Collection of 38 Acts passed during thereign of King George II (1683-1760) for the years 1743 & 1744

These historically significant laws are a valuable source forthe understanding of the British internal and external policies in the 18thcentury. The Acts regulate among many others, trade, commerce,tariffs, wars, society, religion, education, science,navy, privateers, sugar plantations,lotteries, construction, repairs of roads and bridges... Some of these concern directly the Empire's colonies such asthose in America and the East Indies. All the statutes in this group werepassed prior to the United States independence.

The complete list of Acts in this specific set is providedbellow.Included in this set are Acts related with Jacobiterebellions and the Young Pretender, laterknown as Bonnie Prince Charlie and the planned invasion of 1744. Some of the Acts are: “An Act to make hightreason to hold correspondence with the sons of the Pretender”[i.e. Princeregent later Charles III, and the Duke of York, later Henri IX] , the “ Actto impower his Majesty to secure and detain such Persons as His Majesty shallsuspect are conspiring against His Person and Government ” which is related with the French armedinvasion of England after a formalrequest by English Jacobites for intervention.One interesting decree dealing with America commerce and sugar plantationsis “AnAct to continue the several Laws therein mentioned for preventing Theft andRapine on the Northern borders of England….”. Another most interesting statute is the “Act toEncourage Seamen and privateers to annoy the Enemy”. This extended Act regulates and sets upincentives for pirates working for the Britishcrown.Other decrees concern tariffsincluding tea tax, naval trade and commerce, lotteries, “Sinking Fund”, EastIndies, British colonies, legislation toconstruct and repair roads, the construction of a bridge over the Thames River,the enlightening of the streets of London, duties on malt and Cyder in Scotland and England, etc.

Physical description:(about 29 x 17 cm); Numerous Acts with separate title pages and differentpagination (as issued); 8 pp. for “A Table of the Statutes Publick andPrivate”.

Ornamental woodcut initials andvignettes.

20thcentury half leather binding, spine titled “ ACTS 17GEO II | 1743-44 | COUNTY OF GLOUCESTER”.

Printed:London, by Thomas Baskett and RobertBaskett, 1743 & 1744

Provenance:County of Gloucester, England.

Condition:EachAct complete by itself. Very good overall condition despite minorbrowning, some leaves a little soiled or with spots, initial and last two leaves stained, a couple of leaves withmarginal tear, other minor imperfections. Binding with some wear, joints cracked. Please see images.

Acts titlesincluded in this collectionfor the years 1743-1744:

1)“ An Act forcontinuing the Duties upon Malt, Mum, Cyder, and Perry, in the Part of GreatBritain, called England; and for granting to His Majesty certain Duties uponMalt, Mum, Cyder, and Perry, in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, forthe Service of the Year One Thousand Seven Hundred and forty four.( Titlepage, pp.99-119 as issued).

2) “An Act to oblige Overseers of the Poorto give public Notice of Rates made for the Relief ? Poor, and to produce thefame”. (title, pp. 113-114 as issued ).

3) “An Act for enlarging the Term and Powers grantedby an Act passed in the Third Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, forrepairing and widening the Road from that Part of Chatham which lies next tothe City of Rochester, to Saint Dunftan's Cross near the City of Canterbury inthe County of Kent. (title, pp.127-134 as issued ).

4) “An Act to emend andmake more effectual the Laws relating to Rogues, Vagabonds, and other idle anddisorderly Persons, and to Houses of Correction”. (title, pp.139-162 asissued).

5) “An Act to impowerhis Majesty to secure and detain such Persons as His Majesty shall suspect areconspiring against His Person and Government.” (title, pp.167-68 as issued).

6) “An Act for takingand swearing affidavits to be made Use of any of the Courts of the CountyPalatine of Lancaster” (title, pp. 171 -172 as issued ).

7) “An Act to prevent the committing of Abuses in the weighting andpacking of Butter, in the Town ND Borough of New Malton in the County of York”.(title, pp.178- [179] as issued ).

8)“An Act for repairing and widening the Road leading from a Placecalled Harlow Common, in the Parish of Harlow in the County of Essex, to StumpCrofs, in the Parish of Great Chesterford in the said County. (title, pp.183 – 207 as issued ).

