'Tax the attornies!' Stamp Duty and the Scottish Legal Profession in the Eighteenth Century.

This article presents an exploration into the history of the practice of law in Scotland during the 18th-century, providing the context behind the British Stamp Duty Act of 1785 during the administration of Prime Minister William Pitt. Details are given describing how Pitt planned and executed the taxation scheme, the response of Scottish lawyers against the measures, and the general conditions of practicing legal professionals during the period.