11th July 1817: The 'Destroying Stocking Frames Act, 1817'

An Act to repeal an Act, passed in the Fifty fourth Year of His present Majesty, for the Punishment of Persons destroying Stocking or Lace Frames, and Articles in such Frames, and to make, until the First Day of August One thousand eight hundred and twenty, other Provisions in lieu thereof.

[11th July 1817.] 

WHEREAS an Act was passed in the Fifty Second Year of His present Majesty's Reign, intituled An Act for the more exemplary Punishment of Persons destroying or injuring any Stocking or Lace Frames, or other Machines or Engines used in the Framework Knitted Manufactory, or any Articles and Goods in such Frames or Machines; to continue in force until the First Day of March One thousand eight hundred and fourteen: And Whereas an Act passed in the Fifty fourth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled An Act to repeal an Act of the Fifty Second Year of His present Majesty, for the Punishment of Persons destroying Stocking or Lace Frames, or any Articles in such Frames, and to make other Provisions instead thereof: And Whereas it is expedient that the said last recited Act of the Fifty fourth Year aforesaid should be repealed, and other Provisions made instead thereof: Be it therefore enacted by The King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords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same, That from and after the passing of this Act the said last recited Act of the Fifty fourth Year aforesaid shall be repealed, and the same is hereby repealed, save and except as to so much of the said last recited Act as repeals the said recited Act of the Fifty second Year aforesaid, and also save and except as to any thing done before the passing of this Act, with respect to which the said Act shall remain and be in full Force and Effect as if this Act had not been made.

II. And be it further enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, if any Person or Persons shall by Day or by Night enter by force into any House, Shop or Place, with an Intent to cut or destroy or any Framework Knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace or other Articles or Goods, being in the Frame, or upon any Machine or Engine thereto annexed, or therewith to be used or prepared for that Purpose, or with an Intent to break or destroy any Frame, Machine, Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil used in and for the working and making of any such Framework Knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace or other Articles or Goods in the Hosiery or Framework Knitted Manufactory, or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, destroy or cut, with an Intent to destroy or render useless, any Framework Knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace or other Articles or Goods, being in the Frame or upon any Machine or Engine as aforesaid, or prepared for that Purpose, or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, break, destroy or damage, with an Intent to destroy or render useless, any Frame, Machine, Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil used in and for the working and making of any such Framework Knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace or other Articles or Goods in the Hosiery or Framework Knitted Stockings, or Framework Lace Manufactory; or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, break or destroy any Machinery contained in any Mill or Mills used or any way employed in preparing or spinning of Wool or Cotton, or other Materials, for the Use of the Stocking or Lace Manufactory, every Offender being thereof lawfully convicted shall be adjudged guilty of Felony, and shall suffer Death as in cases of Felony without Benefit of Clergy. 

III. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall continue and be in force until the First Day of August, which will be in the Year of Our Lord One thousand eight hundred and twenty.

22nd March 1817: Derby Assizes Grand Jury call for the reinstatement of the death penalty for frame-breaking

Derby County Hall March 22nd 1817

The undersigned Gentleman, constituting the Grand Jury now assembled at the Assizes for the County of Derby, think it necessary to represent to Lord Sidmouth and the Government their unanimous and decided opinion, that it is highly expedient to make Frame-breaking a capital offence and to subject all persons, subscribing and collecting money to be paid for the Commission of it, or acting in any other manner as aiders or abettors, to the same punishment as the Principals—It must be well known by Lord Sidmouth that so long as the act of the 52nd of the present King was in force not one outrage of this nature was committed by the Luddite Conspiracy, but that immediately after the repeal of that Statute the practice of Frame-breaking revived and has ever since continued—These Facts fully warrant the Conclusion that the existing laws are insufficient for the suppression of the Luddite Conspiracy, and justify the application which the Grand Jury think it is their duty to make to Lord Sidmouth, for an act to be obtained for the more exemplary punishment of Persons guilty of Frame-breaking.

