Adulteration of Coffee Act 1718
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1718 c. 11 |
| Year | 1718 |
(5 Geo. 1) C A P. XI. Anno Regni GEORGII Regis Magn Britanni, Franci &Hiberni, quarto.
An Act against clandestine Running of uncustomed Goods, and for the more effectual preventing of Frauds relating to the Customs.
'I. WH E R E A S the Lawsalready made for preventing the unlawful importing and clandestine running and landing of customable and prohibited Goods and Merchandizes, have by Experiencebeen found to be ineffectual to prevent such illegal Practices, whereby his Majestyis greatly defrauded of and in his Duties, and fair Traders, who duly pay Duties, are very much discouraged and injured in their Trades: And whereas for the better carrying on such private and clandestine Trade, divers small Vessels, under the Burthen of fifteen Tons, are generally employed in the undue importing, running and landing foreign Brandy, Strong-waters and Spirits, contrary to the Laws already made and in Force: ForRemedy whereof, Be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consentof the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, That if any foreign Brandy, Arrack, Rum, Strong-waters or Spirits of any Kind whatsoever, shall from and after the five and twentieth Day ofMarch one thousand seven hundred and nineteen be imported or brought into Great Britain , or into any Port, Harbour, Haven or Creek thereof, in any Ship, Vessel or Boat, under the Burthen of fifteen Tons (except only for the Use of the Seamen then belonging to and on board such Ship, Vessel or Boat, not exceeding one Gallon for each Seaman) every such Ship, Vessel or Boat, with all her Tackle, Furniture and Apparel, or the Value thereof, shall be forfeited, and shall and may be seised by any Officer or Officers of the Customs, and shall and may be proceeded against and recovered in the Manner herein after mentioned; and after the Seizure and Condemnationof such Ship, Vessel or Boat, the principal Officers of his Majesty's Customs in the Port or Place where the same shall be at the Time of Condemnation, are hereby directed to cause such Ship, Vessel or Boat, to be entirely broke up, and the Materials to be publickly sold to the best Advantage, together with the Tackle, Furniture and Apparel thereunto belonging, the Produce whereof to be divided as herein after mentioned.
II After 29 Sept. 1719, Rum imported in Casks under 20 Gallons, forfeited. For the Continuance of this Clause, see 9 Geo. 1. c. 8. sect. 8. & 2 Geo. 2. c. 28. sect. 3.
'II. And whereas Rum is now imported in much greater Proportions than formerly: And whereas the importing thereof in small Casks or Vessels is many times done with Design that the same may more easily, privately, and clandestinely be carried off and conveyed without paying the Duties:' For Remedy whereof, Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if after the twenty-ninth Day ofSeptember one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, any Rum shall be imported or brought into Great Britain , or into any Port, Harbour, Haven or Creek thereof, in any Cask or Vessel, not containing twenty Gallons at the least (excepting only for the Use of the Seamen then belonging to and on board such Ship or Vessel) all such Rum, or the Value thereof, shall be forfeited; nevertheless if it shall be made appear, to the Satisfaction of the principal Officers of the Customs at the Port of Importation, that such Rum so imported in small Casks, was for the Use of the Master or Seamen belonging to the Ship or Vessel in the Voyage, or imported by Merchants or Traders, without Fraud or Concealment, that then and in every such Case the said Officers are hereby impowered and directed to admit such Rum to an Entry, and cause the Duties thereof to be accepted, instead of the Forfeiture thereof before-mentioned; any Thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
III After 25 March 1719, Foreign Goods taken in at Sea by any Collier, &c. to be landed or put on board any other Vessel without Payment of the Duties, forfeited.
