S T A 



fancy as above. This will furnifli the lefTon : — and after an in- 

 terval of a few hours, the fame fort of converfation or read- 

 ing fhould be repeated, two or three times more in the courfe 

 of a day. And on mixing with real auditors, every exertion 

 fhould be made to alTociate the ideas of their imaginary, with 

 their adtual prefence. 



Thefe direflions, it will be perceived, are founded upon 

 the principle of the allociation of ideas ; than which a more 

 powerful principle, in the formation of human habits, cannot 

 be conceived. 



An ingenious writer, whofe obfervations we are now citing, 

 5S of opinion, that it may be laid down as an incontrovertible 

 pofition, that perfons poflefiing an ordinary mental capacity, 

 with an adequate (hare of induftry and ilrength, may cer- 

 tainly overcome the habit of Hammering, by means fach as 

 here pointed out. See " Inftruftion of the Deaf and 

 Dumb," &c. by Jofeph Watfon, LL.D. 2 vols. 8vo. 

 1809. 



STAMNOS, an urn, or veffel for holding water. Some 

 authors have made it fignify the bucket-head, as it is called, 

 of thofe alembics which have no worm, but are cooled about 

 the head by this means. 



STAMP, a term ufed in fome places for a weir, or water- 

 fall. 



STAMP-Duties, are a tax impofed upon all parchment and 

 paper, on which any legal proceedings, or private inllru- 

 ments of almoft any nature whatfoever are written ; and alfo 

 upon licences for retaihng wines of all denominations ; upon 

 all almanacs, newfpapers, advertifements, cards, dice, and 

 pamphlets containing lefs than fix (heets of paper. Thefe 

 impoits are very various, according to the nature of the 

 thing ilamped. 



This tax, though in many inllances very burdenfome, is 

 of fervice to the public in general, by authenticating inft.ru- 

 ments, rendering it much more difficult than formerly to 

 forge deeds of any ftanding ; fince, as the officers of this 

 branch of the revenue vary their ftamps frequently, by 

 marks perceptible to none but themfelves, a man that would 

 forge a deed of king Wilham's time mult know, and be able 

 to counterfeit the Itamp of that date alfo. 



The firlt inititution of the flamp-duties was by ftatute 

 1^ 8c 6 Will, and Mar. c. 21 ; and they have fince, in many 

 inllances, been increafed by fubfcquent Itatutes very far 

 above their original amount. It would far exceed the limits 

 of this work to recite all the duties of this kmd that already 

 exifl ; but it may not be improper to mention fome of thofe 

 that are mod common. 



By 44 Geo. III. c. 98. the feveral ftamp-duties granted 

 by any aft of parliament then in force were repealed, and 

 upon every almanac or calendar, for any time not exceed- 

 ing one year, was impofed the duty of is. ; for each and 

 every year for which almanacs or calendars for feveral 

 years fhall be made, publifiied, or intended, is. ; and for a 

 perpetual almanac or calendar, los. The calendar or per- 

 petual almanac in any bible or common prayer book is 

 fpecially exempted. Books or pamphlets ferving the pur- 

 pofe of an almanac or calendar are fubjcft to the fame duty 

 refpeftivcly, and to the fame exemptions. (Sec Almanac.) 

 For the Ifamp-duty on newfpapers and pamphlets, fee 

 NEW.sr.\PEU.s. 



By 44 Geo. III. c. 98. the feveral duties before impofed 

 upon cards and dice made in Great Britain were repealed, 

 and a new duty was impofed upon fuch cards and dice, viz. 

 upon every pack of cards which fhall be made fit for laic or 

 ufe in Great Britain, 2/. (>ii. ; and upon every pair of dice 

 fit for fale or ufe in Great Britain, i/. See Cauds. 