Henry FitzHerbert
A: B: Malley
Winfield Halton
Edward Miller Mundy
P. Gell
Fra. Hurt
W Denny Lowe
J: Radford
Charles Hurt
John Crompton
Joshua Jebb
Bache Heathcote
Robt Holden.
John Toplis
J. Beaumont
John Bell Crompton
[illegible] Draper
W Lord

20th December 1813: The 1813 Frame-Breaking Act

An Act to repeal an Act of the Fifty Second Year of His present Majesty, for the Punishment of Persons destroying Stocking or Lace Frames, or any Articles in such Frames, and to make other Provisions instead thereof.

[20th December 1813.]

Whereas an Act was passed in the Fifty Second Year of His present Majesty's Reign, intituled An Act for the more exemplary Punishment of Persons destroying or injuring any Stocking or Lace Frames, or other Machines or Engines used its the Framework Knitted Manufactory, or any Articles or Goods in such Frames or Machines; to continue in force until the First Day of March One thousand eight hundred and fourteen: And Whereas it is expedient that the said Act should be repealed and other Provisions made instead thereof; Be it therefore 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 passing of this Act, the said recited Act shall be repealed, and the same is hereby repealed, save and except as to any thing done before the passing of this Act, with respect to which the said Act shall remain and be in full Force and Effect as if this Act had not been made.

II. And be it further enacted, That, from and after the passing of this Act, if any Person or Persons shall, by Day or by Night, enter by Force into any House, Shop or Place, with an Intent to cut or destroy any Framework Knitted Pieces, Stocking or Lace, or other Articles or Goods, being in the Frame or upon any Machine or Engine thereto annexed, or therewith to be used or prepared for that purpose, or with an Intent to break or destroy any Frame, Machine, Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil, used in and for the working and making of any such Framework Knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace or other Articles or Goods in the Hosiery or Framework Knitted Manufactory, or shall wilfully or maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, destroy or cut with an Intent to destroy or render useless any Framework Knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace or other Articles or Goods, being in the Frame or upon any Machine or Engine as aforesaid, or prepared for that Purpose, or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, break, destroy or damage with an Intent to destroy or render useless, any Frame, Machine, Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil, used in and for the working and making of any such Framework Knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace or other Articles or Goods in the Hosiery or Framework Knitted Stocking, or Framework Lace Manufactory; or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, break or destroy any Machinery contained in any Mill or Mills used or any way employed in preparing or Spinning of Wool or Cotton, or Other Materials for the Use of the Stocking or Lace Manufactory; every Offender being thereof lawfully convicted shall be adjudged guilty of Felony, and shall be transported for Life, or for such Term of Years not less than Seven Years, as the Judge before whom such Offender shall be tried in his Discretion shall adjudge and direct.

III. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be altered, amended or repealed by any Act or Acts to be passed in this Session of Parliament.

54. Geo. 3. Cap. 42

3rd August 1812: General Maitland shares concerns about the Peace Preservation Act with the Home Office

Manchester
3rd August
1812

My dear Sir

I received your letter of the 1st Inst. last night.

I have this moment seen all the Magistrates in this Neighbourhood on the Subject of the propriety of carrying into immediate and general effect, the Provisions of the 2nd Clause of the Peace Preservation Bill, and found them extremely disposed to concur in any Measure which they felt themselves authorized to adopt under that Clause.

A general doubt however seems to be entertained, whether in carrying it into legal effect, it would not be necessary to mention in the Body of the Warrant, either the Name, on Names of the Person, or Persons, or to particularize the House or Houses, and should this prove to be the real construction to be given to this Clause it naturally follows that in the Populous part of this Country it will be totally impossible to adopt any general Measure on the Subject and must be necessarily left to be executed as the discretion of Magistrates may [see] occasion

You will therefore under the circumstances oblige me, if you will send down with the shortest possible delay, their Opinion of the Crown Lawyers to the following Question.

Is it necessary that a Warrant under the 2nd Clause should state the Houses or Persons or is it to be understood that a more general Warrant, stating, say a Village, or a Township, may be legal under this Clause.

In stating this Case it may be necessary to add that no Measure will be adopted till the Answer arrives, and that the Magistrates are extremely anxious to carry the Provisions of the Bill into the fullest extent.

