corn to be taken in the feveral places herein mentioned;

from which returns of the prices of corn and of oatmeal are not hereinbefore directed to be made, in order that a regifter thereof may be formed and published, for the information and benefit of his Majesty's Accounts of fubjects; be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That the the prices of prices of each fort of corn and of oatmeal fhall be taken in the manner herein-after directed, in the feveral cities and towns within the counties, ridings, and divifions, herein-after named; (that is to fay); in the county of Effex; Chelmsford, Colchester, and Rumford: in the county of Kent; Maidstone, Canterbury, and Dartford: in the county of Suffex; Chichester, Lewes, and Rye : in the county of Berks; Reading, Newbury, and Windfor: in the County of Bedford; Bedford, Wooburn, and Patton: in the county of Buckingham; Aylesbury, Wycomb, and Newport Pagnell: in the county of Derby, Derby, Chesterfield, and Afhburn: in the county of Hertford; Hertford, Bishops Stortford, and Royton: in the county of Hereford; Hereford, Leominster, and Rofs: in the County of Huntingdon; Huntingdon, Saint Ives, and Saint Neot's: in the county of Leicester; Leicefter, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, and Hinckley: in the county of Middlefex; Uxbridge, Staines, and Brentford: in the county of Northampton; Northampton, Wellingborough, and Peterborough: in the county of Nottingham; Nottingham, Newark, and Mansfield: in the county of Oxford; Burford, Henley, and Oxford: in the county of Rutland; Oakham and Uppingham: in the county of Salop; Ludlow, Shrewsbury, and Whitchurch: in the county of Stafford; Newcastle, Stafford, and Burton upon Trent: in the county of Surrey; Croydon, Kingston, and Reigate in the county of Warwick; Coventry, Warwick, and Birmingham: in the county of Worcester; Worcester, Evesham, and Kidderminster: in the county of Wilts; Salisbury, Devizes, and Marlborough: in the weft riding of the county of York; Leeds, Halifax, and Doncafter: in the county of Brecon; Brecknock and Builth in the county of Montgomery; Montgomery and Pool: in the county of Radnor; Knighton and Prefteigne.

for each of which an inspector of

corn returns to be appointed, &c.

LXIII. And be it enacted, That the juftices of the peace for every fuch county, riding, or divifion laft mentioned, and the mayor or other chief officer, and juftices of the peace, of every such laft mentioned city or town, which is a county of itself, or has or enjoys an exempt jurisdiction, and which does not contribute to the rate of the county, riding, or divifion in which it is fituated, at their general quarter feffions to be held after the feast of Saint John the Baptift, one thousand seven hundred and ninetyone, or at any adjournment thereof, or at fome fubfequent feffrons, fhall, and they are hereby authorifed and required to appoint fuch perfon as fhall appear to them beft qualified for that purpofe, within their respective jurifdictions, not being a miller, maltfter, factor, merchant, clerk, agent, or other perfon dealing in corn for fale, or for the fale of meal, flour, malt, or bread made thereof, refiding within or near each and every of the cities or towns so nominated as aforefaid, to collect weekly an account of the average prices of each fort of corn, and of oatmeal fold in fuch city or town, and the perfon fo to be appointed fhall be called

Infpector of Corn Returns for fuch city or town refpectively; and the faid juftices, and mayor or other chief officer and justices, fhall, and they are hereby required, in the fame manner, from time to time, upon the death, removal, or refignation of any fuch inspector, to appoint some other fit and proper person as aforefaid, to be inspector of corn returns for fuch city or town; and until fuch appointment can be made at the feffions as before directed, two juftices of any fuch county, riding, or divifion, and the mayor or other chief officer of any fuch city or town, may, upon fuch vacancy, appoint an infpector in the fame manner as is herein-before provided with refpect to the inspectors for the cities and towns in the faid maritime counties upon any fuch vacancy.

LXIV. And be it further enacted, That every fuch infpector, Such infpecbefore he enters on the execution of his office, fhall take the fol- tors to take the following lowing oath, or, being of the people called Quakers, affirm, videlicet;

I

A. B. do fwear, (or affirm), That I will, at all times, make due Oath. and true returns to the receiver of corn returns appointed by virtue of an act, paffed in the thirty-first year of his majesty King George the Third, intituled, [Here fet forth the title of the act], of the ave rage prices of each fort of corn and of oatmeal fold at the market held ; and that I will in all things, to the best of my skill and judgement, conform myself, as inspector of corn returns, to the directions of the faid att.

at

Which oath or affirmation, any one juftice of the peace of every fuch county, riding, or divifion, or the mayor or other chief officer in fuch city or town, is hereby authorised and required to administer; and every fuch inspector shall and may be removed in Such inspec the fame manner, and for the fame caufes as is herein-before tors may be directed with refpect to the infpectors for the cities and towns in removed. the faid maritime counties.

