126. GEORGE III: STATUTES

(A) Stamp Act (1765)

An act for granting and applying certain stamp duties and other duties in 
the British colonies and plantations in America towards further defraying 
the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the same, and for 
amending such parts of the several acts of parliament relating to the trade 
and revenues of the said colonies and plantations as direct the manner of 
determining and recovering the penalties and forfeitures therein mentioned. 
Whereas, by an act made in the last session of parliament, several duties 
were granted ... towards defraying the expenses of defending ... the British 
colonies and plantations in America; and whereas it is just and necessary 
that provision be made for raising a further revenue within your majesty's 
dominions in America towards defraying the said expenses: we ... , the 
commons of Great Britain in parliament assembled, have therefore resolved to 
give ... unto your majesty the several rates and duties hereinafter 
mentioned ...; and be it enacted ... that ... there shall be raised ... and 
paid unto his majesty, his heirs, and successors throughout the colonies and 
plantations in America ..., for every skin ... of vellum ... or sheet ... of 
paper, on which shall be engrossed ... any declaration ... or other 
pleading, or any copy thereof, in any court of law within the British 
colonies and plantations in America, a stamp duty of 3d....[1]

And be it further enacted ... that all the moneys which shall arise by the 
several rates and duties hereby granted, except the necessary charges of 
raising ... and accounting for the same, and the necessary charges ... 
incurred in relation to this act and the execution thereof, shall be paid 
into the receipt of his majesty's exchequer, and shall be entered separate 
and apart from all other moneys, and shall be there reserved to be from time 
to time disposed of by parliament towards further defraying the necessary 
expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the said colonies and 
plantations.... 

                Statutes at Large, XXVI, 179 f.: 5 George III, c. 12.

(B) Declaratory Act (1766)[2]

An act for the better securing the dependency of his majesty's dominions in 
America upon the crown and parliament of Great Britain. Whereas several of 
the houses of representatives in his majesty's colonies and plantations in 
America have of late against law claimed to themselves, or to the general 
assemblies of the same, the sole and exclusive right of imposing duties and 
taxes upon his majesty's subjects in the said colonies and plantations; and 
have in pursuance of such claim passed certain votes, resolutions, and 
orders derogatory to the legislative authority of parliament and 
inconsistent with the dependency of the said colonies and plantations upon 
the crown of Great Britain: ... be it declared 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 ... , that the 
said colonies in America have been, are, and of right ought to be 
subordinate unto and dependent upon the imperial crown and parliament of 
Great Britain; and that the king's majesty, by and with the advice and 
consent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons of Great Britain in 
parliament assembled, had, hath, and of right ought to have full power and 
authority to make laws and statutes of sufficient force and validity to bind 
the colonies and people of America, subjects of the crown of Great Britain, 
in all cases whatsoever. And be it further declared and enacted by the 
authority aforesaid that all resolutions, votes, orders, and proceedings in 
any of the said colonies or plantations, whereby the power and authority of 
the parliament of Great Britain to make laws and statutes as aforesaid is 
denied or drawn into question, are and are hereby declared to be utterly 
null and void to all intents and purposes whatsoever.

                          Ibid., XXVII, 19 f.: 6 George III, c. 12.

(C) Townshend's Revenue Act (1767)

An act for granting certain duties in the British colonies and plantations 
in America ... and for more effectually preventing the clandestine running 
of goods in the said colonies and plantations. Whereas it is expedient that 
a revenue should be raised in your majesty's dominions in America for making 
a more certain and adequate provision for defraying the charge of the 
administration of justice and the support of civil government in such 
provinces where it shall be found necessary, and towards further defraying 
the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing the said dominions: we, 
your majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the commons of Great Britain 
in parliament assembled, have therefore resolved to give and grant unto your 
majesty the several rates and duties hereinafter mentioned....[3]

And, for the more effectual preventing the clandestine running of goods in 
the British dominions in America, be it further enacted by the authority 
aforesaid that ... the master or other person having ... command of every 
ship ... arriving in any British colony or plantation in America shall, 
before he proceeds with his vessel to the place of unlading, come directly 
to the custom-house for the port or district where he arrives and make a 
just and true entry upon oath ... of the burden, contents, and lading of 
such ship ...; and ... shall likewise ... answer upon oath to such questions 
as shall be demanded of him by the collector or comptroller or other 
principal officer of the customs ... concerning such ship ... or concerning 
any goods or merchandise that shall or may be laden on board her, upon 
forfeiture of £100 sterling....

And whereas, by an act of parliament made in the fourteenth year of the 
reign of Charles II ... and several other acts now in force, it is lawful 
for any officer of his majesty's customs, authorized by writ of assistance 
under the seal of his majesty's court of exchequer, to take a constable ... 
or other public officer inhabiting near unto the place and in the daytime to 
enter ... any house, shop, cellar, warehouse ... , or other place and ... to 
seize and from thence to bring any kind of goods or merchandise whatsoever 
prohibited ... , and to put and secure the same in his majesty's storehouse 
...: be it enacted ... that ... such writs of assistance ... shall and may 
be granted by the ... supreme court of justice ... within such colony or 
plantation....

                         Ibid., XXVII, 505 f,; 7 George III, c. 46.