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That in case any foreign Goods, Wares or Merchandizes, shall after the five and twentieth Day ofMarch one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, by any Collier, Fisher-boat, or other coasting Vessel or Boat, be taken in at Sea, or out of any Ship or Vessel whatsoever, in order to be landed or put into any other Ship, Vessel or Boat, within the Limits of any Port, without Payment of the Customs and other Duties due and payable for the same, such Goods, Wares and Merchandizes shall be forfeited, and the Master of such Collier, Fisher-boat, or other coasting Vessel or Boat, shall forfeit treble the Value of such Goods, unless in case of Necessity, which such Master shall immediately give Notice of, and make Proof before the chief Officers of the Customs of the first Port of this Kingdom where he shall arrive; and the Master, Purser, or other Person taking charge of the Ship or Vessel, out of which such Goods shall be taken in at Sea, unless in case of Necessity, as aforesaid, shall forfeit treble the Value of such Goods so unshipt; one Moiety of which Forfeiture to be for the Use of his Majesty, his Heirs and Successors, and the other Moiety to him, her or them who will inform or sue for the same, and shall and may be recovered in like Manner as is herein after mentioned.
IV Goods not reported, and found after clearing the Ship, forfeited. For the Continuance of this Clause, see 9 Geo. 1. c. 8. sect. 8. & 2 Geo. 2. c. 28. sect. 3.
'IV. And whereas in Ships from foreign Parts, Goods are often found at clearing such Ships concealed in false Bulk-heads between the Linings and false Knees, or in concealed Lockers, in order to their being landed without Payment of Duties, so that' tis almost impossible for Officers of the Customs to discover 'them without having some previous Information:' For Prevention of which fraudulent Practices, Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That from and after the five and twentieth Day ofMarch one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, all Goods not reported, and found after the clearing the Ship by the proper Officer or Officers of the Customs, shall be liable to Forfeiture, and such Goods shall and may be seized and prosecuted in the Manner herein after mentioned; any Law or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.
V Ann. c. 26.
'V. And whereas by an Act made in the tenth Year of the late Queen's Reign, for laying additional Duties on Hides and Skins, Vellum and Parchment, and new Duties on Starch, Coffee, Tea, Drugs, and other Things, Certificates for the discharge of Bonds given at the Custom-house upon the Exportation of Coffee or Tea, that the same shall not be relanded in any Part ofGreat Britain , are to be under the Common Seal of the chief Magistrate in such Place or Places in Parts beyond the Seas, or under the Hands and Seals of two known British Merchants then being at such Places or Places, That such Coffee, Tea or Drugs was there landed; which Provision is found in sufficient for the Security of the Revenue of Customs against any secret relanding such Coffee, Tea or Drugs, in some Part of this Kingdom: And in regard a better Provision may be made with respect to such Goods exported to Ireland , as is made in the Case of Tobacco, by an Act made in the eighth Year of her said late Majesty's Reign: Be it therefore enacted by the Authorityaforesaid, That from and after the first Day ofMay one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, no such Bond given for the Exportation of Coffee, Tea, or other Certificate Goods exported to Ireland , shall be delivered up, or any Drawback allowed for any Goods entitled thereto, until a Certificate shall be produced under the Hands and Seals of the Collector, Controller and Surveyor of the Customs of some Port in Ireland , or any two of them, where such Goods shall be landed, testifying the landing thereof; and for the future the Condition of all such Bonds, required by Law to be given for the Exportation of any of the said Goods to Ireland , shall be, to produce such Certificate in six Months from the Date thereof (the Danger of the Seas and Enemies excepted;) and in case no such Certificate shall be produced within the said Time of six Months, it shall and may be lawful for the Commissioners of the Customs in England or Scotland respectively to cause such Bonds to be put in Suit, unless they shall find sufficient Cause to forbear the same; any Law, Custom or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding.
VI After 25 March 1719, Goods prohibited to be worn here, and foreign Goods, relanded, forfeited.
'VI. And whereas the Remedies already provided by Law, to prevent the relanding Goods prohibited to be worn in this Kingdom, and foreign Goods shipped out far Parts beyond the Seas, have not been sufficient to put a Stop to the fraudulent relanding such Goods, to the Prejudice of the Revenue and the fair Traders;' Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That from and after the five and twentieth Day ofMarch one thousand seven hundred and nineteen, if any such Goods shall be unshipped, or put on Shore (unless in care of Distress to save the Ship from perishing, or in the Presence of an Officer of the Customs) the said Goods shall be forfeited; and if the Master, Purser, or...
To continue reading
Request your trial