Penalty on weavers not weaving as contracted for, or imbe ziling. The ftandard lengths and breadths of linen cloth. within any burgh, before whom he shall be convicted, thall think fit to modify and direct, and shall be disabled to carry on his trade as a weaver, until he renew his fecurity in manner before directed. X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any weaver fhall neglect to weave any linen yarn, delivered to him by any perfon or perfons, into fuch cloth, and within such time, and in fuch manner as was contracted and agreed for, or shall waste, imbezil or damnify, or suffer to be wasted, imbeziled or damnified any linen yarn, delivered to him, fuch weaver being thereof convicted in fuch manner as is here after mentioned, thall for every fuch offence make good the party's damage, and shall further forfeit and pay to the person aggrieved a fum, not exceeding forty fhillings fterling, nor less than five fhillings fterling, to be recovered in fuch manner as is herein after mentioned. XI. And whereas great prejudice arifes to the linen manufacture, by reason that the perfons who deal therein, make their cloths of fuch lengths and breadths, for which there is no great demand, either at home or abroad; for preventing thereof, be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That from and after the faid first day of November all linen cloth of any kind, that shall be made in Scotland, fhall and is hereby directed to be made and measured by the standard yard-wand, and of the feveral lengths and breadthis following: viz. each piece of plain linen, intended to be whitened, fhall be in breadth, when whitened, full half-yard, or full five eighths, or full three quarters, or full feven eighths, or full yard, or full yard and eighth, or full yard and quarter, or full yard and half; and that all brown or green linen, not intended to be whitened, made after the faid first day of November, fhall be in breadth full half-yard, or full five eighths, or full three quarters, or full feven eighths, or full yard, or full yard and quarter, or full yard and half; and that each piece of plain linen cloth that is whitened, fhall contain in length, at least twelve yards and an half; that all ftriped linen cloth fhall be in breadth full three quarters of a yard, or full feven eighths, or full yard, or full yard and eighth, or full yard and quarter; and all forts of ticking fhall be in breadth full five eighths, or full three quarters, or full feven eighths, or full yard; and all checks fhall be in breadth full three quarters, or full seven eighths, or full yard, or full yard and eighth; and all chequered handkerchiefs made of linen only, or of linen and cotton, or of cotton only, shall be in breadth full half-yard, or full five eighths, or full three quarters, or full feven eighths, and shall be of the fame length with the breadth, that they may be fquare; and that all striped, plain, dropped or fpotted muflin, when whitened, fhall be in breadth full three quarters, or full feven eighths, or full yard, or full yard and eighth, or full yard and quarter, or full yard and an half; and that all cambricks, when whitened, fhall be in breadth full five eighths, or full three quarters, or full seven eighths, or full yard, and shall not contain lefs lefs in length, in each piece, than seven yards and an hair; and all muflins made for aprons, when whitened, thall be full yard and eighth in breadth, and the fame in length; and all muflin handkerchiefs, when whitened, fhall be full three quarters, ́or full feven eighths in breadth, and the fame in length; and aM muflin for neck cloths or cravats fhall, when whitened, be in breadth full half-yard, or full five eighths, and in length full three quarters, or full yard and half of made cloth; and all forts of bengals made of cotton and linen fhall be in breadth full five eighths, or full three quarters, or full feven eighths, or full yard, or full yard and fixteenth, or full yard and eighth, or full yard and quarter; and that each piece of broad, double or single dornick or diaper, made for table-cloths, fhall be full two yards, or full two yards and quarter in breadth; and each piece of double or fingle dornick or diaper, made for table-napkins or towelling, fhall be in breadth full half-yard, or full five eighths, or full three quarters, or full feven eighths, or full yard; and that all dyed yarn, that fhall be wrought into any chequered linen or handkerchiefs, tickings or bengals, fhall be of a fufficient dye that will hold in washing. XII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, Stamp-mafter That when any perfon or perfons fhall offer any cloth to be to mark the just lengths infpected and stamped in manner herein after directed, the and breadths stamp-master or lapper that fhall be appointed for that purpofe, of pieces. in fuch manner as hereafter is mentioned, fhall, after infpecting the cloth, measure the fame, and mark upon each end thereof the juft length or number of yards each piece contains, and shall likewise mark upon each end of the piece the breadth of