Summer yearly at Bradford, in and for the faid riding, shall and may, and they are hereby authorized and required to chuse, nominate, and appoint, fuch and fo many perfons of good character and repute (having been brought up in the manufacture of woollen cloth in the faid riding, and being under the age of fixty years) to be fearchers or meafurers of cloth at the fulling-mills, and to be inspectors and supervifors for the purposes in the faid former act mentioned, as they in their discretion hall think proper; which faid fearchers or measurers, infpectors and supervisors refpectively, fhall have all the fame powers and authorities, and be refpectively subject to the fame rules, limitations and restrictions, as in and by the faid act of the fifth year of his prefent Majesty's reign, are respectively declared, given, appointed, or limited, except as is herein after, by this prefent act, otherwife ordered, directed, or provided for.

II. And be it further enacted, That the faid fearchers or Searchers to measurers of cloth at the mills, to be chofen, appointed, and measure ftationed, by virtue of this and the faid former act, fhall, and cloths, and they are hereby authorized and required, at their respective feal them, fulling-mills, where they shall be respectively stationed or placed, to measure all the cloths and half cloths which fhall be there milled respectively, at the refpective times, and in manner in the faid former act mentioned and appointed; and every fuch searcher and measurer fhall, on one end of every fuch cloth, before it fhall be carried from the mill, affix and rivet fuch feal of lead as in the faid former act is mentioned, and ftamp, in words and figures plainly to be read and distinguished, upon every fuch rivet, his name, and the name of the mill where he is so stationed; and upon the refidue of fuch feal, the length and breadth of every fuch cloth, together with the number of each of fuch cloths milled at fuch mill fucceffively, beginning at number one, and proceeding progreffively as in the faid former act is mentioned.

III. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority afore- Penalty on faid, That if any of the faid infpectors or fupervisors fhall find mill fearcher any cloth, or end or half cloth, falfely stamped by any measurer ftamping or fearcher of broad woollen cloth, above one inch in breadth falfely. in more than one third part of the length thereof, or above half a yard in length, fuch infpector or fupervifor fhall, within feven days after the fame fhall be difcovered, give information thereof to one of his Majefty's juftices of the peace for the faid riding, or any corporation within the fame where fuch offence (hall be committed (not being a dealer in woollen cloth, or occupier of any fulling-mill) and on conviction of fuch measurer or fearcher, before any fuch juftice of the peace as aforesaid, such fearcher or measurer fhall forfeit and pay for every fuch offence the fum of ten fhillings, to be recovered as any other penalty is hereby directed to be recovered.

IV. Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted by the Merchant fuf authority aforesaid, That if the merchant or buyer of any fuch pecting cloths,

cloth may wet them.

Penalty for

fraudulent fealing.

cloth fhall fufpect the real and true lengths and breadths of fuch cloth not to be the fame as stamped on the feal affixed to fuch cloth by the measurer or fearcher at the mill as aforefaid; then, and in fuch case, it fhall and may be lawful to and for the merchant or buyer of fuch cloth, within forty days next after the fale and delivery of fuch cloth (and before the fame fhall have been raised, rowed, dreffed, dyed, or put in water) to put fuch cloth into cold water for any time not exceeding four hours; and after the fame shall be fully wet and taken out of fuch water, to hang the fame across a plain rail or horfe-tree, to be provided by fuch merchant or buyer, for any time not lefs than two hours, and not more than four hours; and then immediately to cause the fame to be measured by fome fworn fearcher, measurer, inspector, or supervifor: and if upon fuch admeasurement laft mentioned, there fhall be found a lefs or (maller quantity of cloth in length, or lefs or fmaller quantity in breadth in more than one third part of the length thereof, than is mentioned on any of the feals affixed to fuch cloth by any fearcher, measurer, or fupervisor, who before measured the fame; in every fuch cafe, the fearcher, measurer, infpector, or supervisor, who last measured fuch cloth, fhall and he is hereby required, within three days next after fuch laft admeasurement, to give information to one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the faid riding, or any corporation within the fame, (not being a dealer in woollen cloth, or occupier of any fulling-mill) that the fearcher, measurer, or fupervisor, who before measured and stamped the faid cloth, did wilfully and knowingly affix fuch falfe and fraudulent feals to fuch cloth; and fuch measurer, fearcher, or supervisor, being thereof convicted before fuch juftice, upon the oath of fuch measurer, fearcher, infpector, or fupervifor, who laft measured the faid cloth, or of any other credible witnefs, fhall, for every fuch offence, forfeit and pay the respective penalties and fums following that is to fay, For the first inch in breadth, or half yard in length, that fuch cloth or end of cloth fhall fall fhort of the measure ftamped and marked on the feals thereto by him. affixed, the fum of five fhillings; and for every other inch in breadth, or half yard in length, fo over ftamped, the further fum of ten thillings: the faid penalties, after deducting thereout the cofts and charges of fuch profecution and conviction, to be paid and applied, one moiety to the informer, and the other moiety to the treasurer of the faid weft riding: and in cafe any fearcher, meafurer, infpector, or fupervisor, who laft meafured fuch cloth, fhall fail or neglect, by the space of three days next after fuch laft admeasurement, to give fuch information as aforefaid; then, and in every fuch cale, fuch fearcher, meafurer, infpector, or fupervifor, being convicted before any fuch juftice as aforefaid, of having wilfully failed or neglected to give fuch information for the fpace of three days as aforefaid, fall for fuch offence, forfeit and pay the fum of forty fhillings, and fhall from thenceforth be for ever difabled to hold, exercife, or enjoy, any office under or by virtue of this act.