(D) Quebec Act (1774)

An act for making more effectual provision for the government of the 
province of Quebec in North America. Whereas his majesty by his royal 
proclamation, bearing date the 7th day of October in the third year of his 
reign, thought fit to declare the provisions which have been made in respect 
to certain countries, territories, and islands in America, ceded to his 
majesty by the definitive treaty of peace concluded at Paris ...;[4] and 
whereas, by the arrangements made by the said royal proclamation, a very 
large extent of country, within which there were several colonies and 
settlements of the subjects of France who claimed to remain therein under 
the faith of the said treaty, was left without any provision being made for 
the administration of civil government therein ...: be it enacted ... that 
all the territories, islands, and countries in North America [as aforesaid] 
...[5] be ... annexed to and made part and parcel of the province of 
Quebec.... Provided always that nothing herein contained relative to the 
boundary of the province of Quebec shall in any wise affect the boundaries 
of any other colony....

And whereas the provisions made by the said proclamation in respect to the 
civil government of the said province of Quebec ... have been found upon 
experience to be inapplicable to ... the said province, the inhabitants 
whereof amounted at the conquest to above 65,000 persons, professing the 
religion of the Church of Rome and enjoying an established form of 
constitution and system of laws ...: be it therefore further enacted ... 
that the said proclamation, so far as the same relates to the said province 
of Quebec ... , be ... hereby revoked, annulled, and made void....

And, for the more perfect security and ease of the minds of the inhabitants 
of the said province, it is hereby declared that his majesty's subjects 
professing the religion of the Church of Rome ... in the said province of 
Quebec may have, hold, and enjoy the free exercise of the religion of the 
Church of Rome, subject to the king's supremacy ...;[6] and that the clergy 
of the said Church may hold, receive, and enjoy their accustomed dues and 
rights with respect to such persons only as shall profess the said religion. 
Provided, nevertheless, that it shall be lawful for his majesty, his heirs, 
or successors to make such provision out of the rest of the said accustomed 
dues and rights for the encouragement of the Protestant religion and for the 
maintenance and support of a Protestant clergy within the said province as 
he or they shall ... think necessary and expedient....

And be it further enacted ... that his majesty's Canadian subjects within 
the province of Quebec, the religious orders and communities only excepted, 
may also hold and enjoy their property and possessions ... and all other 
their civil rights in as large, ample, and beneficial manner ... as may 
consist with their allegiance to his majesty and subjection to the crown and 
parliament of Great Britain; and that, in all matters of controversy 
relative to property and civil rights, resort shall be had to the laws of 
Canada as the rule for the decision of the same ... , until they shall be 
... altered by any ordinances that shall from time to time be passed in the 
said province by the governor, lieutenant governor, or commander-in-chief 
... by and with the advice and consent of the legislative council of the 
same....

And whereas the certainty and lenity of the criminal law of England and the 
benefits and advantages resulting from the use of it have been sensibly felt 
by the inhabitants from an experience of more than nine years ...: be it ... 
enacted ... that the same shall continue to be administered and shall be 
observed as law in the province of Quebec, as well in the description and 
quality of the offence as in the method of prosecution and trial ...; 
subject, nevertheless, to such alterations [as aforesaid]....

And whereas it may be necessary to ordain many regulations for the future 
welfare and good government of the province of Quebec, the occasions of 
which cannot now be foreseen nor without much delay and inconvenience be 
provided for, without entrusting that authority ... to persons resident 
there; and whereas it is at present inexpedient to call an assembly: be it 
therefore enacted ... that it shall and may be lawful for his majesty, his 
heirs, and successors ... , with the advice of the privy council, to 
constitute and appoint a council for the affairs of the province of Quebec, 
to consist of such persons resident there, not exceeding twenty-three nor 
less than seventeen, as his majesty, his heirs, and successors shall be 
pleased to appoint ...; which council ... shall have power and authority to 
make ordinances for the peace, welfare, and good government of the said 
province with the consent of his majesty's governor....

Provided always that nothing in this act contained shall extend to ... 
empower the said legislative council to lay any taxes or duties within the 
said province; such rates and taxes only excepted as the inhabitants of any 
town or district within the province may be authorized by the said council 
to assess, levy, and apply within the said town or district for the purpose 
of making roads, erecting and repairing public buildings, or for any other 
purpose respecting the local convenience and economy of such town or 
district. Provided also ... that every ordinance so to be made shall within 
six months be transmitted by the governor ... and laid before his majesty 
for his royal approbation. And if his majesty shall think fit to disallow 
thereof, the same shall cease and be void from the time that his majesty's 
order in council thereupon shall be promulgated at Quebec. Provided also 
that no ordinance touching religion, or by which any punishment may be 
inflicted greater than fine or imprisonment for three months, shall be of 
any force or effect until the same shall have received his majesty's 
approbation....

Provided always ... that nothing in this act contained shall ... be 
construed ... to repeal or make void, within the said province of Quebec, 
any act or acts of the parliament of Great Britain heretofore made for ... 
regulating the trade or commerce of his majesty's colonies and plantations 
in America; but that ... all acts of parliament heretofore made ... 
respecting the said colonies and plantations shall be ... in force within 
the said province of Quebec....

                         Ibid., XXX, 549 f.: 14 George III, c. 83.

