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making more effectual the laws appointing the oaths "for security of the Government, to be taken by mi"nisters and preachers in churches and meeting-houses "in Scotland."

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In the statute 48. of Geo. III. cap. 50. § 4, which restrains the crown generally from granting the reversion of offices, there is the following exception: "That nothing in this act shall be construed to extend to prohibit the appointment of assistants and successors "to the parochial clergy of Scotland." This right is frequently exercised by patrons.

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Erskine, I. 5. 9.-Connell on Tithes, II. 190."

DECISIONS.

Grant, 7. Feb. 1788, Morr. 9945.-Tait, 22. Jan. 1778, affirmed on appeal, ib. 9938.

PAWNBROKERS.

There were several temporary statutes relative to the trade of pawnbrokers, of which it will be sufficient to mention the dates: they are all superseded by a long enactment, which must be quoted verbatim.

The act 30. of Geo. II. cap. 24, "for preventing "the unlawful pawning of goods, and the more easy "redemption of goods pawned."

The act 24. of Geo. III. cap. 42, (2d session,) was passed to explain, amend, and render more effectual the preceding act. This act was again continued for a limited time, by 26. of Geo. III. cap. 92.

The act 27. of Geo. III. cap. 37, "for further regulating the trade and business of pawnbrokers," was limited to one year; but repeated in part, and continued for another year, by 28. of Geo. III. cap. 50.

For the same purpose, the act 29. of Geo. III. cap. 57, was passed; continued for a year by 31. of Geo. III. cap. 52; and amended, and in part repealed, by 33. of Geo. III. cap. 53.

There was also another temporary act, 36. Geo. III. cap. 87.

And, lastly, the act 39. and 40. of Geo. III. cap. 99, by which this trade is now regulated. It is in the following terms:

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"Whereas, an act was passed in the 36th year of the "reign of his present Majesty, intituled, An act for regu"lating the trade or business of pawnbrokers, which was to "be in force for three years, and from thence until the end "of the then next session of Parliament, and no longer; "and whereas it is expedient that provision should be made "for more effectually regulating the trade or business of pawnbrokers, from the time when the said act will expire;" May it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted, That the said act passed in the 36th year of the reign of his present Majesty, for regulating the trade or business of pawnbrokers, shall be, and the same is hereby declared to be in full force and effect until the expiration of the present session of Parliament, and from and after such expiration this act shall commence and take effect, and be put in execution, instead of the said recited act.

II. And be it further enacted, That upon and from the commencement of this act, it shall be lawful for all persons using and exercising the trade or business of a pawnbroker to demand, receive, and take of and from all and every person and persons applying or offering to redeem any goods

or chattels pawned or pledged with such pawnbroker, a profit, after the following rates, over and above the principal sum and sums which shall have been lent and advanced upon the respective pledge or pledges, before any such pawnbroker shall be obliged to re-deliver the same (videlicet.)

For every pledge upon which there shall have been lent any sum not exceeding two shillings and sixpence, the sum of one halfpenny for any time during which the said pledge shall remain in pawn not exceeding one calendar month, and the same for every calendar month afterwards, including the cnrrent month in which such pledge shall be redeemed, although such month shall not be expired; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent the sum of five shillings, one penny; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent seven shillings and sixpence, one penny halfpenny; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent ten shillings, two pence; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent twelve shillings, twopence halfpenny; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent fifteen shillings, threepence; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent seventeen shillings and sixpence, threepence halfpenny; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent one pound, fourpence, and so on progressively, and in proportion for any sum not exceeding forty shillings; for every pledge upon which there shall have been lentforty-two shillings, eightpence; and for every pledge upon which there shall have been lent any sum exceeding forty-two shillings, and not exceeding ten pounds, at and after the rate of threepence, and no more, for the loan of every twenty shillings, for all such money so lent by the calendar month, including the current month, and so in proportion for any fractional sum; which said several sums shall be taken in lieu of, and as a full satisfaction for all interest due, and charges for warehouse room.

III. And be it further enacted, That in all cases where

any intermediate sum lent upon any pawn or pledge shal exceed the sum of two shillings and sixpence, and not exceed the sum of forty shillings, the person lending the same shall and may take by way of profit as aforesaid, at and after the rate of fourpence, and no more, for the loan of twenty shillings by the calendar month, including the current month as aforesaid.

IV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That in all cases where the sum to be demanded, received, and taken in by any pawnbroker or pawnbrokers, his, her, or their servant, or agent of and from any person or persons applying or offering to redeem any goods or chattels pawned or pledged with such pawnbroker or pawnbrokers, either as profit upon any sum lent, or as part principal and part profit, shall amount to a total sum, of which the piece of money of the lowest denomination shall be one farthing; and where the person or persons so applying or offering to redeem such goods or chattels shall have paid down the sum due for such principal and profit, or for such profit only, (as the case may be,) except the last remaining farthing, and shall not be able to produce and pay to such pawnbroker or pawnbrokers, his, her, or their servant or agent, a current farthing, and which shall be to the satisfaction and liking of such person or persons to receive the same, but shall in lieu thereof tender to such person or persons to receive the same one halfpenny, in order to discharge the said remaining farthing so due as aforesaid, the said pawnbroker or pawnbrokers, his, her, or their servant or agent to whom such tender of a halfpenny for such purpose as aforesaid shall be made, shall, in exchange thereof, deliver unto such person or persons so redeeming goods as aforesaid, one good and lawful farthing of the current coin of this kingdom, or in default thereof, shall wholly abate the said remaining farthing from the total sum to be received by him or them of such person or persons so redeeming goods or chattels as aforesaid.

V. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That in all cases where the party or parties entitled to and applying for the redemption of goods pawned, within the space of seven days after the expiration of the first calendar month, after the same shall have been pledged, he, she, or they, shall and may be at liberty to redeem the same without paying any thing by way of profit to the pawnbroker for the said seven days, or such part thereof as shall then have elapsed; and that in all cases where the party or parties so entitled, and applying as aforesaid, after the expiration of the said first seven days, and before the expiration of the first fourteen days of the second calendar month, he, she, or they, shall and may be at liberty to redeem such goods, upon paying the profit payable for one calendar month, and the half of another calendar month, to the pawnbroker; but that in all cases where the party or parties so entitled and applying as aforesaid after the expiration of the said first fourteen days, and before the expiration of the said second calendar month, it shall be lawful for the pawnbroker to demand and take the profit of the whole second month; and that the like regulation and restriction shall take place and be in force in every subsequent calendar month wherein application shall be made for redeeming goods pawned.

VI. And be it further enacted, That all and every person and persons who, from and after the commencement of this act, shall take by way of pawn or pledge of or from any person or persons whomsoever, any goods or chattels, of what kind soever the same shall be, and whereon shall be lent any sum of money exceeding five shillings, shall forthwith, and before he, she, or they, shall or may advance or lend any money upon such pawn or pledge, enter or cause to be entered, in a fair and regular manner, in a book or books to be kept by him, her, or them, for that purpose, a description of the goods or chattels which he, she, or they, shall receive in pawn, pledge, or exchange, and also the sum of money to

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