Abftra&t of the late Aa for altering the Duty on Houfes and Servants. Tthe duties granted laft feffion HE preamble recites, that of Parliament on inhabited houfes not bearing a proper proportion to each other, and the payment being greatly evaded, the duties paid by that act are therefore repealed. The duties now impofed, in lieu of the former, took place on the 5th of July, and are as under: On all dwelling-houfes, with the offices, courts, yards, and gardens, worth of yearly rent from 51. to 20l. fix-pence in the pound. From 20l. to 401. nine-pence in the pound. From 40l. a year upwards, one fhilling in the pound. Gardens, not exceeding one acre of land, are within the limits of taxation with the house. All shops and warehouses attached to, or communicating with, dwelling-houses, are to be charged with the refpective houses; excepting warehouses and buildings adjoining to wharfs, occupied by perfons carrying on the bufinefs of wharfingers, whofe dwelling-houses only are to be charged. No warehouses, being distinct buildings, and not parcels of dwel Houses, in which there is only a fervant, or other perfon refiding to take care of them, are not confidered as inhabited. Where houfes let in different apartments, the landlord is chargeable as the occupier. Halls and offices belonging to perfons or bodies corporate, and chargeable with other taxes or parifh rates, are subject to thefe duties. With regard to fervants, no affeffment is to be impeached for any mistake in the names of fervants, provided the perfons intended are fervants to the perfons affeffed. Perfons, who have different places of refidence, are to declare under their hands, when called upon, the number of servants they mean to pay for at their respective habitations; which lifts are to be transmitted. Perfons making falfe returns of their fervants are fubject to a pe. nalty of 401. Abstract of an Ad for extending the Provifions of the Twelfth of George the Firft, intitled An A to prevent frivolous and vexatious Arrests. T recites act of the 12th of are chargeable, ing frivolous and vexatious arrests, and and fets forth, that by the faid act no perfon fhall be held to fpecial bail upon any process iffued out of any fuperior court, where the caufe of action fhall not amount to the fum of ten pounds, or upwards; nor out of any inferior court, where the cause of action shall not amount to the fum of forty fhillings, or upwards. It further recites, that the power of arrest and imprifonment on mefne procefs, iffuing out of fuch inferior court, where the caufe of action does not amount to ten pounds, is found by experience to be attended with much oppreffion to great numbers of his Majefty's fubjects; for remedy whereof, it enacts, that, from the paffing of this act, no perfon fhall be arrested or held to fpccial bail, upon any procefs iffuing out of any inferior court, where the caufe of action fhall not amount to ten pounds, or upwards; but the like copies of procefs fhall be ferved, and the like proceedings had thereupon in fuch inferior court, as are directed to be had, by the faid recited act, in fuch inferior court, in all cafes where the cause of action shall not amount to the fum of forty fhillings. It further enacts, that in all inferior courts (having jurifdiction to the amount of ten pounds or upwards) the like affidavit fhall be made and filed of fuch caufe of action, and the like proceedings shall be had thereupon, as are directed by the faid recited act, where the caufe of action amounts to the fum of forty fhillings, or upwards. It then recites, that fo much of the feveral acts paffed for the recovery of debts within certain dif Α' FTER the first of Auguft, a penalty of 300l. is laid on any mafter of a fhip coming from abroad, having more than 100lb. of tea on board, (not being an Eaft India fhip) or more than 100 gallons of foreign fpirits in cafks under 60 gallons (befides two gallons for each feaman on board.) Foreign fpirits imported from any part of Europe, in a veffel containing lefs than 60 gallons, are forfeited, with the fhip, furniture, &c. When any tea, coffee, or goods liable to forfeiture, is found on board board any fhip coming from foreign parts, at anchor, or hovering within two leagues of the coaft, the fhip, if not above 200 tons, is forfeited, with her furniture, &c. Every person who fhall fell coffee, tea, cocoa-nuts, or make or fell chocolate, muft paint over his door, "dealer in coffee, &c." on penalty of 2001. Every importer or dealer in foreign fpirits muft paint over his door, importer of or dealer in foreign fpirits," on penalty of 50l. Every dealer in tea, foreign fpirits, &c. who fhall buy any of the faid goods of any perfon that has not the words aforefaid over his door, is liable to an additional penalty of 100l. Every perfon, not a dealer, who ball buy any tea, fpirits, &c. of any perfon that has not the words aforefaid over his door, will forfeit iol. All foreign thread-lace imported after the first of Auguft to be marked at each end at the CuftomHoufe; and perfons poffeffed of foreign lace may have it marked at the nearest Custom-Houfe, making oath that the duties were paid. All foreign thread-lace found in this kingdom after the first of February next, not marked, will be forfeited. And any perfon counterfeiting the mark, or that fhall fell or have in his cuftody lace with a counterfeit mark, will forfeit rool, and be adjudged to ftand in the pillory two hours; and their aiders, abettors, and affiftants, will be liable to the fame fine and nishment. pu Abftra of an AB for laying a commenced on Tuesday the 6th of N and after the 6th day of is to pay the duty of a penny per Every perfon who