(E) Colonial Tax Repeal Act (1778)

An act for removing all doubts and apprehensions concerning taxation by the 
parliament of Great Britain in any of the colonies, provinces, and 
plantations in North America and the West Indies.... Whereas taxation by the 
parliament of Great Britain for the purpose of raising a revenue in his 
majesty's colonies, provinces, and plantations in North America has been 
found by experience to occasion great uneasinesses and disorders among his 
majesty's faithful subjects, who may nevertheless be disposed to acknowledge 
the justice of contributing to the common defence of the empire, provided 
such contribution should be raised under the authority of the general court 
or general assembly of each respective colony ...: it is hereby declared and 
enacted ... that, from and after the passing of this act, the king and 
parliament of Great Britain will not impose any duty, tax, or assessment 
whatever, payable in any of his majesty's colonies ... in North America or 
the West Indies, except only such duties as it may be expedient to impose 
for the regulation of commerce; the net produce of such duties to be always 
paid and applied to and for the use of the colony ... in which the same 
shall be ... levied.

And be it further enacted ... that ... so much of an act made in the seventh 
year of his present majesty's reign ...[7] as imposes a duty on tea imported 
from Great Britain into any colony ... in America ... is hereby repealed....

                            Ibid., XXXII, 4: 18 George III, c. 12.

(F) Burke's Place Act (1782)

An act for better securing the freedom of elections of members to serve in 
parliament by disabling certain officers employed in the collection or 
management of his majesty's revenues from giving their votes at such 
elections. For the better securing the freedom of elections of members to 
serve in parliament, be it enacted ... that ... no commissioner, collector, 
supervisor, gauger, or other officer or person whatsoever concerned or 
employed in the charging, collecting, levying, or managing the duties of 
excise ... , the customs ... , the duties on ... parchment and paper ... , 
the duties on salt ... , the duties on windows or houses ... , the revenue 
of the post office ... , nor any captain, master, or mate of any ship ... or 
other vessel employed ... in conveying the mail to and from foreign ports, 
shall be capable of giving his vote for the election of any knight of the 
shire, commissioner, citizen, burgess, or baron to serve in parliament....

                        Ibid., XXXIV, 48 f.: 22 George III, c. 41.

(G) Irish Appeals Act (1783)

An act for removing and preventing all doubts which may have arisen or might 
arise concerning the exclusive rights of the parliament and courts of 
Ireland in matters of legislation and judicature.... Whereas, by an act of 
the last session of this present parliament entitled An Act to Repeal an Act 
Made in the Sixth Year of ... George I ... ,[8] it was enacted that the said 
last-mentioned act and all matters and things therein contained should be 
repealed ...: for removing all doubts respecting the same ... , be it 
declared and enacted ... that the ... right claimed by the people of Ireland 
to be bound only by laws enacted by his majesty and the parliament of that 
kingdom in all cases whatever, and to have all actions and suits at law or 
in equity which may be instituted in that kingdom decided in his majesty's 
courts therein finally and without appeal from thence, shall be and it is 
hereby declared to be established and ascertained forever, and shall at no 
time hereafter be questioned or questionable. And be it further enacted by 
the authority aforesaid that no writ of error or appeal shall be received or 
adjudged, or any other proceeding be had, by or in any of his majesty's 
courts in this kingdom in any action or suit at law or in equity instituted 
in any of his majesty's courts in the kingdom of Ireland....

                         Ibid., XXXIV, 256: 23 George III, c. 28.

(H) Canadian Constitution Act (1791)

An act to repeal certain parts of an act passed in the fourteenth year of 
his majesty's reign ... and to make further provision for the government of 
the said provinces....[9]

And whereas his majesty has been pleased to signify, by his message to both 
houses of parliament, his royal intention to divide his province of Quebec 
into two separate provinces, to be called the province of Upper Canada and 
the province of Lower Canada: be it enacted ... that there shall be within 
each of the said provinces respectively a legislative council and an 
assembly ...; and that in each of the said provinces respectively his 
majesty, his heirs, or successors shall have power ... , by and with the 
advice and consent of the legislative council and assembly ... , to make 
laws for the peace, welfare, and good government thereof, such laws not 
being repugnant to this act; and that all such laws ... , assented to by his 
majesty, his heirs, or successors, or assented to in his majesty's name ... 
, shall be ... valid and binding....

And be it further enacted ... that, for the purpose of constituting such 
legislative council as aforesaid ... , it shall and may be lawful for his 
majesty, his heirs, or successors ... to authorize and direct the governor 
... or person administering the government in each of the said provinces 
respectively ... to summon to the said legislative council ... a sufficient 
number of discreet and proper persons, being not fewer than seven ... for 
... Upper Canada and not fewer than fifteen ... for ... Lower Canada ...; 
and ... that every member of each of the said legislative councils shall 
hold his seat therein for the term of his life....

And be it further enacted ... that, for the purpose of constituting such 
assembly as aforesaid in each of the said provinces respectively, it shall 
and may be lawful for his majesty, his heirs, or successors ... to authorize 
and direct the governor ... or person administering the government in each 
of the said provinces respectively ... to summon ... an assembly in and for 
such province. And be it further enacted ... that, for the purpose of 
electing the members of such assemblies respectively, it shall and may be 
lawful for his majesty, his heirs, or successors ... to authorize the 
governor ... or the person administering the government therein ... to issue 
a proclamation dividing such province into districts ... and towns or 
townships ... and declaring ... the number of representatives to be chosen 
by each.... Provided ... that the whole number of members to be chosen in 
the province of Upper Canada shall not be less than sixteen and ... in the 
province of Lower Canada shall not be less than fifty....

