V.-HIGHEST and LOWEST PRICES of the PRINCIPAL Funds from

November 1854 to October 1855.

January · : {

4

7 4

.

February

6

March

9
5

April

10
4

May

15
4

212 92929247 228
2081 914 903 91

222
2151 913 91 924

(224 212 91 903 913 1220 216 94 93 945

7 228
213913 91392

220
212
91 93 917

230
210

87 883 88133 226 2111 913 92 923 316

236 208 874 883 873 33 230

238 2081 911 1921 33 235 215 921 913 923 4

234 2111 903 904 921 4 230 2161 921 911 93 233 214 915 903 923 4 230 2173913 915 923| 41 | 230 216 913 881 921 4 228 209 87 883 883 83 229 207 854 861 863 833 225

June.

21
9

$923

VI.--AVERAGE PRICES of Corn, per IMPERIAL QUARTER, in ENGLAND

and WALES, for one Week in each Month.

PART II.

VII.—THE LEGISLATION, STATISTICS, PUBLIC IMPROVE

MENTS, AND CHRONICLE OF 1855.

ABSTRACT OF IMPORTANT PUBLIC ACTS,
PASSED IN THE THIRD SESSION OF THE SIXTEENTH PARLIAMENT OF

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND.

ENLISTMENT OF FOREIGNERS,

[18 Victoriæ, cap. 2.-December 23, 1854.] An Act to permit Foreigners to be enlisted and to serve as Officers and

Soldiers in her Majesty's Forces. This Act is merely to enable the government to raise a force of foreign soldiers, to be officered and commanded by foreigners, to serve in the war, but not more than ten thousand are to be in the kingdom at any one time. They are to be subject to the mutiny law, and are not to be entitled to half-pay, though provision may be made for such as are wounded. The Act is to continue in force from the time of its passing until one year after the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace with Russia.

FISHERIES (NORTH AMERICA).

[18 Victoriæ, cap. 3.–February 19, 1855.] An Act to carry into effect a Treaty between her Majesty and the

United States of America. The treaty which this Act is to carry into effect grants to the fishermen of the United States, in addition to the right granted by the previous treaty of October 1818, of curing and drying fish on certain coasts of North America, the liberty to take fish of every kind except shell-fish on the sea-coasts and shores, and in the bays and harbours of Canada, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward's Island, and of the several islands, including the Magdalen Islands, adjacent thereto, without being restricted to any distance from the shore, so as not to interfere with the rights of private property ; but the liberty is confined to the sea-fishery, and does not extend to the salmon and shadfishery, or fisheries in rivers or the mouth of rivers, which are confined to British fishermen. The like liberty is granted to British fishermen, with similar reservations, to take fish on the eastern seacoasts and shores of the United States, north of 36° N. lat. Commissioners are mutually appointed to settle any matters of dispute arising from the exercise of these rights. A schedule of articles is given, which, being the produce or growth of either country, are to be admitted duty free. The subjects of the United States are to have the right of navigațing the St. Lawrence and the canals of Canada forming the means of communication between the Great Lakes and the Atlantic Ocean as fully and; freely as the subjects of her Majesty; and British

subjects are to have the liberty of navigating Lake Michigan, both parties retaining the right of suspending the permission on giving notice. A provision is also made for extending the provisions of the treaty, as far as it is applicable, to Newfoundland.

TEA DUTIES.

(18 Victoriæ, cap. 9.—March 16, 1855.] An Act to suspend the Decline of the Customs Duties on Tea, from and

after April 5, 1855. In lieu of the duties made payable on tea by the 16 and 17 Vict., cap. 106, the following are to be levied :

From the passing of this Act until the expiration of twelve months after the date of a definitive treaty of peace with Russia, a duty of Is. Ed. per lb.; from thence until the expiration of the succeeding twelve months, 1s. 3d. per lb.; and afterwards 1s. per lb. ; without any allowance for draft.

COMMONS INCLOSURE.

(18 Victoriæ, cap. 14.-April 26, 1855.] An Act to authorise the Inclosure of certain Lands, in pursuance of a

Report of the Inclosure Commissioners for England and Wales. This is the first general Inclosure Act of the session, and applies to the following twenty places :

Berkshire--The Wash Common. Caermarthenshire-Pendine. Cambridgeshire Westwick. Cheshire-Great Boughton. Cornwall-Engollan Common. Cumberland-Booʻle; Kirkland; Melmerby. Dorsetshire-West Lulworth and Winfrith Newburgh. Esser- Ramsden Bellhouse. Glamorganshire-Penlline and Langan. GloucestershireDymock. Lincolnshire-North Coats. Oxfordshire-Horsepath and Shotover. Suffolk, Thrandeston. Surrey - Barnes. Westmoreland Melburn Fell Pasture. Wiltshire-Bowerchalke. Yorkshire~ Ickley Fell Pasture; Ulleskelf.

INCOME TAX.

[18 Victoriæ, cap. 20.--May 5, 1855.] An Act for granting to her Majesty an increased Rate of Duty on Profits

arising from Property, Professions, Trades, and Offices. This Act is for the levying of an additional 2d. in the pound on all incomes above 150l. per annum, on which the duty is now ls. 4d. in the pound. All abatements and deductions allowed in the previous Acts are proportionally continued in this, and incomes between 1001. and 1501. are to pay illd. in the pound. The Act commenced from April 5, 1855, and is to continue till April 6, after a clear twelvemonth from the ratification of a definitive treaty of peace."

