and amend an act made in the ninth year of the reign of his late majesty King George the First (intituled, An act for clearing, depthening, repairing, extending, maintaining, and improving the haven and piers of Great Yarmouth; and for depthening and making more navigable the feveral rivers emptying themselves at the faid town; and alfo for preferving ships, wintering in the faid haven, from accidents by fire) the feveral duties, granted by the faid act made in the ninth year of his faid late Majefty's reign, for the purposes therein mentioned, were revived and made payable, from the twenty fourth day of June, one thousand seven hundred and forty feven, for and during the term of two years, and from thence to the end of the then next feffion of parliament: and whereas the faid duties, revived and made payable as aforefaid, bave not been fufficient for the effectual reparation and improvement of the faid haven and piers, which (notwithstanding very great fums of money have already been expended in and about the fame) have of late been, and fill continue in fo bad a condition, that the fame will, unless fome further and more effectual provifion be made by parliament for the prefervation thereof, in a fhort time fall into irreparable decay, and the barbour, fo beneficial to the trade and navigation of this kingdom, become inacceffible: therefore for preferving to the inhabitants of the faid borough, and of the adjacent counties, the benefit of the faid haven and piers; and to the end that the faid haven, which is of fo great importance to the trade of thefe kingdoms in general, may be cleared and depthened, and the faid piers repaired, extended, altered, improved, and maintained; and that the jettee on the north fide of the faid haven may be repaired and preferved, and timber, and other materials for thofe purposes, provided from time to time, as occasion Shall require; and that the channel of that part of the river Yare called Braidon, leading from Great Yarmouth to the city of Norwich, and fo much of the river Wenfon, commonly called Yare, as lies between the new mills in Norwich and Hardly Crofs in Hardly, in the county of Norfolk, and alfo the river Waveney, and alfa the river Bure, commonly called the North River (which faid rivers empty themselves into the faid haven) may be depthened and made more navigable for boats and keels ufually paffing upon the fame, and that the bridge and publick keys belonging to the faid town, may be repaired; may it please your Majefty that it may be enacted, &c. From the 25th of March, 1750. the duties payable by the faid a&t shall ceafe; and there fhall be paid for 21 years, and to the end of the next feffion, by every mafter of a ship, which fhall unlade within the haven, or in Yarmouth Road, from the fouth part of Scratby, to the north part of Corton, for every chaldron of coals, laft of wheat, or other grain, and weigh of falt, and for every ton of other goods (fith excepted) viz. for 7 years is. 6d. and for the remainder of the 21 years. &c. 10 d. or fuch greater fum, as the commiffioners hall order, not exceeding 12 d. Collectors to pay over the monies to the chamberlain. Salary allowed them of 6d. in the pound. Corporation to be answerable for all monies received; and impowered to call the collectors and chamberlains to account; and to levy the fame by diftrefs and fale; and where no diftress can be had, to commit the party. Twelve commiflioners to be nomipated annually: three by the corporation of Yarmouth, three by the cor poration poration of Norwich, three by the juftices of Norfolk, and three by the justices of Suffolk. Proportion in which the duties are to be applied. d. 2q. towards cleansing the river Yare, &c. and the expence of a commiflion of fewers. 2q.towards cleansing the north river, &c. and the expences of a commiffion of fewers. 2q. towards clearing the river Waveney, and the expences of a commission of sewers. 2 q. towards repairing the bridge, and publick keys. Other 3 d. in the following proportions: 2 q. towards clearing the river Bure; 2d. 2q. towards clearing the river Yare. The laft mentioned 3d. not be raised unless neceffary, and notice be given by the commiffioners to the mayor. 4d. to be applied for 7 years in clearing the haven, &c. If the faid fum fhall not be fufficient, the commiffioners impowered to order a further part of the refidue of the duties to be applied towards clearing the haven. Not to be applied in erecting new works, &c. 8d. to be applied for 7 years in extending the haven, and erecting new works. Commiffioners to appoint a committee of 12 inhabitants, who are to infpect the works, &c. The duty of 8 d. to cease upon certificate of the works being compleated. Upon determination of the duty of 8d. 4d. is to be applied towards clearing the haven, &c. If 4d. fhall not be found fufficient, the commiffioners to direct a further fum of 2d. to be raised. If the commiffioners fhall not audit the accounts yearly, the corporation is impowered to examine the fame. No ship to be cleared at the custom-house till payment of the duties. Fish oil, &c. exempted from payment of the duties. On re-exportation of goods, the duties to be repaid. Penalty on throwing ballaft, &c. into the haven. The mayor to appoint a nightly watch. Veffels wintering to pay 2q. per ton, towards the watch. Penalty of 10s. on fuffering fire or lighted candle in fhips wintering in the haven. Watch impowered to go on board to extinguish lights. No veffel to be moored with her fide towards the key for longer than one tide, &c. CAP. VII. An