And be it further enacted ... that the members for the several districts ... 
shall be chosen by the majority of votes of such persons as shall severally 
be possessed ... of lands or tenements within such district ... of the 
yearly value of 40s. sterling or upwards ...;[10] and that the members for 
the several towns or townships ... shall be chosen by the majority of votes 
of such persons as either shall severally be possessed ... of a dwelling-
house and lot of ground in such town or township ... of the yearly value of 
£5 sterling or upwards, or as, having been resident within the said town or 
townships for the space of twelve calendar months ... , shall ... have paid 
one year's rent ... at the rate of £10 sterling per annum or upwards....

And be it enacted ... that the said legislative council and assembly in each 
of the said provinces shall be called together once at the least in every 
twelve calendar months, and that every assembly shall continue for four 
years ... , subject, nevertheless, to be sooner prorogued or dissolved by 
the governor ... or person administering his majesty's government 
therein.... And be it further enacted ... that, whenever any bill which has 
been passed by the legislative council and by the house of assembly ... 
shall be presented for his majesty's assent ... , such governor ... shall 
... declare ... that he assents to such bill in his majesty's name, or that 
he withholds his majesty's assent from such bill, or that he reserves such 
bill for the signification of his majesty's pleasure thereon. Provided 
always ... that, whenever any bill ... shall ... have been assented to ... , 
such governor ... shall ... transmit to one of his majesty's principal 
secretaries of state an authentic copy of such bill ...; and that it shall 
and may be lawful, at any time within two years ... , for his majesty, his 
heirs, or successors ... to declare his ... disallowance of such bill....

Be it... enacted ... that nothing in this act contained shall ... be 
construed to extend to prevent or affect the execution of any law ... made 
by his majesty, his heirs, or successors and the parliament of Great Britain 
... for the regulation of the commerce ... between the said two provinces, 
or between either of the said provinces and any other part of his majesty's 
dominions, or between either of the said provinces and any foreign 
country.... Provided always ... that the net produce of all duties which 
shall be so imposed shall ... be applied to and for the use of each of the 
provinces respectively, and in such manner only as shall be directed ... by 
his majesty, his heirs, or successors by and with the advice and consent of 
the legislative council and assembly of such province....

                       Ibid., XXXVII, 294 f.: 31 George III, c. 31.

(I) Fox's Libel Act (1792)[11]

An act to remove doubts respecting the functions of juries in cases of 
libel. Whereas doubts have arisen whether, on the trial of an indictment or 
information for the making or publishing any libel ... , it be competent to 
the jury ... to give their verdict upon the whole matter in issue: be it 
therefore declared and enacted ... that on every such trial the jury sworn 
to try the issue may give a general verdict of guilty or not guilty upon the 
whole matter put in issue upon such indictment or information, and shall not 
be required or directed by the court or judge ... to find the defendant or 
defendants guilty merely on the proof of the publication by such defendant 
or defendants of the paper charged to be a libel and of the sense ascribed 
to the same in such indictment or information.

Provided always that on every such trial the court or judge ... shall, 
according to their or his discretion, give their or his opinion and 
directions to the jury on the matter in issue between the king and the 
defendant or defendants in like manner as in other criminal cases. Provided 
also that nothing herein contained shall ... be construed to extend to 
prevent the jury from finding a special verdict in their discretion, as in 
other criminal cases....

                       Ibid., XXXVII, 627 f.: 32 George III, c. 60.

(J) Act Suspending Habeas Corpus in Certain Cases (1794)

An act to empower his majesty to secure and detain such persons as his 
majesty shall suspect are conspiring against his person and government. 
Whereas a traitorous and detestable conspiracy has been formed for 
subverting the existing laws and constitution and for introducing the system 
of anarchy and confusion which has so fatally prevailed in France: 
therefore, for the better preservation of his majesty's sacred person and 
for securing the peace and the laws and liberties of this kingdom, be it 
enacted ... that every person or persons that are or shall be in prison 
within the kingdom of Great Britain at or upon the day on which this act 
shall receive his majesty's royal assent or after, by warrant of his 
majesty's most honourable privy council signed by six of the said privy 
council for high treason or suspicion of high treason or treasonable 
practices, or by warrant signed by any of his majesty's secretaries of state 
for such causes as aforesaid, may be detained in safe custody without bail 
or main-prise until the first day of February, 1795; and that no judge or 
justice of the peace shall bail or try any such person or persons so 
committed without order from his said majesty's privy council, signed by six 
of the said privy council, till the said first day of February, 1795 — any 
law or statute to the contrary notwithstanding....

Provided always and be it enacted that nothing in this act shall be 
construed to extend to invalidate the ancient rights and privileges of 
parliament, or to the imprisonment or detaining of any member of either 
house of parliament, during the sitting of such parliament, until the matter 
of which he stands suspected be first communicated to the house of which he 
is a member and the consent of the said house obtained for his commitment or 
detaining.

                       Ibid., XXXIX, 556 f.: 34 George III, c. 54.