I am [etc]
T Maitland
John Beckett Esqr.
&c &c &c

27th July 1812: The Peace Preservation Bill becomes Law

On Monday 27th July 1812, the Peace Preservation Bill was read for the third time in the House of Lords. The Bill, the contents of which had been publicly advertised in the Northern Counties some days before (almost certainly at the behest of General Maitland), would become law 2 days later when Parliament was prorogued. Amongst other provisions, it gave magistrates wide powers to confiscate arms, prohibited drilling and made acting as a delegate between workers organisations in different areas a felony.

The legislation was, however, a temporary measure, and it expired on the 25th March 1813.

18th July 1812: The draft Preservation of Public Peace Bill is published

THE DISTURBED COUNTIES,

The Bill for giving additional powers to the Justices has just been printed.—The following is the substance of it:—

The Preamble states—Whereas arms have some time past been industriously collected by evil disposed Persons, for purposes dangerous to the public peace, and have been also by violence taken by night from the houses of Persons unable to resist such violence.

And whereas illegal Associations have been formed in several Counties of the sanction of unlawful Oaths, and which are connected with each other by Delegates from different parts; numerous Outrages have been committed by Persons so associated, and by other evil disposed Persons who assemble to destroy Manufactories and Machinery.

And whereas Meetings are held, as well by night as by day, by such Persons, for the purpose of training and learning the use of arms, in order to enable them more effectually to execute their evil purposes.

And whereas such practices endanger the public peace and security; and it is therefore necessary to empower Magistrates, and others acting by their authority in protection of the public peace, upon suspicion, to search for and seize all stolen, or secreted and concealed arms, and weapons, and ammunition and to receive for safe custody arms and weapons and ammunition belonging to Persons unable to resist such a unlawful outrages as aforesaid, and also to authorize the dispersing of all such unlawful Assemblies and Meetings, and apprehending of Persons engaged therein, or aiding and assisting thereat, or acting as Delegates of or in conjunction with such Associations, or engaging in inviting Persons to join in such illegal practices.

1. The first Clause enacts, that arms collected for purposes dangerous to the public peace, may be search for and seized.

2. The second Clause enacts, that arms not secure from unlawful seizure may be demanded by warrant of Justices, and lodged in places of security. If they are refused, Justices may enter by force in the day time any place where such arms may be.

3. The third Clause enacts, that the party may appeal to Special or Quarter Sessions, if the Justices upon whose warrant the same shall have been taken, shall, upon application, refuse to restore the same. The Justices, at such Special or Quarter Sessions, shall make such order for the restitution or safe custody of such arms, as upon such application shall appear to them to be proper, which order shall be final and conclusive. Sessions to be held every three weeks, for deciding claims as to arms.

4. The fourth Clause enacts, a registry of arms to be kept, and copies thereof made for Lieutenancy and Quarter Sessions.

5. The fifth Clause enacts, that a Meeting of Lieutenancy, or, if no such Meeting, or Quarter Session, may determine how arms, &c. may be disposed of.

6. The sixth Clause enacts that all assemblies of Persons meeting to be trained or drilled, or for the purpose of being arrayed in bodies or learning the use of arms without lawful authority, and all assemblies for the purpose of taking of arms or secreting them, or for the unlawful destruction of houses, machinery, &c. and all assemblies associated or communicating together by delegates for the purpose of raising any sum of money by voluntary contributions among themselves or from others, for the purpose of aiding and abetting any such unlawful purposes, shall be prohibited as dangerous to the public peace. And every person present at, or aiding any such assembly, or acting as Secretary or Delegate, or who shall be employed in collecting, receiving or disbursing any such sums of money, shall upon being convicted therof be deemed guilty of (The rest will be filled up with the word felony.)

7. The seventh Clause enacts, that Persons assembled in danger of the public peace, may be dispersed; and those found carry Arms under suspicious circumstances, may be detained and required to give Bail, and prosecuted for a (The rest will be filled up with the word misdemeanour.)

8. The eighth Clause enacts, that Justices may, upon information from both, commit Delegates, &c. and seize Books, unless such Persons can give sufficient bail to the satisfaction of the Justices for his appearance to answer any indictment

9. The ninth Clause enacts that Persons committed under this Act to plead, and proceed to trial upon the indictment being found, or if trial postponed, to remain in custody, unless bailed by Court.

