Hall marks on gold & silver plate

CRIMINAL LAW CONSOLIDATION. 105
rants to search for forged or comiterfeit dies and false or illegal
wares; and every such die and ware may be seized, but not any wares
which by existing laws are not required to be marked, nor any of the
wares following, viz. : Watch rings, watch keys, watch hooks, ear-
rings, necklaces, eye-glasses, spectacles of gold, shirt -pins or studs,
bracelets, head ornaments, waist bitckles.
By Sect. 12, the disposal of false dies and wares seized is provided
for.
Sect. 1 3 regulates the proceedings in actions and prosecutions
against any person acting in pursuance or under the authority of
this Act.
Sect. 14 defines the meaning and interpretation of the words and
terms used in the Act.
Sect. 15 provides that after October i, 1844, gold ivares of the
standard of tiventy-two carats of fine gold in every pound troy shall
be marked with a crown and the figure 22, instead of the lion passant,
by the Goldsmiths' Companies in the Cities of London, York,
Exeter, Bristol, Chester and Norwich and the towns of Newcastleupon-Tyne
and Birmingham.
Sect. 16 extends the powers, penalties and provisions concerning
the lion passant to the mark directed to be used instead thereof, by
this Act.
Sect. 17 declares that this Act shall not extend to Scotland or
Ireland.
Sect. 18 declares that it shall come into operation on October i,
1844.
Sect. 19 declares that it may be amended or repealed in the
then present session. Sections i, 13, 18 and 19 REPEALED, Sections
5 and 10 Repealed in part, and Section 10 Amended.
It will be observed that throughout this Act the word "dealer"
has been substituted for "
maker," as in former Acts, which enables
the Goldsmiths' Company to sue any person who deals in plate, or
has any ware of base gold, silver, or other metal, in his possession,
having any forged or counterfeit mark, without lawful excuse (the
proof of which lies with the dealer).
The interpretation clause defines a dealer to be "one who deals
in gold or silver wares, including every goldsmith and silversmith,
and every worker, maker, and manufacturer of and trader and dealer
in gold and silver wares, or shall sell such wares."
This is the most recent statute, and must be taken as the guide
and authority in all cases of forgery of the dies and <strong>marks</strong> used at
the Assay Offices, and penalties for selling spurious plate, or having
any such in possession, etc.
A.D. 1849 12 & 13 Victoria, c. 80. This Statute repeals the
Act of 44 George III, c. 98, and enacts that for receiving the duty in
respect of gold or silver plate wrought in Great Britain or Ireland
out the account the sum of 1
paying in the same and making
should be allowed for every 100 so received and so in proportion.