(K) Treasonable and Seditious Practices Act (1795)

An act for the safety and preservation of his majesty's person and 
government against treasonable and seditious practices and attempts.... Be 
it enacted ... that, if any person ... , during the natural life of our most 
gracious sovereign lord the king ... , and until the end of the next session 
of parliament after a demise of the crown, shall, within the realm or 
without, compass, imagine, invent, devise, or intend death or destruction, 
or any bodily harm tending to death or destruction, maim or wounding, 
imprisonment or restraint of the person of the same our sovereign lord the 
king, his heirs, and successors; or to deprive or depose him or them from 
the style, honour, or kingly name of the imperial crown of this realm, or of 
any other of his majesty's dominions or countries; or to levy war against 
his majesty, his heirs, and successors within this realm, in order by force 
or constraint to compel him or them to change his or their measures or 
counsels, or in order to put any force or constraint upon ... both houses or 
either house of parliament, or to move or stir any foreigner or stranger 
with force to invade this realm or any other his majesty's dominions or 
countries ...; and such ... intentions ... shall express, utter, or declare 
by publishing any printing or writing or by any overt act or deed, being 
legally convicted thereof upon the oaths of two lawful and credible 
witnesses upon trial, or otherwise convicted or attainted by due course of 
law; then every such person and persons so as aforesaid offending shall be 
deemed, declared, and adjudged to be a traitor and traitors, and shall 
suffer pains of death, and also lose and forfeit as in cases of high 
treason. And be it further enacted ... that, if any person ... within that 
part of Great Britain called England, at any time ... during three years 
from the day of passing this act and until the end of the then next session 
of parliament, shall maliciously and advisedly, by writing, printing, 
preaching, or other speaking ... , declare any words or sentences to excite 
or stir up the people to hatred or contempt of the person of his majesty, 
his heirs, or successors, or the government and constitution of this realm 
as by law established, then every such person ... , being thereof legally 
convicted, shall be liable to such punishment as may by law be inflicted in 
cases of high misdemeanours....

                            Ibid., XL, 561 f.: 36 George III, c. 7.

(L) Seditious Assemblies Act (1795)

An act for the more effectually preventing seditious meetings and 
assemblies.... Be it enacted ... that no meeting of any description of 
persons exceeding the number of fifty ...[12] shall be holden for the 
purpose or on the pretext of considering of or preparing any petition ... or 
other address to the king, or to both houses or either house of parliament, 
for alteration of matters established in church or state, or for the purpose 
or on the pretext of deliberating upon any grievance in church or state, 
unless notice[13] of the intention to hold such meeting ... shall be given 
in the names of seven persons at the least, being householders resident 
within the ... place where such meeting shall be proposed to be holden.... 
And be it further enacted ... that all meetings ... which shall be holden 
without such previous notice as foresaid ... shall be deemed and taken to be 
unlawful assemblies....[14]

And ... be it ... enacted ... that every house, room, field, or other place 
where lectures or discourses shall be delivered or public debates shall be 
had on or concerning any supposed public grievance, or any matters relating 
to the laws, constitution, government, or policy of these kingdoms, for the 
purpose of raising or collecting money or any other valuable thing from the 
persons admitted ... , or, under whatever pretence the same shall be opened 
or used, to which any person shall be admitted by the payment of money or by 
tickets sold ... , unless the opening or using ... shall have been 
previously licensed in manner hereinafter mentioned, shall be deemed a 
disorderly house or place....[15]

Provided, nevertheless, and be it enacted ... that it shall be lawful for 
two or more justices of the peace of the ... place where any house, room, or 
other building shall be, which any person shall be desirous to open for any 
of the purposes aforesaid, by writing under their hands and seals ... to 
grant a licence to any person or persons desiring the same ...; which 
licence it shall be lawful for the justices of the same ... place ... to 
revoke and declare void....

Provided also that nothing in this act contained shall be construed to 
extend to any lectures ... to be delivered in any of the universities of 
these kingdoms by any member thereof or any person authorized by the 
chancellor ... or other proper officers of such universities....

                            Ibid., XL, 564 f.: 36 George III, c. 8.

(M) Poor Relief Act (1795)

An act to amend so much of an act made in the ninth year of the reign of 
King George I ...[16] as prevents the distributing occasional relief to poor 
persons in their own houses under certain circumstances and in certain 
cases.... Whereas ... the act above mentioned has been found to ... be 
inconvenient and oppressive, inasmuch as it often prevents an industrious 
poor person from receiving such occasional relief as is best suited to the 
peculiar case of such poor person, and inasmuch as in certain cases it holds 
out conditions of relief injurious to the comfort and domestic situation and 
happiness of such poor persons: be it therefore enacted ... that ... it 
shall and may be lawful for the overseer or overseers of any parish ... or 
place, with the approbation of the parishioners ... or with the approbation 
in writing of any of his majesty's ... justices of the peace ... , to 
distribute and pay collection and relief to any industrious poor ... persons 
at ... their homes ... under certain circumstances of temporary illness or 
distress....

Provided always that the special cause ... of ordering and directing 
collection or relief to any poor person ... at his ... house ... be assigned 
and written on each order for relief given ... as aforesaid. And provided 
always that such order be given for ... a time not to exceed one month.... 
Provided also that it shall and may be lawful for any two justices as 
aforesaid to make any further order for the same or like purpose for any 
further time not exceeding one month ... , and so on from time to time....

Provided always ... that nothing in this act contained shall ... be 
construed ... to extend to authorize ... any ... overseers or any ... 
justices of the peace ... to distribute ... any collection or relief to any 
poor person ... at his ... house ... in any parish ... or place in or for 
which any house of industry or other place for the reception and provision 
of the poor thereof hath been ... or shall hereafter be erected or provided 
by and under the authority ... of an act passed in the twenty-second year of 
the reign of his present majesty ... or under the authority ... of any 
special act of parliament....[17]

                           Ibid., XL, 626 f.: 36 George III, c. 23.