9) “An Act for enlarging the Term and Powers granted by an Actpassed in the Fourth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, for repairingthe Road leading from Chappel on the Heath in the County of Oxon, to the Quarryabove Bourton on the Hill in the County of Gloucester” (title, pp. 221 – 258as issued ).

10)“An Act for continuing the Term and Powers granted by an Actpassed in the Firth Year of His present Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act forrepairing and amending several Roads leading to and from Borough of Evefham inthe County of Worcester; and for making the same more effectual”. (title,pp. 263-280 as issued ).

11)“An Act for continuing and enlarging the Term and Powers grantedby an Act passed in the Third Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, Forrepairing the Road leading from Galley-corner, adjoining to Enfield chase inParish of south Mims in the County of Middlefex, to Lemsford Mill in the Countyof Herford” (title, pp. 283 – 350 as issued ).

12)“An Act for granting to His Majesty the Surplus or Remainder ofthe Monies arisen, or to arise by the duties of Spirituous Liquors, granted byan Act of the last session of Parliament, and for explaining and emending thesaid Act in relation to the Retailers of such Liquors; and for establishing anAgreement with the United Company of Merchants of England, trading to the EastIndies.”(Title, pp. 355-374 as issued ).

13) “ An Actfor raising by Annuities, and a Lottery, in Manner therein mentioned, the Sumof One million eight hundred thousand Pounds, at Three Pounds per Centum perAnnum, for the service of the Year One Thousand seven hundred and forty four.”(title, pp.379 – 406 as issued).

14) “An Act forcontinuing and enlarging the Term and Powers granted by an Act of Parliamentpassed in the Thirteen Year of the Reign of his late Majesty King George theFirst, for repairing the Road from Cranford Bridge in the County of Middlesex,to the End of Maidenhead Bridge whichlies in the county of Bucks”(title, pp. 411- 424 as issued )

15)“An Act forcontinuing and making more effectual an Act made in the Eleventh Year of Hispresent Majesty's Reign, for repairing several Roads leading to and from theTown of Derby in the County of Derby”. (title, pp. 427-435 asissued ).

16)“An Act forlying a Duty of two Pennies Scots, or a Sixth Part of a Penny Sterling, uponevery Scots Pint of Ale and Beer which shall be brewed for Sale, brought into,tapped, or fold within the Town of Burrow Stounnefs and Liberties thereof, inthe County of Linlithgow, for repairing the harbor of the said town. ( title, pp. 439-447 as issued ).

17) “An Act forrepairing the Road leading from the End of Middleton Tyas-lane over GatherlyMoor to Greetabridge”(title, pp. 451 – 475 as issued ).

18) “ An Actfor more effectually repairing the Road from Cherill (through Calne) to StudleyBridge, and from Cherill to the Three Mile Borough, at the Top of Cherill Hillin the County of Wilts”. (title, pp. 479- 502 as issued ).

19) “An Act formore effectually repairing the Roads from Colehill in the County of Warwick,through the City of Litchfield, to Stone in the city of Chester, and foramending other Roads therein mentioned. (title, pp. 507-518 as issued ).

20) “ An Actfor repairing the Road between the town of Kingston upon Hull. And the town ofBeverly in the East Riding of the County of York”. (title, pp. 523 -550 asissued).

21) “ An Act to rectify a Mistake in an Act made this session ofParliament, intituled, An Act for the speedy and effectual recruiting of hisMajesty Land Forces and Marine, for the Year One Thousand seven hundred andforty four.” (title, pp. 555-556 as issued ).

22) “An Act for continuing an Act passed in the Thirteenth Year ofthe Reign of his late Majesty King George the First, so far as the fame relatesto the repairing the Road from Studley Bridge to Chippenham in the County ofWilts, and for amending the Road from Chippenham to Pickwick in the saidCounty. (title, pp.559 – 567 as issued ).

23) “An Act forexplaining and amending an Act passed in the Sixth Year…An Act to recover andpreserve the Navigation of the River Dee in the County Palatine of Chester…(title,pp.571-610 as issued ).

24) “An Act formaking more effectual Provision for enlightening the Streets of the City ofLondon”. (title, pp.635 as issued ).

25) “An Act forthe more effectual preventing of the affixing of counterfeit stamps to foreignor other linens”. (Title, pp. 639 – 641 as issued ).

