THE POLITICAL STATE FOR THE Month of May, 1733. London, May 31. 1733 Domeftick Occurrences. N the 12th of March, his the Elector of Saxony, had his firft private VOL. XLV. Mmm On On the 24th of April the Refident from the Prince of Brandenburg Anfpach, her Majefty's Brother, was at Court, to notify to their Majefties, the Birth of a Prince, being introduced by the Right Hon. the Lord Harrington, one of his Majefty's Principal Secretaries of State. Petition voted in the Common Council. On the 9th day of April there was held at Guildhall a Court of, CommonCouncil of the City of London, in which a Copy of the Bill then depending in the Houfe of Common, for altering the prefent Method of collecting the Duties on Tobacco, and raifing the fame for the future by way of an Excife, was laid before them. The Lord Mayor introduced the fame with a moft Pathetick Speech to the Effect as follows, viz. Gentlemen, ΤΗ HERE is a Bill depending in the Houfe of Commons, (a Copy of which I have procured) laying an Inland Duty on Tobacco; which Duty, it is univerfally agreed, will prove extremely detrimental to the Trade and Commerce of this Great City, as well as to That of the whole Nation. And as the High Station, which I have the Honour to be in, obliges me to be watchful over every Thing that may affect the Intereft of my FellowCitizens, I fhould think Myfelf wanting in my Duty, if I neglected to call you together on this Extraordinary Occafion, that you might have an Opportunity to deliberate on an Affair of fuch Importance, wherein our Liberty and our Property are fo effentially concerned. the Bill was read, and after that a Motion was made Then by Mr. Bofworth, feconded by Mr.Willymot, and fupported by Mr Evans, for the Court to petition the Hon. House of Commons againft paffing the faid Bill, which was unanimoufly refolved or; and on the Motion of Mr. Samuel Tatem, Deputy of Tower Ward, the fame Gentlemen, who, in the Court held the 15 h of February, were the Committee for drawing up a Reprefentation to the Four City Members against any new Excife, or any Extenfion of the Excife Laws, were appointed a Committee for drawing up the Petition, viz. Sir Richard Brocas, Knt. George Champion, Efq; John Salter, Salter Efq; Robert Godfchall Efq; Aldermen; Mr. John Bofworth, Mr. Robert Willymot, Mr. Thomas Sandford Mr Daniel Lambert, Mr. John Thomas, Mr. Henry Siffon, Mr. Sheldon, and Mr. William Tims, Commoners, (the laft in the room of Mr. Robert Peirce, who then happened to be abfen. Whereupon the faid Gentlemen retired, fo draw up a Petition, and the Court continued fitting till they returned with the fame, which being immediately read, was unanimoufly agreed to, and the Sheriffs were directed to prefent it the next day. But as our Readers will, we fuppofe, be curious to fee the Petition, we fhall prefent them with a Copy of it. To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain in The Humble Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Sheweth, T HAT your Petitioners obferve in the Votes of this Honourable Houfe, that a Bill has been brought in, pursuant to the Refolutions of the fixteenth day of March, for repealing feveral Subfidies and an Impoft now payable on Tobacco of the British Plantations, and for granting an Inland Duty in Lieu thereof. That they prefume therefore in all Humility, by a respectful Application to this House, to exprefs, as they have already done, in fome meafure, by their Inftructions to their Member, the Univerfal Senfe of the City of London, concerning any further Extenfion of the Laws of Excife. That the Burthen of Taxes already impofed on every Branch of Trade, however chearfully borne, is feverely felt; but that your Petitioners apprehend this Bur hen will grow too heavy to be borne, if it be increafed by fuch vexatious and oppreffive Methods of levying and collecting the Du ies, as they are affured by melancholy Experience, that the Nature of all Excifes must neceffarily produce. That the Merchan:s, Tradefmen and Manufacturers of this Kingdom have fupported themfelves under the PrefMmm 2 fure |