FORM of Approbation by Justices. WE, the above-named G. H. and I. K. Two of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, acting in and for the County, Riding, City, Town, Borough or Division [as the case may be] having inspected and examined the above-named the Boy to be placed out or assigned over, Do hereby consent to and 14 approve of his being bound [or, assigned over] as an Apprentice to the above-named [the Master or Mistress] according to the Terms and Stipulations expressed in the abovewritten Indenture. ་ 1000000 A BIL L [AS AMENDED BY THE COMMITTEE] For the better Regulation of Chimney Sweepers and their Apprentices; and for preventing the Employment of Boys in climbing Chimnies. Note.-The Figures in the Margin denote the Number of the Folios N. B.-The Clause marked (A) was added by the Committee. HERCAS an Act was passed in the Twenty-eighth year of the Reign of His present MAJESTY, intituled, "An Act for the better Regulation of Chimney Sweepers and their "Apprentices:" AND whereas the Provisions of the said Act have been found insufficient to guard and protect the Boys apprenticed to Chimney Sweepers, against various acts of Ill-usage and Oppression : AND whereas the necessity of employing such Apprentices to cleanse Chimnies, by climbing them, no longer exists, in consequence of the invention of various Machines for the purpose, which may be adapted to every construction of Flues; but as a proportion of such Flues may require some previous alteration, and it is therefore expedient that the climbing of Chimnies be further permitted, ander certain Regulations, for a time to be limited; May it therefore please Your MAJESTY, Preamble: Recites Act cap. 48. 28 Geo. III. That it may be Enacted; And be it Enacted by The KING's Most Excellent MAJESTY, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, THAT from and after Former Act the passing of this Act, the said Act of the Twenty- eighth year of repealed. the Reign of His present Majesty, shall be, and the same is hereby Repealed. 39. A And Church wardens and Overseers of the Poor, with consent of Two Justices, tices to Chim- Overseers of the Poor of any-Township or Village may act as Churchwardens. Age of the Apprentice to be inserted in the Indenture Reference to Schedule. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, it shall be lawful for the Churchwardens and Overseers of the Poor for the time being, of the several and respective Parishes Townships or Places within the Kingdom of Great Britain, with the consent of Two or more of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, acting in and for any County, Riding, City, Town Corporate, Borough or Division, within Great Britain (such consent to be signified by such Justices in writing under their hands, according to the Form contained in the Schedule hereunto annexed,) to bind or put out any Boy or Boys, being of the age of Fourteen years, or upwards, and who is, are or shall be chargeable, or whose Parents are or shall become chargeable to the Parish or Parishes or Places where they shall so be, or who shall beg for Alms, or with the consent of the Parent or Parents of such Boy or Boys, to be Apprentice and Apprentices to any Person or Persons exercising the Trade Business or Mystery of a Chimney Sweeper, until such Boy or Boys shall attain or come to the age of Twenty-one years; and such binding out any such Apprentice and Apprentices shall be as effectual in the Law, as if such Boy or Boys was or were of full age, and by Indenture had bound himself or themselves an Apprentice or Apprentices. And be it further Enacted, That the Overseers of the Poor of every Township or Village into which any Parish may be divided, shall, within such Township or Village, execute all the Powers hereby every directed to be executed by the Churchwardens or Overseers of the Poor of a Parish. And be it further Enacted, That the Age of every such Boy so to be bound an Apprentice shall be inserted in such Indenture, being taken from the copy of the entry in the Register Book wherein the time of his being baptized is or shall be entered (where the same can or may be had) which copy shall be given and attested by the Minister, Vicar or Curate of such Parish or Parishes or Places wherein such Boy's baptism shall be registered, without fee or reward, and may be written upon paper or parchment without any stamp or mark; and where no such copy of any Register of such Boy being baptized can be had, such Justices of the Peace shall as fully as they can, inform themselves of his age, and from such information shall insert the same in the said Indenture; and the Age of such Boy so inserted in the said Indenture (in relation to the continuance of his or their service) shall be taken to be his true age, without any further proof thereof. And be it further Enacted, That such Indenture shall be made denture in the according to the Form in the Schedule hereunto annexed, and that the same shall not be charged with or liable to the payment of any higher or other Stamp Duty than is now charged upon Indentures for Linding out poor Children by their respective Parishes or Places. 2 3 And of any Indentures to Penalties imposed on be void, and Fourteen And be it further Enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, all Indentures, Covenants Promises, and Bargains hereafter to be made or taken, for the hiring, keeping, retaining or employing Persons keepChild or Person as an Apprentice or Servant in the capacity ing Appren of a Chimney Sweeper, who shall be under Fourteen years of age, the age of shall be void; and every Person who shall from henceforth keep such years. Child or Person as an Apprentice or Servant, employed in the capacity of a Chimney Sweeper as aforesaid, who shall be under Fourteen 4 years of age, contrary to this Act, shall forfeit for every Apprentice or Servant so kept, any sum not exceeding Fifty Pounds, nor less than Ten Pounds. Provided always, and be it further Enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend, or be deemed taken or construed to extend, to vacate or cancel any Indenture of Apprenticeship that shall have actually been made and executed previous to the passing of this Act, but that such Indentures of Apprenticeship shall in all respects continue and be in as full force and effect, as if this Act had not been passed; excepting only and subject to the Provision hereinafter contained, for prohibiting the use and employment of such Apprentices, for the purpose of climbing or ascending Chimney Flues. Provided always, and be it further Enacted, That during such time as any Boy bound Apprentice previously to the passing of this Act, shall be under the age of Fourteen years, it shall be lawful for the Person to whom he is apprenticed, by writing under his hand, to discharge such Boy from being an Apprentice, and thereupon the Indentures of Apprenticeship of such Boy shall be absolutely void; but no such Boy shall be liable to be removed from the Parish or Place in which the Person to. whom he shall have been bound Apprentice shall have resided, on account of such Apprenticeship having become void, but shall be adjudged to have acquired a good Settlement in such Parish or Place, in the same manner as if such Apprenticeship had expired by time. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, no Person or Persons using or exercising the Trade Business or Mystery of a Chimney Sweeper, shall retain keep or employ any more 5 than Six Apprentices at one and the same time, and that the Name of every Person so taking or receiving an Apprentice or Apprentices as aforesaid, and also the Place of his or her Abode, shall be marked or put upon a Brass Plate, to be set or affixed in the front of a Leathern Cap, which every Master or Mistress shall provide for each such Apprentice, and which he shall wear when out upon his duty; and that every Master or Mistress shall forfeit, for every Apprentice so retained kept or employed by him or her beyond the number limited by this Act, Indentures made before the passing of this Act to remain in force. CLAUSE (A.) ters to discharge Apprentices under fournot be deprived of their Settlement. Power to Mas teen, who shall No Person to than Six Ap retain more prentices at the same time. |