tor, &c. to fix

payment, and

V. And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That in all Where false fuch cafes, upon fuch admeasurement of any fuch cloth as afore- feals are faid, where the fame fhall be found to be of lefs length or of found, infpeclefs breadth, for above one third part of the length thereof, new feals, than shall be mentioned on the feal or feals thereto affixed, by which shall be the fearcher, measurer, or fupervifor, who measured and ftamp- the rule of ed the fame, or by the maker of fuch cloth; then, and in every the feller to fuch case, the fearcher, meafurer, infpector, or fupervifor, who forfeit double last measured the fame, fhall, immediately upon fuch admea- the deficiency, furement, affix on every fuch cloth or end of cloth, a new feal or take the or new feals of lead, and rivet the fame, and shall stamp, or cloth back. cause to be impreffed upon every such rivet, his own name, ad.. ding thereto the words infpector or fupervifor; and upon the fame feal, words, or letters and figures, denoting the true length of every fuch cloth or end of cloth, (accounting thirty feven inches to the yard in length) and the breadth thereof between the lifts, in inches, at the time of, and according to fuch admeasurement; and that the length and number of yards, by fuch measurer, fearcher, infpector, or supervisor, fo ftamped on fuch feals as aforefaid, fhall be the rule of payment for fuch cloth by the merchant or buyer thereof; fave only that fuch merchant or buyer (in order to difcourage the vending or expofing to fale of any fuch cloth with fuch defective or fraudulent feals) fhall and may, and he is hereby authorized and impowered, to deduct and retain to himself, out of the price of fuch cloth upon which the maker, fearcher, measurer, or fupervisor, fhall have fixed fuch defective and fraudulent feals as aforefaid, double the value or amount of fo many yards, or parts of a yard thereof, out of the number of yards in length, fo ftamped upon fuch feals, by fuch fearcher, measurer, inspector, or fupervifor, who last measured and stamped the fame as aforefaid, as the faid cloth, or end of cloth, fhall fall fhort in quantity of the length and breadth refpectively impreffed on the former fraudulent feal fo affixed by the maker or feller thereof; unless the maker or feller of fuch cloth fhall, within three days next after notice of fuch deficiency to him given by the merchant or buyer of fuch cloth, accept the fame again, and repay to the merchant or buyer thereof, all fuch fum and fums of money as fuch maker or feller of fuch cloth fhall have received in payment, or part of payment for fuch cloth, together with Tuch reasonable expences as fuch merchant or buyer thall have neceffarily expended or been put unto, for or upon account of fuch defective cloth or cloths.

VI. And it is hereby further enacted, That in cafe any mer- Inspector or chant, or buyer or feller of cloth, fhall be diffatisfied with any fupervisor, & C admeasurement to be made by any fuch laft mentioned fearcher, found guilty measurer, inspector, or fupervifor, as aforefaid, and fhall have fallely, of stamping caufe to fufpect the true length and breadth of any cloth, or end of cloth, fo measured by fuch laft-mentioned fearcher, measurer, inspector, or supervisor, not to agree with the feal or feals by him thereto affixed; then, and in fuch cafe, fuch merchant,

3

on information and con

viction,

to be fubject to a penalty,

and lose his office.

frauds in

in water.

chant, buyer or feller refpectively, fhall and may, within feven days after any fuch admeasurement so fufpected fhall be made, give information thereof, before one or more juftice or juftices of the peace for the faid riding, or any corporation within the fame (not being dealers in woollen cloth) and every fuch fearcher, measurer, inspector, or fupervisor, having wilfully or fraudu lently measured fuch cloth, and being convicted of fuch offence, upon the oath of one or more credible witnefs or witnesses, before any fuch juftice or juftices as aforefaid, (which oath fuch juftice or juftices is hereby impowered to adminifter) fhall, for fuch offence, forfeit and pay for the first inch in breadth, or half yard in length, that fuch cloth, or end of cloth, fhall exceed or fall fhort of the measure ftamped and marked on the feals thereto by him affixed, the fum of twenty fhillings and in cafe fuch cloth, or end of cloth, fhall exceed or fall fhort more than two inches in breadth, or one yard in length, of the measure stamped and marked thereon by fuch fearcher, measurer, infpector, or fupervifor; then fuch fearcher, measurer, infpector, or fupervifor, upon fuch conviction as aforefaid, fhall forfeit and lofe his office, and be discharged therefrom by fuch juftice or justices, before whom he shall be fo convicted, and fhall, from thenceforth, be for ever difabled to hold, exercise, or enjoy any office under or by virtue of this act.

VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, Where infpec- That in cafe any inspector fhall have reafon to fufpect that any tor fufpects cloth or cloths fhall be in the poffeffion of any merchant, buyer, cloth, he may dreffer, or cloth-worker, which hath or have not been truly require to fee ftamped and measured at the fulling-mill; that then, and in the fame put fuch cafe, the faid infpector fhall and may give notice to fuch merchant, buyer, dreffer, or cloth-worker, of fuch his suspicion, defcribing the cloth or cloths by the maker's name or feal thereon refpectively, which he fo fufpects to be unduly ftamped; after which notice fo given as aforefaid, fuch merchant, dreffer, or cloth-worker, fhall give two hours notice to such infpector of the time or times at which he intends to put fuch cloth or cloths into water, in order that fuch infpector may attend the wetting and measuring of fuch cloth or cloths; and if fuch merchant, dreffer, buyer, or cloth-worker, fhall, without or contrary to fuch notice, put fuch cloth or cloths into water, and be thereof legally convicted, he shall forfeit, for every such offence, the fum of twenty fhillings.

fure when cal

Penalty on VIII. And it is hereby further enacted, That if any fuperfupervifor or vifor or infpector fhall wilfully refufe or neglect to attend for infpector re- the purpofe of meafuring and ftamping any cloth, or end of fafing to mea- cloth as aforefaid, for the fpace of two hours after due notice given to him in that behalf, he or they fo neglecting or refufing, fhall, for every fuch offence, forfeit and pay the fum of twenty fhillings, to be recovered and applied in manner after mentioned.

led upon.

Inspector, &c. IX. And it is hereby further enacted and declared, That every to give fecuri- fearcher, meafurer, infpector, and fupervifor, to be appointed

by

due accounts.

by virtue and in pursuance of this or the faid former act, fhall, ty for making before he enters upon the execution of his office, at his own expence give and execute a bond to the treasurer of the faid west riding for the time being, with a furety to be approved by the juftices appointing him to the faid office, in the penalty of fifty pounds, conditioned for the duly accounting for, and paying the money by him, from time to time, to be received by virtue of and in the execution of his office.

chants houfes

or warehouses

X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That Infpector or it fhall not be lawful for any inspector or fupervifor, to be ap- fupervifor not pointed by virtue of this or the faid former act, at any time to enter merhereafter, to enter into any house, warehouse, or outhouse, of any merchant or merchants, drefler or dreffers, or any other (except where dealer in cloth (unless fuch places fhall be made ufe of for dref- cloth is there fing, tentering, or keeping of wet or undreffed cloth) under dreffed) to expretence of fearching for, or examining any woollen cloth, amine or which he shall fufpect to be falfely ftamped, or unduly ftretched cloths, or ftrained, by virtue or under colour of this or any former act of parliament; or to search or examine any cloth after the fame nor to exafhall be put up in papers for preffing, or fent to be frized; or mine cloths otherwife have been fully manufactured, or fitted for expor- ready for the tation or home confumption; any thing in the faid recited act to frize. to the contrary notwithstanding.

prefs, or fent

or the maker's

feals, or with

XI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, Penalty on That if any perfon or perfons whatsoever shall willingly take perfons taking off, alter, or counterfeit, deface, obliterate, or cut out, any feal off, &c. feals, or feals of lead, hereby, or by the faid former act, directed to name, or for be fixed and riveted to every or any cloth or half cloth, or the having cloth figures, letters, and words thereon ftamped, made, or fet, or in their cuftotherein woven or fewed, before the cloth be put in papers for dy without the prefs, or into the frizing-mill to be frized; or if any in- the feals cut Afpector or fupervifor fhall, at any time after the faid twenty off, &c. or fourth day of June, one thoufand feven hundred and fixty fix, cloth overfind any woollen cloth, after the times herein directed for feal- ftretched, &c. ting the fame, without the feal or feals hereby, or by the said former act, directed to be put thereon; or find such seal or seals defaced, counterfeited, or altered, (except fuch feal or feals has or have been accidentally loft, or maliciously taken off ;) or shall find any fuch cloth, or end of cloth, which fhall appear by the mark, stamp, or feal, affixed by the fearcher, measurer, infpector, or fupervifor, who laft measured the fame, to be overftretched or strained, either in breadth or length beyond the dimenfions allowed of and provided by this present act; or that the loom mark, fpecifying or denoting the name and place of abode of the maker of such cloths, fhall be cut out or altered; in such case every person or perfons fo offending, or the merchant, dreffer, clothier, or owner, in whofe cuftody any fuch cloth without feals, (except as aforefaid) or with the feals, or name, and place of abode, of such maker, defaced, cut out, or obliterated, or so overftretched or ftrained, fhall be found, being thereof legally convicted, for every fuch offence fhall forfeit fuch VOL. XXVII.

E

fum