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GOLD AND SILVER THREAD ACT 1761
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CHAPTER IX.
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An Act to prevent the counterfeiting Gold and Silver Lace, and for settling and adjusting the Proportions of fine Gold, Silver, and Silk, and for the better making of Gold and Silver Thread.
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9 & 10 W. 3.
39. Eng. 1 Anne 17. stat. 1. Eng. 15 G. 2. 20. Eng.
Metal inferior to silver shall be spun upon thread, yarn, or inkle only, not silk,
penalty 5s. per ounce.
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WHEREAS hitherto there has not been any law in this kingdom for ascertaining the fineness of silver, and quantity of gold to be laid thereon in making wire for threads, and the other denominations necessary in manufacturing gold and silver lace, nor for proportioning the quantity and quality of silk to be used in the same; by which frauds may be committed, to the great loss of his Majesty's subjects, and hurt and damage to the trade of this kingdom: for remedy whereof 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 the first day of May one thousand seven hundred and sixty two, all copper, brass, and every other metal inferior to silver, shall be spun upon thread, yarn, or incle only, and not spun, mixed, wove, wrought, or set upon silk; upon pain that each and every person offending therein shall forfeit and pay the sum of five shillings for each and every ounce so spun, mixed, wove, wrought, or set upon silk.
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Silver wire to be drawn for thread shall hold 11 oz. 15 p. wt. upon each lb. weight of fine silver;
silver to be gilt, and used by wire-drawers, 11 oz. 10 penny wt.
not under 4 penny wt. 4 grains of fine gold on each lb. weight of silver,
penalty 5s. per ounce on refiner or maker.
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>II. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the said first day of May, all silver wire, to be drawn for the making of silver thread, shall hold at least eleven ounces fifteen penny weight of fine silver upon the pound weight Troy; and that all silver, to be gilt and made use of in the wire-drawers trade, shall hold at least eleven ounces ten penny weight of fine silver upon the pound weight Troy, and shall not have less than four penny weight four grains of fine gold, without any allay, laid upon each pound weight of the said silver, upon pain that the refiner or maker thereof shall forfeit and pay the sum of five shillings for each and every ounce so made contrary to the directions of this act.
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No gilt wire to be coloured with verdegrease, &c. penalty 2s. and 6d. per oz.
6 ounces of plate at least to cover 4 of silk,
except large twist, round brocade, &c. in which 6 ounces to 5 of silk.
All said plate to be spun close, on well boiled, light dyed silk,
except frost;
Penalty 2s. 6d. per ounce.
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>III. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the said first day of May, no gilt wire shall be coloured with verdegrease, or dead-head, or any other force-colour, upon pain that the person so offending shall forfeit and pay the sum of two shillings and six pence for every ounce so coloured: and for all gold and silver, prepared as aforesaid, and reduced into plate, there shall be allowed at the least six ounces of the said plate to cover four ounces of silk, except large twist, freeze, freezon, frost, and cheque, and also except round brocade, used in the making brocaded gold and silver silks or stuffs only, in which there shall be allowed at the least six ounces of the said plate to cover five ounces of silk, and no more; all which gold and silver plate shall be spun close upon well boiled and light dyed silk only, except frost, being run thin and spun upon different coloured silk; and in case any spinner of gold and silver thread, or other person, shall lay gold or silver plate upon any greater proportions of silk, or in any other manner, than as before directed by this act (except as is herein before excepted) such spinner or other person shall forfeit and pay two shillings and six pence for every ounce so spun.
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Vendor of orrice lace, mixed with other materials than gold or silver, silk, and vellum, forfeit 2s. 6d. per ounce.
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>IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any person whatsoever from and after the said first day of May shall sell, or offer to sale, any gold or silver orrice lace, mixed with any other metal or materials than gold or silver, silk and vellum, the person so selling, or offering the same to sale, shall forfeit and pay for every ounce the sum of two shillings and six pence.
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Penalty 5s. per ounce sold not by Troy weight.
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>V. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That if any person whatsoever after the said first day of May shall sell any gold or silver wire, plate, thread, lace, or fringe, by any other weight than Troy weight, the person so selling shall forfeit for every ounce so sold the sum of five shillings.
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Maker or vendor of goods, mixed with gold or silver thread, or plate contrary hereto, forfeit 5s. per ounce.
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>VI. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That from and after the said first day of May if any maker or seller of any goods, made or mixed with gold or silver thread or plate, shall make or sell any goods mixed with gold or silver thread or plate, made contrary to the intent and meaning of this act, such person or persons shall forfeit and pay five shillings for each and every ounce of gold and silver thread, or plate, so made or sold.
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Penalties to the King and prosecutor.
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>VIII. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That of the several penalties and forfeitures, made and inflicted by this act, one moiety shall be to the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, and the other moiety to him, her, or them, that shall inform, sue, or prosecute for the same, and may be sued for, and recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information in any of his Majesty's courts of record in Dublin, wherein no essoign, protection, privilege, wager of law, or more than one imparlance shall be allowed. [Rep., Stat. Law Rev. (I.) Act, 1879.]
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Prosecution in 6 months.
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>X. Provided always, That every suit, action, or prosecution, to be brought by virtue of this act, shall be commenced within six kalendar months after the offence committed.
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Not to prohibit inferior metal spun on thread, &c. on garments for the theatre.
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>XII. Provided also, That nothing in this act contained, shall extend, or be construed to extend, to prohibit any copper, brass, or any other metal inferior to silver, spun upon thread, yarn, or inkle, as this act directs, being wrought or sewed with silk, upon any garment or apparel actually used in theatrical entertainments only.
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This a publick act.
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>XIII. Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this act shall be deemed, adjudged, and taken to be a publick act, and shall be judicially taken notice of as such by all judges, justices, and other persons whatsoever, without specially pleading the same.
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