CUSTOMS DUTIES.

(18 Victoriæ, cap. 21.–May 25, 1855.] An Act for granting certain Duties of Customs on Tea, Coffee, Sugar,

and other Articles. From and after April 21, 1855, until April 5 inclusive, after the end of twelve months from the date of a definite treaty of peace with

• per lb.

1

9

0

3

3

5

8

Russia, this Act fixes the customs duties on the following articles, thus:

Until April 5,
Succeeding

Thereafter. after Peace. 12 Months.

£. S. d. £. $. d. £. s. d. Tea

0

As in cap. 9. Coffee lb. 0 0 4

0 Coffee kiln dried, roasted,

Ib. 0 0

0 0 4 0 0 4 Chicory, or other vegetable used as coffee

Ib. 0 0 5 0 0 4 0 0 4 Sugar, viz. : Candy, brown or white refined cwt. 1 0 0 0 16

0 13 White-clayed sugar cwt. 0 17

0 14 7 011 8 Yellow Muscovado and

brown-clayed sugar cwt. 0 15 0 0 12 9 0 10 6 Brown Muscovado

cwt. 0 13 9

0 11 8

9 Molasses cwt. 0 5 4 0 4 6

3 9 Confectionery and preserves Ib. 0 0 2} 0 0 2 0 0 1

On and after April 20, 1855, the following duties of customs or Spirits shall be levied :

Spirits, rum shrub, cordials, and liqueurs of and from s. d.
a British possession in America or the Mauritius, or
a British possession within the limits of the East
India Company's charter, if imported into Scotland

gall. 8
If imported into Ireland

gall. 6 4 Drawbacks are allowed upon sugar in proportion to the increased duty.

6

2

EXCISE DUTIES ON SPIRITS.

[18 Victoriæ, cap. 22.-May 25, 1855.] An Act for granting certain additional Rates and Duties of Excise.

This Act is mainly to impose additional duties according to the following schedules, and imposes certain regulations upon the manufacturers. The Act comes into force on April 21, 1855, and is to continue on sugar until April 15, which shall first happen after the end of twelve months from the date of a definitive treaty of peace with Russia:

Spirits. -Scotland and Ireland. For and upon every gallon of spirits of the strength of hydro- s. d.

meter proof which shall be distilled in Scotland and Ireland respectively, or be in the stock, custody, or possession of any distiller in Scotland or Ireland, or of any person in trust for him. In Scotland, the additional duty of

1 10 In Ireland the additional duty of In the Channel Islands, if imported into Scotland If imported into Ireland

7 2

2

For every gallon thereof removed from Ireland to England or Scotland :Spirit mixtures-ether

4 7 Sweet spirits of nitre ; camphorated spirits; lavender

water and other pertumes, being spirits scented with
essential oils, flowers, or other ingredients; com-
pound spirits of lavender; spirits of rosemary;
spirits of ammonia; sal volatile; friar's balsam;
compound tincture of benzoin; tincture of assafe-
tida; tincture of castor ; tincture of kino; tincture
of guiacum; tincture of myrrh; tincture of ginger;
spirit varnishes and lacquers

9
Other tinctures and medicated spirits

1 10 Made wines Sugar-For and upon all sugar made in the United Kingdom :-

Until April 5,

Succeeding

Thereafter.

after Peace. 12 Months. On candy, brown or white re- £. $. d. £. 8, d. £. S. d.

cwt.
0 0 16

0 13 4 On white-clayed sugar.

cwt. 0 17 6 0 14 7 011 8 On yellow Muscovado and brown-clayed sugar . cwt. 0 15 0 0 12

0 10 On brown Muscovado

0 13 9 0 11 8 0 9 6 On molasses

cwt.

4 0 4 6 0 And for and upon all sugar which shall be used by any brewer of beer for sale in the brewing or making of beer, 3$. 9d.

Drawbacks are allowed in a like proportion.

0 2

.

fined sugar

1

0

8

9

6

cwt.

co o

5

COUNTY ELECTIONS (SCOTLAND).

[18 Victoriæ, cap. 24.- May 25, 1855.] An Act to amend an Act of the 2 and 3 Wm. IV., for amending the

Representation of the People of Scotland, in so far as relates to the Procedure in County Elections in that Country.

By this Act“ each sheriff to whom any writ for the election of a member to serve for any county or combined counties in Scotland (except Orkney and Shetland) shall be directed, under the provisions of an Act passed in the 2 and 3 Wm. IV., intituled • An Act to amend the Representation of the People in Scotland,' shall endorse on the writ the day on which he received it, and shall, within two days thereafter, announce a day for the election, which day shall be not less than six nor more than twelve days in counties or combined counties after the day on which the writ was received, and shall give due intimation thereof, as is provided in the said Act.” Orkney and Shetland remain as they were.

.

NEWSPAPER STAMP DUTIES.

[18 and 19 Victoriæ, cap. 27.- June 15, 1855.] An Act to amend the Laws relating to the Stamp Duties on Newspapers,

and to provide for the Transmission by Post of printed periodical Publications. By this very important Act it is provided ($ 1) that “from and after fourteen days after the passing of this Act it shall not be com