fuch piece he fhall find upon meafuring thereof; and if any. piece, which shall be offered to be stamped as of five eighths of a yard broad, comes fhort of that breadth in any part of fuch piece, that then the faid piece of cloth fhall be marked as of the next lower denomination, videlicet, half-yard, and fo of all the other breadths herein mentioned. another the ends. XIII. And to the intent that every buyer of plain, brown or Weaver to run white linen cloth, may the eafier difcover and judge of the acoarse thread goodness, quality and value thereof, and may know the exact through every number of threads in the breadth or warp thereof, be it further 200 threads of enacted by the authority aforefaid, That from and after the faid the warp, and first day of November every weaver fhall at the end of every such through every piece of cloth, which he thall weave or caufe to be weaved, run 40 threads of or cause to be run, a coarse coloured thread through every two the warp, at hundred threads of the warp, of the faid cloth, fo as to diftinguish the number of hundreds of threads in the breadth of the faid cloth, and also another coarse coloured thread as aforefaid within a quarter of an inch of the former, in like manner through every forty threads of the warp of the said cloth, fo as to diftinguish the number of biers or fcores of threads in the breadth of the faid cloth; and in cafe any weaver thall omit to weave or cause to be weaved, such threads as aforefaid, or fhall fo mark his cloth with a coloured thread, as to make VOL. XV. E & it &c. for bleach ing of linen. it appear to contain more threads in the breadth, than it really does, he fhall for every fuch offence, being thereof convicted in manner after mentioned, forfeit a fum not more than five pounds, nor lefs than twenty fhillings, to the use of the informer, to be levied and recovered in fuch manner as is herein after mentioned. XIV. And whereas feveral perfons have of late years made use of lime, pigeons dung, fope-dregs, or other improper materials for whitening or bleaching of linen cloth, to the great prejudice of fuch cloth, and to the difcredit of the linen manufacture; for preventing fuch practices for the future, be it further enacted by the auPenalty for thority aforefaid, That from and after the faid first day of Noufing lime, vember no person or persons shall make ufe of any lime, pigeons pigeons dung, dung or fope-dregs, for bleaching or whitening any linen cloth or linen yarn, and that all and every perfon and perfons using any lime, pigeons dung or fope-dregs, for bleaching or whitening any linen cloth or linen yarn, fhall, being thereof duly convicted in fuch manner as herein is after mentioned, for every fuch offence, forfeit to the informer the faid linen cloth or linen yarn, fo whitened or bleached with lime, pigeons dung or fope-dregs, and fhall also forfeit the fum of five pounds fterling to the ufe of the informer; and in cafe the linen cloth or linen yarn, fo whitened contrary to the directions of this act, shall not be found, it fhall and may be lawful to and for the justice of peace or magiftrate within any borough, before whom fuch complaint fhall be made, to set a further fine upon the offender at his difcretion, not exceeding the fum of five pounds. fterling, to be raised and levied, together with the former penalty of five pounds, in such manner as herein is after directed, and the offender fhall alfo be, and is hereby made incapable to bleach or whiten any linen cloth or linen yarn, for the space of two years after fuch conviction as aforefaid. XV. And whereas the improvement of the faid linen manufacture Magiftrates may summon depends very much upon putting an end to this pernicious practice, fervants of and in preventing the mixing and felling of damnified hempfeed or lintbleachers, and feed, be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That it examine them hall and may be lawful to and for any one or more of his Ma on oath. jesty's justices of the peace, or any magiftrate or magiftrates within any borough, within their refpective jurisdictions, by a writing under his or their hands, to fummon the fervant of any bleacher or dealer in hemp-feed or lintfeed, or any other perfon or perfons whatsoever, to appear before him or them, and upon his or their appearance to examine him or them upon oath (which oath the faid juftice or juftices of the peace, or magiftrate or magiftrates within any borough as aforefaid, is and are hereby impowered to adminifter) what such servants, perfon or perfons, know of his or their mafter, or of any other perfon or perfons ufing of lime, pigeons dung or fope-dregs, in the bleaching of linen cloth or linen yarn, during three months immediately preceding fuch examination, or of their mixing different parcels of hempfeed or lintseed together, or of their uttering, uttering, vending or felling, or exposing or offering to sale, hempfeed or lintfeed as of a different growth, or as imported from a different country from what it really is or was; and in Penalty on enter into