10. The tenth Clause enacts, the Justices or Peace Officers acting under any warrant of any Justice may disperse any assembly, which such Justice may suspect to be assembled for unlawful purposes. And if such persons shall not satisfy the Justice that they are lawfully assembled, and shall be ordered to disperse, and shall not agree to such order to disperse, such assembly to be deemed an unlawful assembly under the Act, and the Person renewing them after such order may be arrested and detained, and dealt with under the provisions of the Act.

11. The 11th Clause and acts, that Justices of detached and adjoining Counties to have concurrent jurisdiction in such counties.

Provided also, That nothing in this Act contained shall extend to prevent any prosecution by indictment or otherwise anything which shall be an offence within the intent and meaning of this Act, and which might have been so prosecuted if this Act had not been made, unless the offender shall have been prosecuted for such offence under this Act, and convicted or acquitted of such offence; save only that no person shall be prosecuted under the provisions of this Act, for having been before the passing of this Act a Member of any Assembly or Association by this Act declared to be unlawful, if such person shall not in any manner have acted the provisions of this Act,

Persons in custody or on bail at passing this Act, still liable to prosecution.

12. The 12th Clause enacts a penalty for permitting unlawful meetings.

13. The 13th Clause enacts, that Justices on Oath of an unlawful Meeting being held, may declare the Licence of the House forfeited.

14. The 14th Clause enacts, that the Act shall extend to certain Counties and others by Proclamation.

9th July 1812: The Unlawful Oaths Act becomes law

An Act to render more effectual an Act, passed in the Thirty-seventh Year of His present Majesty, for preventing the administering or taking Unlawful Oaths. [9th July 1812.]

WHEREAS an Act passed in the Thirty-seventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, instituted An Act for more effectually preventing the administering or taking of Unlawful Oaths: And whereas it is expedient that more effectual Provisions should be made as to certain Oaths; be it therefore 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 every Person who shall in any Manner or Form whatever, administer or cause to be administered, or be aiding or assisting at the administering of any Oath or Engagement, purporting or intending to bind the Person taking the same to commit any Treason or Murder, or any Felony, punishable by Law with Death, shall, on Conviction thereof by due Course of Law, be adjudged guilty of Felony, and suffer Death as a Felon without Benefit of Clergy; and every Person who shall take any such Oath or Engagement, not be compelled thereto, shall, on Conviction thereof by due Course of Law, be adjudged guilty of Felony, and shall be transported as a Felon for the Term of his natural Life, or for such Term of Years as the Court before which said Offender or Offenders shall be tried shall adjudge.

II. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That Compulsion shall not justify or excuse any Person taking such Oath or Engagement, unless he or she shall, within Fourteen Days after the taking thereof, if not prevented by actual Force or Sickness, and then within Fourteen Days after the Hindrance produced by such Force or Sickness shall cease, declare the same, together with the Whole of what he or she shall know touching the same, and the Person or Persons by whom, and in whose Presence, and when and where such Oath or Engagement was administered, or taken, by Information on Oath before One of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace, or One of His Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State, or His Majesty's Privy Council; or in case the Person taking such Oath or Engagement shall be in actual Service in his Majesty's Forces by Sea or Land, then by such Information on Oath as aforesaid, or by Information to his Commanding Officer.

III. Provided also, and be it further enacted, That every Person who before he shall be charged with any Offence under the said recited Act or this Act, in taking any Oath or Engagement described in the said recited Act or this Act, shall, within Three Months after the passing of this Act, appear before some Justice of the Peace or Magistrate, and declare the same, and the Oath or Engagement so taken, and when and where the same was taken, and in what Manner, and who shall at the same Time take before such Justice of the Peace or Magistrate, the Oath of Allegiance to His Majesty, shall be and is hereby indemnified against any Prosecution of any Offence under the said recited Act or this Act; and no Confession so made by any such Person shall be given in Evidence against the Person making the same in any Court or in any Case whatever.

