In 1772, the Repeal of Certain Laws Act 1772 (12 Geo. 3. c. 71) was passed, which repealed several statutes included, related to corn, meal, flour, cattle and sundry and others, had been found to have prevented free trade of those commodities, causing the price to increase:[2]
WHEREAS it hath been found by experience, that the restraints laid by several statutes upon the dealing in corn, meal, flour, cattle, and sundry other sorts of victuals, by preventing a free trade in the said commodities, have a tendency to discourage the growth and to enhance the price of the same; which statutes, if put in execution, would bring great distress upon the inhabitants of many parts of this kingdom, and in particular upon those of the cities of London and Westminster.
The repeals in that act were found not to have been effectual, because of repeated prohibitions in previous acts.[3] In 1800, John Rusby was indicted for having bought ninety quarters of oats at 41 shillings per quarter and selling thirty of them at 43 shillings the same day. Lord Kenyon, the presiding judge, argued strongly against the repealing act, and addressed the jury strongly against the accused. Rusby was heavily fined, but, on appeal, the court was equally divided as to whether engrossing, forestalling and regrating were still offences at common law.
An Act passed in the Fifty-first Year of the Reign of King Henry the Third, intituled A Statute of the Pillory and Tumbrel, and of the Assize of Bread and Ale.
An Act passed in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of King Edward the Second, intituled No Officer of a City or Borough shall sell Wine or Victual during his Office.
An Act passed in the Reign of King Henry the Third, King Edward the First, or King Edward the Second, intituled The Punishment of a Butcher selling unwholesome Flesh.
As provides Punishment for a Butcher or Cook that buyeth Flesh of Jews and selleth the same unto Christians.
An Act passed in the Twenty-seventh of the same Reign, intituled A Statute of Provisors.
As provides that Commissions shall be granted to inquire of Offenders contrary to the Statute of 23 Edw. 3. c. 6., and as enacts, "The Penalty for forestalling of Merchandizes before they come to the Staple.
An Act passed in the Twenty-seventh of the same Reign, intituled A Statute of Provisors.
As provides that Commissions shall be granted to inquire of Offenders contrary to the Statute of 23 Edw. 3. c. 6., and as enacts, "The Penalty for forestalling of Merchandizes before they come to the Staple.
An Act passed in the Thirty-seventh Year of the same Reign, intituled Merchants shall not ingross Merchandizes to enhance the Prices of them, nor use but one Sort of Merchandise.
An Act passed in the same Year, intituled Clothiers shall make Cloths sufficient for the foresaid Prices, so that this Statute for default of such Cloth be in nowise infringed.
An Act passed in the Second Year of the Reign of King Richard the Second, intituled A Confirmation of the Statute of 25 Edw. 3. St. 4. c. 3, against Forestallers.
An Act passed in the Thirteenth Year of the same Reign, intituled The Rates of Labourers Wages shall be assessed and proclaimed by the Justices of the Peace, and they shall cause the Gains of Victuallers; and shall make Horse Bread, and the Weight and Price thereof.
An Act passed in the Twenty-fifth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled Proclamations for the Prices of Victuals, viz. the pricing of them and proclaiming the Prices.
An Act passed in the Twenty-eighth Year of the same Reign, intituled For Prices of Wines, as is now in force, and relates to the gauging and measuring of Wine, Oils, Honey, or any other Liquors or Things.
Two Acts passed in the Session of Parliament holden in the Third and Fourth Years of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth, respectively intituled An Act for buying of tanned Leather, and An Act for the Sale of Salt Fish and Stock Fish, and for the buying and selling of Butter and Cheese.
Two Acts passed in the Session of Parliament holden in the Third and Fourth Years of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth, respectively intituled An Act for buying of tanned Leather, and An Act for the Sale of Salt Fish and Stock Fish, and for the buying and selling of Butter and Cheese.
an Act passed in the Session of Parliament holden in the Fifth and Sixth Years of the same Reign, intituled An Act against Regrators and Ingrossers of tanned Leather.
Except the Prohibition of carrying or dressing tanned Leather within the City of London and Three Miles thereof as is provided by the last-mentioned Act
An Act passed in the Thirty-third Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled An Act for Grey Merchants, as revived and perpetuated by a subsequent Act passed in the Seventh Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth[e], intituled An Act for reviving the Statute against Grey Merchants, the Statute for Servants Wages, and the Statute of Jeofails.
An Act passed in the Second Year of the Reign of Queen Anne, intituled An Act to prevent Butchers from being Graziers, and to redress several Abuses in buying and selling of Cattle, which Act is perpetuated by another Act made in the Ninth Year of the Reign of Queen Anne[f].
As prohibits any Butcher from being a Grazier, or keeping in his Possession, or in trust for him, above Twenty Acres of Land, or from carrying any Cattle to any other Butcher in Dublin, or within Five Miles thereof, or from keeping at Hay or Feed Oxen or other Cattle for above Ten Days, or from exposing for sale any Oxen or other Cattle within Twenty Miles of the Place where bought; and which prohibits any Person from selling or exposing for sale any Cattle or Sheep on the same Day when bought
An Act passed in the Tenth Year of the Reign of King George the First, intituled An Act for regulating Abuses committed in buying and selling Cattle and Sheep in the several Markets of this Kingdom.
As prohibits Cattle from being bought within Six Miles of any Market
An Act passed in the Fifteenth Year of the Reign of King George the Second, intituled An Act to explain and amend a Clause in an Act passed in the Second Year of the Reign of Queen Anne, intituled 'An Act to prohibit Butchers from being Graziers, and to redress several Abuses in buying and selling of Cattle, and in slaughtering, and packing of Beef, Tallow, and Hides'.
An Act passed in the Thirty-first Year of the Reign of King George the Second, intituled An Act to prohibit Salesmen from being Graziers, and to redress several Abuses in buying and selling Cattle and Meat.
An Act passed in the Session of Parliament holden in the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Years of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for the better Supply of the City of Dublin.
As authorizes a Market Jury to seize Provisions or Victuals in the Hands of any Forestaller, Regrater, or Engrosser.
an Act passed in the Twenty-seventh Year of the Reign of King George the Third, intituled An Act for establishing Market Juries in Cities.
As authorizes and empowers certain Market Juries to seize Provisions or Victuals found in the Hands of Forestallers, Regraters, and Engrossers.
I.e., section 3.
Legacy
Several acts repealed by this act were subsequently repealed again by later Statute Law Revision Acts, either accidentally or for the avoidance of doubt, including:
^This act was repealed wholly by the Statute Law Revision Act 1863. The notes to the Statute Law Revision Act 1863 state: "Repealed in part (ss. 1-7) by 7 & 8 Vict. c. 24. s. 2. (Previously repealed in part by 21 Jac. 1. c. 28. s. 11.) Residue seems virtually repealed by repeal of— 1 Ric. 2. c. 13. by 3 Geo. 5. c. 41. s. 1. (and see 3 Geo. 5. c. 16. s. 23.) If not, obsolete or unnecessary."
^The text of the act incorrectly cites this as 37 Hen. 8. c. 2.
^ abcdeLords, Great Britain Parliament House of (1844). Journals of the House of Lords. Vol. 76. H.M. Stationery Office. pp. 118, 124, 137, 182, 210, 213, 224, 347, 462, 763.
