Hall marks on gold & silver plate

OLD STANDARD SILVER REVIVED. 91
workman's mark, the warden's mark, a lion passant, and a leopard's
head. And that it shall not be lawful to make silver plate of a
coarser allay, under the penalties by any of the laws in being con-
cerning wrought plate. REPEALED, except Sections i, 2, 3 and 41.
The contemplated alteration of the standard, in 1719, from the
new one of ii ounces 10 pennyweights to the old one of 11 ounces
2 pennyweights was not generally approved of by the goldsmiths;
for although the quality of the silver was reduced, yet the price
was raised to the public by reason of the additional duty of sixpence
per ounce. The goldsmiths therefore memorialised the House of
Commons, as shown in the following case.
It was probably in consideration of their alleged grievances
that Sect. 41 was added to the Bill, giving the workers an opportunity
of choosing the new or old standard; but they do not appear
to have availed themselves of adhering to the new standard to any
great extent after 1720.
"Case of the Workng Goldsmiths. In relation to a Bill
row depending in the Honourable House of Commons for reducing"
the standard of wrought silver plate and laying a duty thereon.
"
1st. It must be acknowledged by all who are workers of silver
plate that the new standard of 11 ounces 10 pennyweights is of much
finer colour and better adapted for curious work than the old standard
of 1 1 ounces 2 pennyweights, which will not stand the fire to
receive proper ornaments. So that foreign courts (where a coarser
allay is used) give frequent commissions for their most valuable
plate to be made in London, to the great profit of this kingdom. But
should the standard be altered, as by the Bill is intended, it would
be impossible for the finest artist to finish so compleat a work in
silver of the old standard as it is now performed in the new standard.
Besides that, there are some instances where plate of the old
standard will require more silver than the same piece of plate were
it made of the new standard.
" 2nd. That the laying a duty will ruin the goldsmiths' trade
is apparent; for where a duty is laid on any manufacture, the consumption
of which is not absolutely necessary, the consequence must
be the sinking or destroying that trade, because every person is at
liberty to use or refuse it. And if 6d. per oz. be laid on plate, the
manufacturer must, for all weighty plate, pay as much, or more,
than he receives for the fashion (besides the loss to the buyer at
every time of exchanging such plate). And it must further be ob-
served that the old standard, with the duty, will be 3d. per oz.
dearer than the new standard now is; whereby so great decrease will
be made in the trade that not only the duty will fall short of what
is expected from it, but many numerous families will be deprived
of their subsistence.
"
3rd. The liberty of search by officers by night or day objected
to.
"4th. Complains of the delay of getting their work assayed
and marked at Goldsmiths' <strong>Hall</strong>.
"5th. Objects to the duty on small plate such as snuff boxes,