IV. And be it further enacted, that Persons aiding and assisting at the administering of such Oath or Engagement as aforesaid, and Persons causing any such Oath or Engagement to be administered, though not present at the administering thereof, shall be deemed Principal Offenders, and shall be tried as such, and on Conviction thereof by due Course of Law, shall be adjudged guilty of Felony, and shall suffer Death as Felons, without Benefit of Clergy, although the Persons or Persons who actually administered such Oath or Engagement, if any such there shall be, shall not have been tried or convicted.

V. And be it further enacted, That it shall not be necessary in Any Indictment against any Person or Persons administering or causing to be administered or taken, or taking any such Oath or Engagement as aforesaid, or aiding or assisting at, or present at and consenting to the administering or taking thereof, to set forth the Words of such Oath or Engagement, and that it shall be sufficient to set forth the Purport of such Oath or Engagement, or some material Part thereof.

VI. Provided always, be it further enacted, That any Engagement or Obligation whatsoever, in the Nature of an Oath, purporting or intending to bind the Person taking the same to commit any Treason or Murder, or any Felony punishable by Law with Death, shall be deemed an Oath within the Intent and Meaning of this Act, in whatever Form or Manner the same shall be administered or taken, and whether the same shall be actually administered by any Person or Persons to any other Person or Persons, or taken by any other Persons or Persons without any Administration thereof by any other Person or Persons.

VII. Provided also, and be it further enacted, That any Offence committed against this Act, on the High Seas or out of this Realm, or within that Part of Great Britain called England, shall and may be prosecuted, tried and determined before any Court of Oyer and Terminer or Gaol Delivery, for any County, in that Part of Great Britain called England, in such Manner and Form as if such Offence had been therein committed; and if committed in that Part of Great Britain called Scotland, shall and may be prosecuted, tried and determined, either before the Judiciary Court at Edinburgh, or in any of the Circuit Courts in that Part of the United Kingdom.

VIII. Provided also, and it is hereby declared, That any Person who shall be tried and acquitted or convicted of any Offence against this Act, shall not be liable to be indicted, prosecuted tried again for the same Offence or Fact, as High Treason or Misprision of High Treason; and that nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to extend to prohibit any Person guilty of any Offence against this Act, and who shall not be tried at the same as an Offence against this Act, from being tried for the same as High Treason on Misprision of High Treason, in such Manner as if this Act had not been made.

20th March 1812: The 1812 Frame-Breaking Act

An Act for the more exemplary Punishment of Persons destroying or injuring any Stocking or Lace Frames, or other Machines or Engines used in the Framework knitted Manufactory, or any Articles or Goods in such Frames or Machines; to continue in force until the First Day of March One thousand eight hundred and fourteen. [20th March 1812.]

WHEREAS the Provisions of an Act of the Twenty eighth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled An Act for the better and more effectual Protection of Stocking Frames and the Machines or Engines annexed thereto or used therewith, and for the Punishment of Persons destroying or injuring of such Stocking Frames, Machines or Engines, and the Framework knitted Pieces, Stockings, and other Articles and Goods used and made in the Hosiery or Framework knitted Manufactory, or breaking or destroying any Machinery contained in any Mill or Mills used or in any way employed in preparing or Spinning of Wool or Cotton for the Use of the Stocking Frame, have been found ineffectual: And whereas such Outrages have for some time past been carried on to an alarming Extent; it is therefore necessary that more effectual Provisions should be made against such unlawful Practices, and for preventing such Outrages, and bringing Offenders therein to exemplary Justice; and that such Provisions should be extended to the Frame-work Lace Manufactory, against which similar Outrages have been committed: May it therefore please Your Majesty 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 if any Person or Persons shall, by Day or by Night, enter by Force into any House, Shop or Place, with an Intent to cut or destroy any Framework knitted Pieces, Stockings or Lace, or other Articles or Goods being in the Frame, or upon any Machine or Engine thereto annexed, or therewith to be used or prepared for that Purpose; or with an Intent to break or destroy any Frame, Machine, Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil, used in and for the working and making of any such Framework knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace, or other Articles or Goods in the Hosiery or Framework knitted Manufactory; or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, destroy, or cut with an Intent to destroy or render useless, any Framework knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace, or other Articles or Goods being in the Frame, or upon any Machine or Engine as aforesaid, or prepared for that Purpose; or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, break, destroy or damage with an Intent to destroy or render useless any Frame, Machine, Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil used in and for the working and making of any such Framework knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace, or other Articles or Goods in the Hosiery or Framework knitted Stocking, or Framework Lace Manufactory; or shall wilfully and maliciously, and without having the Consent or Authority of the Owner, break or destroy any Machinery contained in any Mill or Mills used or any way employed in preparing or spinning of Wool or Cotton, or other Materials for the Use of the Stocking or Lace Manufactory, every Offender being thereof lawfully convicted shall be adjudged guilty of Felony, and shall suffer Death, as in cases of Felony without Benefit of Clergy.

