Act, 6 October 1697, Edinburgh

Att Edinburgh the fifteenth day of July J^aj vi^c nyntie seven years

A1697/7/21

A1697/7/21¹

Act

Act The paper Manufactory

Anent the petition given in to the Lords of his Majesties privie Councill By the Masters of the white paper manufactorie Sheuing That wher ther is a Considerable stock advanced for the setting up of the said Manufactory And that since It was established by the Act of parliament J^aj vi^c nynty five It hes made a Great progress And they doe now make and vend good white paper according to the samples produced so that if a Litle farder Incouragement were Given to the said manufactory It might probably be Improven to the service and advantage of the whole kingdom The Incouradgements then that the petitioners Humblie Crave First that all Candle makers and others may be prohibite to make Candle of ragwick or to Imploy raggs in any Sort in their making of Candles as their Lordships have already prohibite the same by former acts and proclamations And particularly by ane Act dated the seventh of March J^aj vi^c seventy nyne And that under such Certifications as their Lordships shall think fitt secundo that as to their servants Their Lordships would declare them to have the same priviledges for retaining and reclaiming them that are Granted by Acts of parliament to the Manufactory at Neumilns since ther is not only the same reasone for it But that they are in Grater hazard to have their Manufactory disappointed and ruined In case their servants whom they have bred to their work should be Enticed or withheld from the petitioners Tertio that the saids Lords would be pleased to declare that for a Certain space of years the petitioners are to have the priviledge of the sole Manufactory of white paper uithin this Kingdome which priviledges the saids Lords have some tymes granted in cases Less deserving As also it is Evident that this sole priviledge is no monopolie since the petitioners doe not pretend to any other restraint upon forraign paper but as they shall be able to undersell the Importers which is the Great advantage of manufactories As also it is manifest that this sole priviledge is prejudiciall to noebody ther being none at present uithin the kingdom that have aither work or design for white paper except the petitioners Company And furder they humbly begg leave to represent the reasons follouing for Granting the said sole priviledge primo from the Great expence the Company hes been att Both by Ingadging the forraigners who understood the Mistery of that airt And by Entertaining the Great Number of servants both strangers and natives necessar for manadging the work secundo the Lords of Councill Having formerly Granted the sole priviledge to some Manufactories scarce beneficiall to the kingdome such as the making of playing Cairds and other manufactories of small use such as the sole priviledge of throuing and tuisting rau silk to George Sandry This manufactory deserves much more Incouragment seing not only It saves much money uithin the Countrey and Employes and Sustaines a multitude of poor for gathering of raggs who Could not otheruayes gett bread But also is so farr from being prejudiciall to his Majesties Customes by the Import of forraign materialls As the most part of other Manufactories are That the materials spent in this manufactory are the refuse and trash of the nation which if not Consumed this uay Could not be but very hurtfull to the kingdom Tertio It were the hardest thing Imaginable to destroy or discourage this uork now when it is come to so Great a perfectione By Leaving ane open dooe to others to Invade the fruit of the petitioners Labours and reap the profite of their expence after they had Keeped their books so Long open to Invite all men to be sharers That the project was Lyke to have become ineffectuall for uant of a Competent Number of Subscriptions If such as had subscryved had not adventured to divyde amongst themselves the shares that uere not subscryved for And which does yet Leave ane opportunity to any man that Inclynes to have a share in that Company to purchass ane Interest at ane reasonable rate which may abundantly stop every mans mouth who can have the Confidence to pretend the Leist prejudice from their Lordships Granting this sole priviledge to the petitioners And therfore Humblie Craving their Lordships according to their Laudable Custome to Grant the petitioners the forsaid fair Incouragements for advancing of their said manufactory And to ordaine ane Act uith a warrand for publication to be Granted to the petitioners herupon as the said petition Bears The saids Lords of his Majesties privy Councill Having Considered this petitioner given into them By the masters of the white paper Manufactory They doe heirby prohibite and Discharge all Candlemakers and others to make Candles of rag wicks or to Imploy raggs of any sort in making of Candles in tyme coming And declares the Contraveeners therof to be lyable in ten pounds Scotts quoties to the petitioners for ilk failzie provyding they be pursued uithin tuo months after ther Committing of the same And the saids Lords Doe Declare and allow the petitioners to have the same priviledge as to their servants for retaining and reclaiming them that are Granted by Act of parliament to the manufactory of Newmilns.