(N) Act of Union with Ireland (1800)

An act for the union of Great Britain and Ireland. Whereas, in pursuance of 
his majesty's ... recommendation to the two houses of parliament in Great 
Britain and Ireland respectively ... , the two houses of the parliament of 
Great Britain and the two houses of the parliament of Ireland have severally 
agreed and resolved that ... it will be advisable to concur in such measures 
as may best tend to unite the two kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland into 
one kingdom ...; and whereas, in furtherance of the same resolution, both 
houses of the said two parliaments respectively have likewise agreed upon 
certain articles for effectuating and establishing the said purposes in the 
tenor following ...:[18] be it enacted ... that the said ... articles ... be 
ratified, confirmed, and approved ... , and they are hereby declared to be 
the articles of the union of Great Britain and Ireland; and the same shall 
be in force and have effect forever from the first day of January which 
shall be in the year of our Lord 1801, provided that before that period an 
act shall have been passed by the parliament of Ireland for carrying into 
effect in the like manner the said ... articles....

[Articles of Union.] Article I.... That the said kingdoms of Great Britain 
and Ireland shall ... be united into one kingdom by the name of the united 
kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland....

Article II.... That the succession to the imperial crown of the said united 
kingdom and of the dominions thereunto belonging shall continue limited and 
settled ... according to the existing laws and to the terms of union between 
England and Scotland.

Article III.... That the said united kingdom be represented in one and the 
same parliament....

Article IV.... That four lords spiritual of Ireland by rotation of sessions, 
and twenty-eight lords temporal of Ireland elected for life by the peers of 
Ireland, shall be the number to sit and vote on the part of Ireland in the 
house of lords of the parliament of the united kingdom; and one hundred 
commoners — two for each county of Ireland, two for the city of Dublin, two 
for the city of Cork, one for the university of Trinity College, and one for 
each of the thirty-one most considerable cities, towns, and boroughs — be 
the number to sit and vote on the part of Ireland in the house of commons of 
the parliament of the united kingdom. That such act as shall be passed in 
the parliament of Ireland previous to the union to regulate the mode by 
which the lords spiritual and temporal and the commons, to serve in the 
parliament of the united kingdom on the part of Ireland, shall be summoned 
and returned to the said parliament shall be considered as forming part of 
the treaty of union.... That all questions touching the rotation or election 
of lords spiritual or temporal of Ireland to sit in the parliament of the 
united kingdom shall be decided by the house of lords thereof.... That all 
questions touching the election of members to sit on the part of Ireland in 
the house of commons of the united kingdom shall be heard and decided in the 
same manner as questions touching such elections in Great Britain now are or 
at any time hereafter shall by law be heard and decided.... That the 
qualifications in respect of property of the members elected on the part of 
Ireland to sit in the house of commons of the united kingdom shall be 
respectively the same as are now provided by law in the cases of elections 
for counties and cities and boroughs respectively in that part of Great 
Britain called England, unless any other provision shall hereafter be made 
in that respect by act of parliament of the united kingdom....

Article V.... That the Churches of England and Ireland, as now by law 
established, be united into one Protestant Episcopal Church, to be called 
the United Church of England and Ireland; and that the doctrine, worship, 
discipline, and government of the said United Church shall be and shall 
remain in full force forever as the same are now by law established for the 
Church of England; and that the continuance and preservation of the said 
United Church as the established Church of England and Ireland shall be 
deemed and taken to be an essential and fundamental part of the union; and 
that in like manner the doctrine, worship, discipline, and government of the 
Church of Scotland shall remain and be preserved as the same are now 
established by law and by the acts for the union of the two kingdoms of 
England and Scotland.

Article VI.... That his majesty's subjects of Great Britain and Ireland 
shall ... be entitled to the same privileges ... as to encouragements and 
bounties on the like articles, being the growth, produce, or manufacture of 
either country respectively, and generally in respect of trade and 
navigation in all ports and places in the united kingdom and its 
dependencies; and that in all treaties made by his majesty, his heirs, and 
successors with any foreign power his majesty's subjects of Ireland shall 
have the same privileges ... as his majesty's subjects of Great Britain....

Article VII.... That the charge arising from the payment of the interest and 
the sinking fund for the reduction of the principal of the debt incurred in 
either kingdom before the union shall continue to be separately defrayed by 
Great Britain and Ireland respectively.... That, for the space of twenty 
years after the union shall take place, the contribution of Great Britain 
and Ireland respectively towards the expenditure of the united kingdom in 
each year shall be defrayed in the proportion of fifteen parts for Great 
Britain, and two parts for Ireland, and that, at the expiration of the said 
twenty years, the future expenditure of the united kingdom ... shall be 
defrayed in such proportion as the parliament of the united kingdom shall 
deem just and reasonable....

Article VIII.... That all laws in force at the time of the union and all the 
courts of civil and ecclesiastical jurisdiction within the respective 
kingdoms shall remain as now by law established within the same, subject 
only to such alterations and regulations from time to time as circumstances 
may appear to the parliament of the united kingdom to require; provided that 
all writs of error and appeals, depending at the time of the union or 
hereafter to be brought, and which might now be finally decided by the house 
of lords of either kingdom, shall, from and after the union, be finally 
decided by the house of lords of the united kingdom....

                          Ibid., XLII, 648 f.: 40 George III, c. 67.