hires horses Mem. Ju A USTICES of peace, commiffioners of the land-tax, and magiftrates of corporations, in the commiffion of the peace, are impowered, within their feveral jurifdictions, to imprefs all ablebodied, idle, and diforderly perfons, who cannot, upon examination, prove themselves to exercife fome lawful trade or employment for their fupport; and are to order a general fearch for all perfons under this defcription. Perfons convicted of running goods or fimuggling, in a penalty not exceeding 401., may be raifed and levied in like manner, in lieu of the punishment to which they are otherwife liable: as are perfors convicted of running away and leaving families chargeable on their parishes. Bailifts-followers are left open to the powers conferred by this act, being exprefsly declared not to exercife an employment within the meaning of it. The men, thus enlifted, are to be free from bodily infirmities; between the ages of fixteen and fifty; if under the age of eighteen, they must be five feet three inches high; and, if above that age, five feet four inches high, without fhoes. No perfon, intitled to vote at an election for a member of parliament, is liable to be impreffed either as a foldier or a feaman, The inhabitants of every pariffi and townfhip are to affift in the execution of this act; and a reward of ten fhillings is to be paid for the difcovery of any proper perfon, fo that he be enlisted. Perfons obftructing the powers of the act, are fubject to a penalty of Iol. Perfons impreffed under this a& are intitled to their discharge on demand, after five years' fervice, provided the nation be not then engaged in war; in which cafe, they muft ferve during the conti nuance of the war. Perfons who enter voluntarily into his Majefty's fervice, are to receive three guineas bounty money, to enter into immediate pay, are to be discharged at the end of three years, or of the war then in being, on demand; are exempted afterwards from ftatute duty, parifh offices, and the militia ferfet up and exercife vice, and may any trade, agreeable to the ftatute 3 Geo. III. c. 8. To prevent the inconvenience of impreffing men during the time of harveft, labourers working at hay or corn harvest, who procure certificates from the parish where they live, which are to be furnished gratis, are thereby protected from May 25 to October 25. This act is to remain in force until May 1, 1780; and repeals the act 18 Geo. II. cap. 53, paffed last year. Proceedings at the Trial of Admiral the 75 made for all the adN the 7th of January the fig mirals and captains of his Majefty's feet to come on board the Britannia in Portsmouth harbour. When they were affembled, the names of the admirals and captains on board, according to their rank and feniority, were called over by George Jackfon, Efq. the Judge Advocate, till a fufficient number anfwered to their names to com pofe the Court, thofe being paffed over who had been fummoned to give evidence on the trial. This being objected to by the Hon. Captain Walfingham, the Judge Advocate read the following cafe, and the opinion of his Majefty's Attorney and Solicitor General and Mr. Cuft thereon, to the Court: The 22nd of Geo. II. chap. 33. fea. 11. enacts, "That from and "after the 25th day of Decem"ber, 1749, it fhall be lawful for "the faid Lord High Admiral of "Great Britain, or the Commif. "fioners for executing the office "of Lord High Admiral of "Great Britain; or the Commif"fioners for executing the office "of Lord High Admiral for the "time being, and they are here"by respectively authorifed from "time to time, as there fhall be "occafion, to direct any flag of "ficer or captain of any of his Majefty's fhips of war, who "fhall be in any port of Great "Britain or Ireland, to hold "Courts Martial in any fuch port, provided fuch flag officer "or captain be the firft, fecond, or third in command, in fuch port as fhall be found moft ex"pedient and for the good of his "Majefty's fervice; and fuch flag "officer or captain, fo directed to "hold Courts Martial, fhall pre"fide at fuch Court Martial; "any thing herein contained to "the contrary notwithstanding." Sec. 12th." "That from and "after the 25th of December, "1749, no Court Martial to be held or appointed by virtue of "this prefent act shall confift of "more than thirteen, or of lefs than five perfons, to be com pofed of fuch flag officers, captains, or commanders then and there prefent, as are next in feniority to the "officer who prefides at the Court "Martial." Notwithstanding the words in Italic in the 12th fection, the ufage at Courts Martial has been, for officers who have given evidence at the trials, not to fit as members of the Courts; although they were fenior to others who fat, and confequently would have fat as members, if they had not been examined as witneffes. The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty having lately received a complaint in writing, charging an officer of rank in the royal navy with one of the offences fpecified in the Articles of War, which are created and fet forth by the abovementioned act of parliament; their Lordships have therefore thought fit to iffue their order, or warrant in writing, to Admiral Sir Thomas Pye, at Portsmouth, requiring him forthwith to affemble a 'Court Martial for the trial of the faid officer. And it having been fuggested to their Lordships that feveral officers and commanders of the King's fhips at Portfmouth (who, on account of their feniority, must fit as members of the faid Court Martial, if the letter of the 12th fection in the faid act is conformed to) will be fummoned as witneffes, either in fupport of the charge or in behalf of the accused, You |