26) “An Act for repealing the duties payableupon glass beads, and for granting other duties in lieu thereof and forallowing the same drawbacks on the exportation of refined borax and camphire, whichare allowed on the exportation of unrefined borax and camphire; and forpreventing the fraudulent exportation of British and Irish linens, for the sakeof the bounty allowed by an Act made in the fifteenth and sixteenth years ofHis present Majestys reign; and for explaining and amending the said Act, asto the persons who are to receive the said bounty. (title, pp. 645 – 650as issued ).

27) “An Act to explain and make more effectual severalActs of Parliament passed in the Reign of His present Majesty, for building aBridge cross the River Thames, from the city of Westminster to the oppositeShore in the county of Surrey; and for the better enabling commissioners forbuilding the said bridge, to finish the fame, and to perform the other trustsreposed in them; as also for granting further Time for exchanging the Ticketsunclaimed in the last lottery for the said Bridge; and to make Provision forTickets in the said lottery, lost, burnt, or otherwise destroyed”. (title, pp.655-666 as issued ).

28) “An Actfor granting to His Majesty the Sum of One Million out of the Sinking Fund, andfor applying a Sum remaining in the Exchequer, arisen by the Coinage Duty forthe Service of the Year One thousand seven hundred and forty four; and for thefurther appropriating the Supplies granted in this Session of Parliament; andfor making forth Duplicates of Exchequer Bills, Lottery Tickets, Certificates,Annuity Orders, or other Orders, lost, burnt, or otherwise destroyed; and forgiving further Time for the Payment of Duties omitted to be paid for theIndentures or Contracts of Clerks and Apprentices; and to enable theReversioners of certain annuities, therein mentioned, to receive suchAnnuities, if the same shall not be demanded within a certain Time by theAnnuitants for Life, until Proof be made, that such Annuitants are living.An Act for granting His Majestythe Sum of One Million out of the Sinking Fund, and for applying a Sum” (title,pp. 671 – 687 as issued).

29) “An Act for the better Encouragement of Seamen HisMajesty's Service, and Privateers, to annoy the Enemy” (Title, pp. 691-706 asissued).

30) “An Act to explain, amend, and enlarge an Act madein the Sixteenth and seventeenth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second,intituled, An Act for regulating the Measures and Prices of Coal.” (title, pp.711 - 713 as issued).

31) “An Actfor permitting certain goods therein enumerated, to be imported during the warin British built shipping, the property of foreigners and for the relief ofWilliam Ord, and others, for obviating a doubt which hath arisen upon the Actof the twelfth year of the reign of King Charles the Second, intituled, An Actfor the encouraging and increasing of shipping and navigation, as to theimportation on the account of aliens, of goods of the growth or production ofthe plantations of Spain and Portugal, in English ships duly navigated.”(title, pp.717 – 720).

32) “An Act to prevent Disputes touching the Parishesor Places where improved Waltes, and drained and improved Marsh Lands, shall becharged to Parochial Rates” (title, pp. 723-725 as issued)

33) “ An Act for remedying some defects in the Actmade in the forty third year of the reign Queen Elizabeth, intituled, An Actfor the Relief of the Poor” (title. pp. 729-735).

34) “An Act to make it high treason to holdcorrespondence with the sons of the Pretender to His Majestys Crown, and for attainting them of high treason incase they shall land or attempt to land in Great Britain or any of thedominions thereunto belonging; and for suspending the operation and effect of aclause in the act of the seventh year of the late Queen Anne, for improving theunion of the two kingdoms, relating to forfeitures for high treason, untilafter the decease of the sons of the said Pretender.” (title, pp. 739-742).

35) “An Act to continue the several Laws thereinmentioned for preventing Theft and Rapine on the Northern borders of England………(Title,pp. 747-758).

36) “An Act for making more effectual more effectualseveral Acts passed for repairing the Road leading from Stones End….” (Title,pp. 763-780).

37) An Act for amending and making more effectual anAct made in the last Session of Parliament…..repairing roads from Luton in the County ofBedford,….(title, pp.783-897)

38) “An Act for repairing the Road from town ofBuckingham in the County of Bucks, to Warmington in the County of Warwick”(title, pp. 811-831)