II. And be it further enacted, That every Person in whose House or Custody or Possession any Frame, Machine or Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil, used in and for the working and making of any Framework knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace, or other Articles or Goods in the Hosiery or Framework knitted Stocking, or Framework Lace Manufactory as aforesaid (not being his or her Property) shall be at the time of the Destruction or damaging thereof, or of any Framework knitted Pieces, Stockings, Lace, or other Articles or Goods, being in the Frame, or upon any Machine or Engine as aforesaid, and who shall not, within Twenty four Hours after he or she shall have known of such Destruction or Damage being committed as aforesaid, give Notice thereof to the Owner of such Frame, Machine or Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil, as aforesaid, if residing within Twelve Miles, or if such Owner shall not reside within such Distance, then to some known Agent of such Owner, if any such Agent shall reside within the Distance of Twelve Miles; and also within Forty eight Hours, go before some Justice of the Peace or Magistrate residing near the Place where such Destruction or Damage shall have taken place as aforesaid, to be examined upon Oath, as to every Matter or Thing relating to the committing of such Destruction and Damage, and his Knowledge thereof, and of all Particulars relating thereto, which may lead to the Discovery of the Offender therein, every such Person shall for every such Neglect, be deemed guilty of a Misdemeanor; and every such Offender, being thereof lawfully convicted upon any Indictment or Information, may be punished as in Cases of Misdemeanor, by Fine and Imprisonment, at the Discretion of the Court in which he shall be convicted; and every Justice of the Peace or Magistrate before whom any such Person shall so go, shall examine such Person upon Oath (which Oath every such Justice of the Peace or Magistrate is hereby authorized to administer) as to his Knowledge of such Damage or Destruction, and of the Persons committing the same, or of any Particulars which may lead to the Detection of the Offenders therein; and shall also allow the Owner of the Frame, Machine or Engine, Tool, Instrument or Utensil, as aforesaid, or Agent if present, to put any Question upon Oath to such Person for the Discovery of the Offender; and if such Owner or Agent shall not have had sufficient Notice to be present when such Person came before the Justice or Magistrate for Examination as aforesaid, such Justice of the Peace or Magistrate shall, if required by the Owner or Agent aforesaid, or if such Justice of the Peace or Magistrate shall deem it necessary, although no such Requisition shall be made, again call such Person before him for Examination by the Owner or Agent aforesaid; and every such Person who shall neglect or refuse (upon being summoned) to appear again before such Justice of the Peace or Magistrate, and be again examined as aforesaid, shall be deemed guilty of a Misdemeanor, and punished as in cafes of Misdemeanors, at the Discretion of the Court in which he or she shall be convicted.

III. And be it further enacted, That if any Person examined by or before any Justice of the Peace or Magistrate under this Act as aforesaid, shall wilfully or corruptly swear any Matter or Thing which shall be false or untrue; or if any Person shall suborn or procure any Person to commit Perjury in any such Examination, every such Person so offending, and being, thereof duly convicted, shall be and is hereby declared to be subject and liable to the like Pains and Penalties as are by Law inflicted upon Persons committing Perjury, or guilty of Subornation of Perjury.

IV. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be altered, amended or repealed, by any Act or Acts to be passed in this Session of Parliament.

V. And be it further enacted, That this Act shall remain and continue in force until the First Day of March Oue thousand eight hundred and fourteen, and no longer.

52. Geo. 3. cap. 16.