XVI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, Perfons apThat it shall and may be lawful to and for all and every perfon pointed may and perfons, appointed by the trustees for improving the hempen bleachyards, and Haxen manufactures herein after mentioned, or by any of &c. to fearch. his Majesty's juftices of the peace or magiftrates within any borough, by writing under his or their hands to enter into any bleachyard, buckhouse or the appurtenances or places thereunto belonging, at any hour of the day, and view and fearch all places, rooms, reeives and boilers therein, and view the lees, and refufe, and dregs thereof; and in cafe any lime, pigeons. dung or fope-dregs, is or has been mixed with fuch lees, that the poffeffors of fuch bleachyard, bleach-house or places thereunto belonging, and all and every perfon and perfons working in the faid bleachyard, buckhoufe or places thereunto belonging, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, Thall incur the feveral penalties by this act inflicted on perfons. that make use of lime, pigeons dung or fope-dregs, in bleaching linen cloth or yarn, to be levied and recovered as thofe penalties are feverally to be levied and recovered. XVII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, Constables That the conftable or conftables, who by virtue of any warrant who fhall feize from fuch juftice of the peace, and magiftrate within any borough, cloth bleached fhall feize fuch cloth or yarn, bleached with fuch lime, pigeons with lime, &c. dung or fope-dregs, or levy the value thereof, or the penalties in this act mentioned, fhall be allowed by the profecutor for his per pound. pains, at and after the rate of two fhillings in the pound, for E e 2 what to have 2 s. Refusing to execute a war rant (hall for. teit 51. His Majefty trustees for linen and what he shall so feize or levy; and if any constable or constables neglect or refufe to execute any fuch warrant of any justice of peace or magistrate within any borough, he or they for every fuch offence, being thereof convicted as herein after mentioned, thall forfeit the fum of five pounds fterling to the profecutor; and it fhall and may be lawful to and for the perfon aggrieved to complain thereof to the fame juftice or magiftrate within any borough, or to any other juftice of the peace or magiftrate aforefaid, who is hereby impowered and required to fummon the perfon or perfons concerned before him, and fummarily to hear and determine the faid complaint, and issue a warrant to any conftable or conftables to levy the said penalty of five pounds sterling, in fuch manner as is herein after mentioned. XVIII. And to the end the feveral orders and regulations, may appoint made pursuant to this act, for the improvement of the linen overfeeing the and hempen manufactures may be effectual, and carried into a due and regular execution, be it further enacted by the authohempen trade. rity aforefaid, That it fhall and may be lawful to and for his Majefty, his heirs and fuccessors, by letters patents under the great feal appointed by the treaty of Union to be kept in Scotland in place of the great feal thereof, to nominate and appoint any number of perfons refident in Scotland, not exceeding the number of twenty one, to be trustees for overfeeing, directing and better improving the faid linen and hempen manufactures, within that part of Great Britain called Scotland, with power to the faid trustees, or any number of them by the faid letters patents to be determined, to affemble at such place or places, and to make such rules and orders for the improvement of the faid manufactures, and for preventing abuses therein, as they fhall think expedient, confiftent with the true intent and meaning of this act, and with the laws and ftatutes of the realm. Trustees may XIX. And for the better promoting the faid manufacture, be appoint per it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That it thall and fons to lap up may be lawful to and for the faid trustees to licence and appoint cloth for fale. fuch fit and proper perfons, in fuch places of Scotland, as they thall judge moft convenient, to view, examine, lap up, mark and stamp all fuch linen cloth, as fhall be expofed to fale, as is herein after mentioned, and from time to time, to direct such ftamp or stamps to be made ufe of, as they fhall think proper. XX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, cloth to carry That all dealers in linen cloth, before he, the or they, fhall fell it to the lapper or expofe to fale, any linen cloth (if the fame be white cloth, to be stamped. as foon as the fame is fully whitened and dried) carry the fame Dealers in in the waterfold of a yard or half-yard in length, to the place where fuch lapper or ftamp-mafter, fo to be named and appointed, fhall refide, there to be infpected, marked, lapped up and stamped by him, in such manner as is herein after directed; and if the faid lapper or stamp-mafter fhall find fuch piece or pieces of cloth, fo offered to him to be marked, lapped up and tamped, to be of an equal breadth from one end of the piece |