mit to the re

LXV. And be it further enacted, That every fuch infpector Such infpecshall duly and regularly enter in a book or books to be provided tors to tranf and kept for that purpose, an account of the average weekly prices ceiver of corn of each fort of corn and of oatmeal according to the refpective returns, a measures in table D, and shall return to the receiver of corn re- weekly acturns herein-after to be appointed, on the Tuesday in each week, count of the average prices an account of the average weekly prices of the feveral forts of of corn and corn and of oatmeal fold in the city or town for which he is ap- oatmeal fold pointed infpector, on pain of forfeiting, for every neglect therein, in their refpecthe fum of ten pounds; which account fhall be lodged with, and remain in the cuftody of the faid receiver of corn returns for the purposes of this act.

tivedistricts,on

penalty of fol.

to cause an

LXVI. And be it further enacted, That the faid receiver of Receiver of corn returns fhall, and he is hereby required to enter fuch returns corn returns of the faid prices of each fort of corn and of oatmeal received from abftract of the the counties, cities, and towns herein-before laft mentioned, average prices fairly in a book or books to be kept for that purpose, and once in to be inferted every week to caufe an abftract of the average prices made up weekly, and and tranfmit cer

in the Gazette

returns received, four times in the

year, to the county treafurer, &c.

tificates of the and computed in manner herein-before refpectively directed from all the returns received, as well from the feveral diftricts of the faid maritime counties of Great Britain, as from the counties, cities, and towns herein-before laft mentioned, to be published in the London Gazette, in the manner and form that shall be approved by the lords of his Majefty's most honourable privy council, appointed for the confideration of all matters relating to trade and foreign plantations; and fhall, four times in every year, tranfmit a certificate to the treasurer of each respective county, riding, divifion, and stewartry, and the lord mayor and aldermen of the city of London, and to the mayor, or other chief magistrate of fuch cities and towns as are counties of themselves, or have or enjoy exempt jurifdiction, and which do not contribute to the rate of the county, riding, or divifion in which they are fituated, of the returns which have been made by the several perfons appointed to make the fame, within each such county, riding, divifion or ftewartry, city or town refpectively; and alfo whether fuch returns have been regularly made, according to the directions of this act.

tion of the

Places for LXVII. And be it further enacted, That in cafe the juftices of taking the the peace at any quarter feffions fhall think it neceffary or expeprices of corn, dient that any other cities or towns fhould be appointed either in &c. may be changed with the maritime counties, ridings, or divifions, or in the counties, the approba- ridings or divifions laft mentioned, in that part of the united kingdom called England, for taking the prices of corn and oatKing in coun- meal in manner herein-before directed, inftead of any of the cities cil. or towns named in this act, and fuch juftices, at their faid feffions, shall direct a representation to be made to his Majefty for the above purpose, fuch city or town fo propofed and named by them in fuch representation, fhall, upon the approbation of his Majefty in council being fignified to them, be deemed to be and become a city or town for taking the prices of corn and oatmeal, in manner herein-before directed, inftead of any of the cities or towns propofed by them to be omitted.

Returns from two thirds of the places in each district, to be fufficient for forming the average prices.

The average

LXVIII. And be it further enacted, That if returns conformable to the directions of this act shall be made to the receiver of corn returns, from not less than two thirds of the cities or towns from which returns are to be made in each refpective diftrict of that part of Great Britain called England, or from not lefs than two thirds of the counties or ftewartry from which returns are to be made in each respective diftrict of that part of Great Britain called Scotland, fuch number of returns made conformable to the directions of this act in every such district, shall be deemed to be fufficient for forming the average prices by fuch receiver of corn returns, for the purposes of governing and regulating the importation of foreign corn, meal, and flour, and the payment of the duty thereon, and the exportation of British corn, and other articles, as aforefaid, and payment of the bounty thereon in every fuch district.

LXIX. And be it further enacted, That in cafe a fufficient prices of the number of returns, conformable to the directions of this act, shall

diftricts which

not

tricts from

not be made from any one or more of the before-mentioned dif- have fent retricts, so as to enable the receiver of corn returns to compute and turns, to be tranfmitted as make up the average prices of corn and of oatmeal for fuch dif- the guide for trict or districts, in manner herein-before directed; or in cafe no importation, copy of the account of the average prices of the feveral forts of &c. in the dif corn and of oatmeal, fold and delivered within the city of London, which fuffiand fuburbs thereof, be tranfmitted to the receiver of corn returns cient returns by the inspector appointed for the faid city of London, in manner have not been herein-before directed, the faid receiver of corn returns fhall, and received, &c. he is hereby authorifed and required, in every fuch cafe, to compute, from the quantitics and prices of the feveral forts of corn and of oatmeal in the accounts returned to him from all the other parts of the kingdom, the average price of each fort of corn and of oatmeal, and to tranfmit a certificate thereof to the collectors or chief officers of the ports of every fuch diftrict, from which fufficient returns, conformable to the directions of this act, fhall not have been made, and according to fuch average prices contained in fuch certificate, the importation of corn, meal, and flour, and payment of the duty thereon, and the exportation of corn, and of the other articles, as aforefaid, and the payment of the bounty thereon, fhall be governed and regulated in every such diftrict till a new certificate, conformable to the directions of this act, shall be transmitted to fuch collectors or chief officers, and be by them received.