In one of the ads, viz, 10 Ann. <;. 19. relating to the 



S T A 



ftamp-duties, which are become in proccfs of time Tery 

 numerous and intricate, there is a claufe which brings aU 

 the reft within the jurifdiftion of the jufticcs of the peace, 

 and it is as follows : Two jufticcs refiding near the place 

 where any pecuniary forfeitures not exceeding 20/., or any 

 aft touching any of the duties under the management of the 

 commiffioners of the duties on ftamped vellum, parchment, 

 and paper, (hall be incurred, or any olfence againll any of 

 the fame afts (hall be committed in any wife relating to the 

 fame duties, by which any fum of money only may be for- 

 feited, may hear and determine the fame ; who (hall, on in- 

 formation or complaint, within a year after the feizure made 

 or olTence committed, fummon the party accufcd, and wit- 

 nefles ; and may ilTue warrants for levying the penalties 

 by dittrefs and fale, if not redeemed in fix days. The 

 faid juftices may at pleafure mitigate the penalties, the 

 charges being firll allovried ; fo that they do not reduce the 

 penalty to lefs than double duty, over and above the faid 

 charges. The juftice, before whom the offending perfon is 

 convifted, (hall levy the penalty, and apply the fame as the 

 aft direfts ; and in default of fufficient direftion, the fame 

 (hall be applied, half to the king, and half to the perfon 

 who (hall profecute for the fame, if within fix months after 

 the offence is committed ; but if after fix months, the whole 

 (hall go to the king (26 Geo. III. c. 82.) ; which convic- 

 tion (hall be filed by the clerk of the peace, and (hall not be 

 removable by certiorari into any other court ; but never- 

 thelefs fubjeft to appeal to the quarter-feffions, in fuch 

 manner as by any former aft is direfted. But now by the 

 (tat. 44 Geo. III. c. 98. f. 10. no aftion or information 

 fliall be commenced or filed in any court, or before any juf- 

 tice or juftices of the peace, for any penalty or forfeiture 

 under any of the (tamp afts, but in the name of the attorney, 

 general, or in the name of the folicitor or fome other officer 

 of the ilamp-duties. And all penalties and forfeitures under 

 the itamp-afts are to be applied to the ufe of the king, &c. ; 

 but the commiffioners of the (lamps may give fuch part of 

 the penalty to the informer a: they may think expedient. 



By the 44 Geo. III. c. 98. all the duties and drawbacks 

 under the care of the commiffioners of the ftamps (liall ceafe 

 from Oftober 10, 1804, except as to the recovering of any 

 penalties incurred previoufly thereto ; and after that time 

 certain duties are made payable, as fpecified in the Ichedules 

 to that aft annexed. By the 4S Geo. III. c. 149. the fe- 

 veral duties in the fchediile (A) to the former aft annexed 

 are repealed, excepting in certain cafes. 



By 55 Geo. III. c. 184. the duties granted by 48 Geo. III. 

 c. 149. are repealed, together with the duties on pawn- 

 brokers' licences (44 Geo. III. c. 98.), and thofe on po- 

 licies of infurance in the Well Indies, or elfcwhere beyond 

 the leas, granted in the 50th year of hh majcfty's reign, 

 and the per-centage duty on infurances againll fire, granted 

 by 44 Geo. III. c. 98, all arrears excepted. The duties 

 fpecified in the fchedule annexed to 55 Geo. III. c. 184. 

 are to be levied, and are committed to the management of 

 the commiffioners of ftamps, who are to provide proper 

 (lamps, &c. By the fame aft, any perfon aftually forging 

 ftamps, &c. and his aider or abettor, being lawfully con- 

 vifted, ftiall fuller death as a felon, without benefit of 

 clergy. It is further enafted, that all powers and provi- 

 fions of former afts, together with fines, forfeitures. Sic. 

 (hall extend to this aft. The provifions of former afts re- 

 fpefting agreements (hall be applied only to thofe that are 

 charged with i/. ; and it is enafted, that the .igreements 

 charged with a duty of lA 15J. (liall be fubjeft to the fame 

 regulations as deeds hereby charged with a like duty. This 

 aft provides, that inltruments having wrung (lamps, but of 

 4X2 fuffici«nt 