act for enlarging the term and powers granted and continued by two former acts of parliament for repairing, widening, and amending the roads from Wigan to Preston in the county palatine of Lancaster; and for making the said acts more effectual. The acts 13 Geo. 1. c. 10. and 20 Geo. 2. c. 8. continued for 21 years. CAP. VIII. An act for enlarging the term and powers granted and continued by two acts of parliament, for amending the highways leading from Brampton Bridge to Welford Bridge, in the county of Northampton, and the great poft road from Morter Pitt Hill to Chain Bridge, leading into Market Harborough in the county of Leicester; and for explaining and making more effectual the faid acts; and alfo for repairing the roads leading from Morter Pitt Hill and Brampton Bridge to the town of Northampton. The acts 8 Geo. 1. c. 13. and 12 Geo. z. c. 35. continued for 21 years. CAP. IX. An act for repealing the duties now payable upon China raw filk, and for granting other duties in lieu thereof. WHER HEREAS the duties now payable upon raw filk imported from China are a great difcouragement to the importation thereof and whereas a conftant and plentiful fupply of that valuable commodity to be manufactured in this kingdom will be a publick benefit, and greatly contribute to the increafe and improvement of the filk manufactures therefore we, your Majefty's most dutiful and loyal fubjects, the commons of Great Britain, being defirous to promote and encourage the manufactures of this kingdom, do moft moft humbly befeech your Majefty, that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most excellent majesty, by and with the advice and confent of the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons, in this prefent parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That from and after the twenty fourth day of June, one thousand feven hundred and fifty, the feveral rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions, now payable upon the importation of raw filk of the growth or produce of China, by virtue of several acts of parliament now in force, fhall cease, deChina to cease. termine, and be no longer paid. The prefent duties payable on importa on importation of raw filk from ties as raw filk of Italy. Raw filk from II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That China to pay from and after the faid twenty fourth day of June, all raw filk the fame du- importe: from China into this kingdom by the united company of Merchants of England trading to the Eaft-Indies, or by any licence from the faid company, fhall, in lieu of the faid rates, duties, fubfidics, and impofitions, by this act repealed, as aforefaid, be charged with and pay the fame rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions, as are now charged upon, and payable for, raw filk of the growth or produce of Italy; which faid rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions, by this act granted, fhall be paid by the faid united Eaft-India company, at the fame times, and in the fame manner, as the feveral rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions, by this act repealed, as aforefaid, have been paid. The manner the duties. III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, of levying and That the feveral rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions, by application of this act granted, fhall be raised, levied, collected, paid and applied, in fuch manner, and for the fame purposes, as the faid feveral rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions, by this act repealed, as aforefaid, are now refpectively raifed, levied, collected, paid, and applied; and all the provifions of or in any act or law now in force for raifing, levying, collecting, paying, and applying the rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions hereby repealed, as aforefaid, fhall be in full force, and fhall be put in execution for raifing, levying, collecting, paying, and applying the rates, duties, fubfidies, and impofitions, by this act granted, as fully and effectually, to all intents and purposes, as if the faid provifions were particularly repeated and re-enacted in the body of this present act. Raw filk from allowed the fame draw. IV. And be it further enacted and declared by the authority China, to be aforefaid, That all raw filk of the growth or produce of China, imported after the twenty fourth day of June, fhall, upon the exportation thereof from this kingdom, be intitled to and receive the fame drawbacks and allowances only, as are now by law directed to be paid upon the exportation of raw filk of the growth or produce of Italy; any law or ufage to the contrary notwithstanding. back. CAP. X. An act for enlarging the term and powers granted by an act paffed in the fourth year of the reign of his prefent Majefty, For repairing the road leading leading from the town of Fulham in the county of Middlesex, through Fulham An act to render profecutions for perjury, and fubornation of W HEREAS by reafon of difficulties attending profecutions have frequently gone unpunished, whereby wicked and evil-difpofed perfons are daily more and more emboldened to commit the fame, to the great dishonour of God, and manifeft let and hindrance of justice; for remedy whereof be it enacted by the King's most excellent majefty, by and with the advice and confent of the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons, in this prefent parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That in every information or indictment to be profecuted against any perfon