HALL MARKS ON PLATE.
I50
The oath taken by the Assay er at Goldsmiths' Hall. The Appendix also contains an account of the prosecutions which had been commenced and carried on by the Company of Goldsmiths of the City of London, against any person or persons for frauds or abuses, in gold or silver plate, within seven years then last past
:
"In 1767 William C, working silversmith, was prosecuted by indictment upon Stat. 28 Edw. I, and Stat. 6 George I, c. 11, for soland shoe-buckles which dering bits of standard silver to tea-tongs the same to the said Comand than worse were sending standard, to obtain their marks to in order fraudulently Office, pany's Assay the same. " In 1768 William K., of
London, working silversmith, was prosecuted by indictment upon the said statutes for making two salt cellars worse than standard, and selling them for standard. "In 1770 James M. E. and partners were severally prosecuted actions on Stat. 12 George II for making gold chains worse than
by
standard; and Roger S. and others were prosecuted for selling gold watch-chains worse than standard. "In 1778 John G. and William V., watchmakers, were prosecuted for selling two silver watch-cases without being marked, and which on that account were stopped at the Custom House in London, on their being found in a cask of hardware, in which action they suffered judgment to go by default."
PLATE MARKED WITH FALSE PUNCHES AND OTHER OFFENCES
A
consideration of this subject by the Government is of the highest importance, and the perpetrators of forged Hall-marks should be sought for with diligence and visited with condign punishment. Not only is it an evasion of payment of the duty and a deception towards the public, but it throws suspicion upon plate bearing the genuine stamps, and public confidence is destroyed. At the present day the sale of antique plate with forged Hallmarks is carried on to a great extent, especially in England, where, in consequence of the publication of tables of date-marks, its precise age may be ascertained, and the value of old plate having thereby increased enormously, forgers are busy counterfeiting the ancient marks not only in England but on the Continent. In many cases unprincipled dealers are cognisant of the fact, and assist in It is incumspreading the falsifications throughout the country bent upon the authorities to use their best endeavours to put a stop to such practices, and seize all spurious plate wherever it may be found, and the dealer (who is bound to know from whom he purchases plate) be made amenable and subject to penalties as in France. subjoin some of the cases of fraud which have been adjudicated upon.
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