fort

than that at

LXX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That his Majefty, his heirs and fucceflors, be, and he and they When the paris and are hereby authorised, with the advice of his or their privy liament is not council, at any time when parliament is not fitting, and when the fitting, if the average price average price of any fort of corn or of oatmeal, taken from the of any returns of the whole kingdom, is higher than the price at or of corn, above which foreign corn, meal, or flour of the fame fort is al- &c. fhould lowed by law to be imported at the low duties fpecified in the be higher table marked D, to prohibit generally, for a limited time, the expor- which the tation from this kingdom of any fort of corn, or other articles, as fame fort of aforefaid, and in like manner to permit generally the importation, foreign corn on the lowest duties then payable, of any fort of foreign corn, meal, may be imor flour; and in like manner to recal fuch prohibition, or permiffion, low duties in ported on the if circumstances shall appear fo to require; and if any perfon fhall table D, the import or export any corn, or other articles, as aforefaid, con- King in countrary to fuch prohibition or permiffion of his Majefty, by and cil may prohi with the advice of his privy council, the perfon fo importing or tion, &c. exporting the fame fhall be fubject and liable to the like forfeitures and penalties, and the faid corn, or other articles, and the fhip or veffel in which the fame fhall be imported or exported, fhall be subject and liable to the like forfeitures as if the faid corn, or other articles, were imported or exported contrary to the provifions of this or any other act: provided always, That as often as the importation of any fort of corn, meal, or flour, on the low duties, fhall be permitted by his Majefty, his heirs or fucceffors, by and with the advice of his or their privy council, such permission shall

con

Prohibition

continue in force for the fpace of three months, at least, from the date of the order of council made for that purpose.

LXXI. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the not to extend power hereby granted to his Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, to foreign with the advice of his or their privy council, to prohibit the excorn imported and wareportation from this kingdom of any sort of corn, or other articles, houfed. as aforefaid, fhall not extend, or be conftrued to extend, to any foreign corn, meal, or flour, that shall have been imported, and fhall be warehoused in manner, and on the conditions hereinbefore mentioned.

in the cafes

His Majesty in LXXII. Provided alfo, and be it further enacted, That in every council may, fuch case it fhall and may be lawful for his Majesty, his heirs and before men- fucceffors, with the advice of his or their privy council, to permit tioned, permit the carrying coaftwife, or carrying out, or the exportation of the the carrying feveral forts of corn, and other articles herein-before mentioned, for coaftwife, &c. of corn, as is any of the purposes before mentioned, in like manner, and in the herein-before fame proportions and quantities, and from and to the fame ports allowed when and places as is herein-before allowed at fuch times as any of the the exporta-feveral forts of corn, or other articles before mentioned, are protion is prohi-hibited to be exported by reafon of the price of any fuch fort of count of the corn being at or above the price mentioned in table B, fubject prices being to the like fecurities, conditions, regulations, and restrictions, at or above forfeitures and penalties, as are required and impofed by this act, the prices in or by any other act now in force, in any of the cafes hereintable B. before mentioned.

bited on ac

Copies of or

ders in council to be laid

before parlia

ment.

How infpectors in Eng land are to be paid,

LXXIII. And be it enacted, That copies of fuch orders, made by his Majefty in council for the purposes aforefaid, be laid before both houfes of parliament within fourteen days after the meeting of the next feffion of parliament.

LXXIV. And be it further enacted, That the inspectors appointed in pursuance of this act, in the feveral before mentioned counties, ridings, and divifions of that part of Great Britain called England, fhall be paid quarterly, out of the county rates for every fuch county, riding, or divifion, by the treasurer thereof, and the infpectors of every fuch city or town which is a county of itself, or has or enjoys an exempt jurifdiction, and which does not contribute to the rate of the courty, riding, or divin, in which it is fituated, fhall be paid in like manner quaite.ly from the poor rates, by the churchwardens and overfeets of the poor of the feveral parishes or townships within fuch city or town, and the jurifdiction thereof, (the contribution from the respective parishes or townships to be apportioned by the mayor or other chief officer of fuch city or town, with liberty to the churchwardens and overfeers of any such parish or township, if they shall object to fuch apportionment, to appeal to the next quarter feffions of the peace for fuch city or town), a fum not exceeding five fhillings, for each return from any city or town in the maritime counties of that part of Great Britain called England, certified to the treasurer of fuch county, riding, or divifion, or to the mayor or other chief magiftrate of fuch city or town, by the receiver of

corn