(O) Cotton Industry Arbitration Act (1800)

An act for settling disputes that may arise between masters and workmen 
engaged in the cotton manufacture in that part of Great Britain called 
England.... Be it enacted ... that ... , in all cases that shall or may 
arise ... where the masters and workmen cannot agree respecting the price or 
prices to be paid for work done or to be done in the said manufacture ... , 
and in all cases of dispute or difference arising ... out of ... such trade 
or manufacture which cannot be otherwise mutually adjusted and settled by 
and between them, it shall ... be lawful ... for such masters and workmen 
... , or either of them, to demand and have an arbitration ... of such ... 
matters in dispute, and each of them is hereby authorized and empowered 
forthwith to nominate and appoint an arbitrator ... on his ... behalf.... 
And such arbitrators ... , after they shall have accepted ... the business 
of the said arbitration, are hereby authorized and required to summon before 
them and examine upon oath the parties and their witnesses ... , and 
forthwith to proceed to hear and determine the complaints of the parties and 
the matter or matters in dispute between them; and the award to be made by 
such arbitrators shall in all cases be final and conclusive between the 
parties. But, in case such arbitrators so appointed cannot agree to decide 
such ... matters in dispute ... , and do not make and sign their award 
within the space of three days after the signing of the said submission ... 
, they shall forthwith ... go before ... one of his majesty's justices of 
the peace ... residing nearest to the place where such dispute shall happen 
and be referred, and state to such justice the points in difference between 
them, the said arbitrators; which points in difference the said justice ... 
is hereby authorized ... to hear and determine. Which determination of such 
justice shall be made and signed within the space of three days after the 
expiration of the time hereby allowed the arbitrators to make and sign their 
award, and shall be final and conclusive between the parties so differing as 
aforesaid....

                       Ibid., XLII, 792 f.: 39-40 George III, c. 90.

(P) Combination Act (1800)

An act to repeal an act passed in the last session of parliament ... and to 
substitute other provisions in lieu thereof. Whereas it is expedient to 
explain and amend an act passed in the thirty-ninth year of the reign of his 
present majesty, entitled An Act to Prevent Unlawful Combinations of 
Workmen: be it therefore enacted ... that, from and after the passing of 
this act, the said act shall be repealed; and that all contracts, covenants, 
and agreements whatsoever, in writing or not in writing, at any time ... 
heretofore made ... between any journeymen, manufacturers, or other persons 
within this kingdom for obtaining an advance of wages ... , or for lessening 
or altering their ... usual hours ... of working, or for decreasing the 
quantity of work (save and except any contract made or to be made between 
any master and his journeyman or manufacturer for or on account of the work 
or service of such journeyman or manufacturer....), or for preventing or 
hindering any person ... from employing whomsoever he ... shall think proper 
to employ ... , or for controlling or any way affecting any person ... 
carrying on any ... business in the conduct or management thereof, shall be 
... illegal, null, and void....

And be it further enacted that no journeyman, workman, or other person shall 
... make or enter into ... any such contract, covenant, or agreement ... as 
is hereinbefore declared to be an illegal covenant ... , and every 
journeyman ... or other person who ... shall be guilty of any of the said 
offences, being thereof lawfully convicted ... , shall ... be committed to 
... the common jail ... for any time not exceeding three calendar months; or 
... to some house of correction ... , there to remain and to be kept to hard 
labour for any time not exceeding two calendar months.

And be it further enacted that every journeyman ... or other person who 
shall ... enter into any combination to obtain an advance of wages ... or 
for any other purpose contrary to this act; or who shall, by giving money or 
... by any other means, wilfully and maliciously endeavour to prevent any 
... unemployed journeyman ... or other person ... from hiring himself to any 
manufacturer ... or person conducting any ... business; or who shall, for 
the purpose of obtaining an advance of wages or for any other purpose 
contrary to the provisions of this act, wilfully and maliciously decoy, 
persuade, solicit, intimidate, influence, or prevail ... on any journeyman 
... or other person ... employed in any such ... business to quit ... his 
work ...; or who shall wilfully and maliciously hinder ... any ... person 
from employing ... such journeymen ... and other persons as he ... shall 
think proper; or who, being ... employed, shall without any just or 
reasonable cause refuse to work ...; and who shall be lawfully convicted of 
any of the said offences ... , shall ... be committed to ... the common jail 
... for any time not exceeding three calendar months; or ... to some house 
of correction ... , there to remain and to be kept to hard labour for any 
time not exceeding two calendar months....[19]

And be it further enacted ... that all contracts ... made or to be made by 
or between any masters or other persons for reducing the wages of workmen, 
or for adding to or altering the usual hours ... of working, or for 
increasing the quantity of work ... are hereby declared to be illegal, null, 
and void.... And all ... such masters, being thereof lawfully convicted ... 
shall forfeit ... the sum of £20....

                      Ibid., XLII, 847 f.: 39-40 George III, c. 106.

(Q) Factory Act (1802)

An act for the preservation of the health and morals of apprentices and 
others employed in cotton and other mills.... Be it enacted that ... all 
such mills and factories within Great Britain and Ireland, wherein three or 
more apprentices or twenty or more other persons shall at any time be 
employed, shall be subject to the several rules and regulations contained in 
this act ...: — 

... That all and every the rooms and apartments in or belonging to any such 
mill or factory shall, twice at least in every year, be well and 
sufficiently washed with quick lime and water over every part of the walls 
and ceiling thereof; and that due care and attention shall be paid by the 
master and mistress of such mills or factories to provide a sufficient 
number of windows and openings in such rooms or apartments, to insure a 
proper supply of fresh air....