for wilful What shall be and corrupt perjury, it fhall be fufficient to fet forth the fub- fufficient in ftance of the offence charged upon the defendant, and by what indictments court, or before whom the oath was taken (averring fuch court or person or perfons, to have a competent authority to adminif ter the fame) together with the proper averment or averments to falfify the matter or matters wherein the perjury or perjuries is or are affigned; without fetting forth the bill, anfwer, information, indictment, declaration, or any part of any record or proceeding either in law or equity, other than as aforefaid; and without fetting forth the commiffion or authority of the court, or person or perfons before whom the perjury was committed; any law, ufage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. of perjury. II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That Informations, in every information or indictment for fubornation of perjury, &c. for fuboror for corrupt bargaining or contracting with others to commit nation of perwilful and corrupt perjury, it fhall be fufficient to fet forth the jury. fubftance of the offence charged upon the defendant, without fetting forth the bill, anfwer, information, indictment, declaration, or any part of any record or proceeding, either in law or equity, and without fetting forth the commiffion or authority of the court, or perfon or perfons before whom the perjury was committed, or was agreed or promised to be committed; any law, ufage, or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. III. And the better to prevent great offenders from escaping punishment by reafon of the expence attending fuch profecutions; be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That it Juftices of affhall and may be lawful to and for any of his Majefty's juftices fize, &c. may direct profeof allize, or Nifi prius, or general gaol delivery, or of any of cutions the great feffions of the principality of Wales, or of the counties against perpalatine; and they are hereby authorized (fitting the court, or fons examined within twenty four hours after) to direct any perfon examined before them as a witness upon any trial before him or them, to be profecuted being guilty of for the faid offence of perjury, in cafe there thall appear to him er perjury. ried on without fees. or them a reasonable cause for fuch profecution, and that it fhall appear to him or them proper fo to do; and to affign the party and affign the injured, or other person undertaking such profecution, council, profecutor who fhall and are hereby required to do their duty without any council. fee, gratuity, or reward for the fame: and every fuch profecuThe profecu- tion, fo directed as aforefaid, fhall be carried on without paytion to be car- ment of any tax or duty, and without payment of any fees in court, or to any officer of the court, who might otherwife claim or demand the fame; and the clerk of affize, or his affeciate or prothonotary, or other proper officer of the court (who fhall be attending when fuch profecution is directed,) fhall and is hereby required, without any fee or reward, to give the party injured, or other perfon undertaking fuch profecution, a certificate of the fame being directed, together with the names of the council affigned him by the court; which certificate fhall in all cafes be deemed fufficient proof of fuch profecution having been directed as aforefaid, provided that no fuch direction or certificate fhall be given in evidence upon any trial to be had against any person upon a profecution fo directed as aforefaid. The clerk of affize to give the profecutor a certificate. CAP. XII. An act for improving the navigation of the river Loyne, otherwife called Lune; and for building a quay or wharf near the town of Lancaster in the county palatine of Lan cafter. WHE WHEREAS the town of Lancaster, in the county palatine of Lancaster, from its great and extenfive commerce to the West Indies, and other foreign parts, is now become a very confiderable port; and has for fome time paft employed and maintained great numbers of hips, mariners, and feamen, to the great advancement of the revenue, and the improvement of the trade and navigation of this kingdom: and whereas the navigation of the river Loyne, otherwife called Lune, is become very difficult and dangerous; and the only place near the faid town where fhips can be moored and difcharged, is by reason of the shoals, and other obftructions in the foil of the faid river, become very unfit and unsafe for that purpose: infomuch that many ships and veffels ftationed there, have been overfet and damaged, to the great lofs of the owners and freighters thereof respectively: and whereas it is conceived to be highly necessary for the benefit and improvement of the faid navigation, that a quay or wharf, with other conveniencies, fhould be built and erected on the fouth west side of the faid river, and that buoys should be placed at the entrance into the faid river, and other parts thereof, and land marks ereƐled, for guiding and directing ships and veffels to and from the faid town; and that a place of fafety fhould be made for the harbouring and protection of the Shipping at or near the mouth of the faid river; which would tend not only to the prefervation and fecurity of ships trading to and from the faid town, but also of his Majefty's ships of war, and other veffels, that should put in there by ftrefs of weather, or otherwife: and whereas the reverend James Fenton doctor of laws, vicar of the parish church |