Plate Assay (Ireland) Act, 1807

Penalty on persons buying plate not assayed and marked

Recovery of penalty.

15. And . . . no person shall buy, take, or receive in the way of purchase, barter, or exchange any wrought or manufactured gold or silver plate, or manufacture of gold or silver, from any goldsmith, silversmith, or other person whatsoever working or trading in wrought or manufactured gold or silver in Ireland (unless it be silver wire or such things not exceeding four penny weights, which in respect of their smallness are not capable of receiving a mark) not being assayed, touched, and marked by the assay master in manner herein prescribed at the time such gold or silver plate shall be delivered to the buyer or receiver thereof, upon pain of forfeiting a sum equal to the value thereof, to be sued for and recovered by any person who shall discover the same, for the sole benefit of the person so discovering and suing which suit where the said value shall not exceed the sum of ten pounds, shall be by civil bill before the assistant barrister at the sessions of the peace for the several and respective counties in Ireland, or before the chairman of the sessions of the county of Dublin, or before the recorder of the city of Dublin respectively; and where the value of such plate shall exceed the sum of ten pounds, then such penalty shall be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information in any of his Majesty’s courts of record in Dublin.