That every such master or mistress shall constantly supply every apprentice 
... with two whole and complete suits of clothing ... , one new complete 
suit being delivered to such apprentice once at least in every year....

That no apprentice ... bound to any such master or mistress shall be 
employed or compelled to work for more than twelve hours in any one day ... 
, exclusive of the time that may be occupied by such apprentice in eating 
the necessary meals. Provided always that, from and after the first day of 
June, 1803, no apprentice shall be employed or compelled to work upon any 
occasion whatever between the hours of nine of the clock at night and six of 
the clock in the morning....

That every such apprentice shall be instructed in some part of every working 
day, for the first four years at least of his or her apprenticeship ... , in 
reading, writing, and arithmetic ...; and that the time ... allotted for 
such instruction ... shall be deemed ... part ... of the respective periods 
... during which any such apprentice shall be employed or compelled to 
work....

That the room or apartment in which any male apprentice shall sleep shall be 
entirely separate and distinct from the room or apartment in which any 
female apprentice shall sleep, and that not more than two apprentices shall 
in any case sleep in the same bed....

That every apprentice ... shall, for the space of one hour at least every 
Sunday, be instructed and examined in the principles of the Christian 
religion ...; and such master or mistress shall send all his or her 
apprentices under the care of some proper person, once in a month at least, 
to attend during divine service in the church of the parish ... or in some 
licensed place of divine worship. And in case the apprentices ... cannot 
conveniently attend such church or chapel ... , the master or mistress ... 
shall cause divine service to be performed in some convenient room or place 
in or adjoining to the mill or factory....

And be it further enacted that the justices of the peace for every county 
... shall ... appoint two persons, not interested in or in any way connected 
with any such mills or factories, to be visitors ...; and the said visitors, 
or either of them, shall have full power and authority ... to enter into and 
inspect any such mill or factory at any time of the day ... , and ... shall 
report from time to time in writing to the quarter sessions of the peace the 
state and condition of such mills and factories ... , and whether the same 
are or not conducted and regulated according to the directions of this 
act....

                         Ibid., XLIII, 632 f.: 42 George III, c. 73.



[1] Here follows an elaborate schedule of other stamp duties to be paid on 
legal documents, calendars, advertisements, playing cards, etc.; together 
with provisions for enforcement of the act and penalties for its 
infringement.

[2] Having repealed the Stamp Act, as being "attended with many 
inconveniences" and likely to be "productive of consequences greatly 
detrimental to the commercial interests of these kingdoms," parliament then 
proceeded to make the present declaration.

[3] Here follows a schedule of duties to be levied on all sorts of glass, 
paint, painter's colours, paper, and tea.

[4] This was the peace of 1763, ending the Seven Years' War. The royal 
proclamation here referred to set up tentative governments in the recently 
acquired provinces. See R. Coupland, The Quebec Act.

[5] The act here sets precise boundaries for the enlarged province of Quebec 
— to the southwest the Ohio River, to the west the Mississippi.

[6] As defined in the Act of Supremacy (no. 81a); but Roman Catholics are 
permitted to take an oath of allegiance in place of the oath of supremacy.

[7] No. 126C. On account of American protests, all the duties but tea had 
been repealed in 1770.

[8] No. 122C.

[9] The first article of this statute repeals those parts of the Quebec Act 
(no. 126D) relating to the legislative council.

[10] Such land had to be held by some form of free tenure other than 
leasehold.

[11] Cf. no. 129E, 1.

[12] Except courts of counties or towns and their subdivisions, or meetings 
of corporations lawfully summoned.

[13] Such notice, under a variety of legal formalities, has to be given to 
the local clerk of the peace or published in a local newspaper.

[14] The following articles apply the provisions of the Riot Act (no. 122A) 
to such assemblies, and to those of which legal notice has been given, but 
in which suggestions of revolutionary action are made or proposals tending 
to incite the people to hatred or contempt of the king or of his government. 
Persons interfering with the magistrates in the carrying out of this law are 
to be liable to the death penalty.

[15] The owners, occupiers, superintendents, etc., of such properties, as 
well as the managers of the meetings there held, are liable to prosecution 
and a fine of ?100 for each offence. The local peace officers may demand 
admittance to any licensed place of this sort and, if they are not admitted, 
it shall be considered disorderly.

[16] This was a statute of 1722 which provided that parishes or other units 
of local government might give the administration of poor relief to a 
contractor. In that case all persons desiring relief had to reside in the 
poorhouse maintained by such contractor.

[17] The act of 1782 had authorized owners or occupiers of land in any 
parish or group of parishes to substitute for the overseers of the poor (see 
no. 114L) paid guardians of the poor and governors of the poorhouse. Before 
1782 individual parishes had gained equivalent privileges through special 
acts of parliament. See Bristol Record Society's Publications, vol. III, 
introduction by E. E. Butcher.

[18] For the sake of clarity, the articles of union are placed at the end of 
the present document.

[19] Persons attending any meeting for the purposes described above, or 
soliciting or paying any contribution for such purposes, are to be liable to 
the same penalties. Elaborate provisions are made for the enforcement of the 
act. But the settlement of labour disputes by arbitration is continued as 
allowed by earlier statues (e.g., the previous document) and further 
articles are added to improve the system.