Volume 1

Microcosm of London / [Anon].

Date:
[1808-1811]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Microcosm of London / [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    132/248 page 120
    city of London, from the merchants and factors whose private property it had been, for the smn of 25,400/. in pursuance of an act of the 43d George III. intituled. An Act for establishing a free Market in the City of London for the Sale of Coals, ancl for preventing Frauds and Impositions in the Vend and Delivery of all Coals brought into the Port of London, within certain Places therein mentioned. The powers granted by this act have been altered and enlarged by subsequent acts of the 44th, 46th, and 47th George III. The property of the land and building is vested in the lord mayor, who is empowered to receive a duty of one penny per chaldron (or ton, if sold by weight,) on all coals, CINDERS, or CULM, brought to the port of London : the object of this duty is to repay the purchase money, and to support the expences of the establisment; when a sufficient sum for this* purpose has been raised, the duty is to cease. The business of the Coal Exchange is conducted by fifteen gentlemen, called the Board of Sea-Coal Meters. In their office is taken the metage duty above- mentioned ; and also the orphan duty, which is collected by the principal clerk (as deputy for Mr. Alderman Newnham). There are two clerks in this office, and about one hundred ship-meters, assisted by labouring meters. The duty on metage is one shilling, to be paid for every live chaldrons or one vat, which is paid into the Chamber of London by the meters upon oath. Their business is, to deliver all coal-ships that come into the port of London. Every ship, within twenty-four hours after her arrival at or to the westward of Gravesend, is obliged to send an affidavit of the quantity and quality of her cargo; which, unless freighted for government, must be sold in the open market. Any merchant or owner may bring their own coals into this market, without the
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