Public Libraries and Museums.

Fuel, Lighting, and other similar Matters, Books, Newspapers, Maps, and Specimens of Art and Science, for the Use of the Library or Museum, or School, and cause the same to be bound or repaired when necessary, and appoint salaried Officers and Servants, and dismiss the same, and make Rules and Regulations for the Safety and Use of the Libraries and Museums, and Schools, and for the Admission of the Public.

XXII. The Lands and Buildings so to be appropriated, purchased, or rented as aforesaid, and all other Real and Personal Property whatever presented to or purchased for any Library or Museum established under this Act, or School, shall be vested, in the Case of a Borough, in the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, in the Case of a District in the Board, and in the Case of a Parish or Parishes in the Commissioners.

XXIII. If any Meeting called as aforesaid to determine as to the Adoption of this Act for any Borough, District, or Parish shall determine against the Adoption, no Meeting for a similar Purpose shall be held for the Space of One Year at least from the Time of holding the previous Meeting.

XXIV. The Lord Mayor of the City of London shall, on the Request of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council assembled, convene a Public Meeting in manner herein-before mentioned of all Persons rated and assessed to the Consolidated Rate in the City of London, in order to determine whether this Act shall be adopted in the said City; and if at such Meeting Two Thirds of such Persons then present shall determine that this Act ought to be adopted for the City of London, the same shall thenceforth take effect and come into operation in the City of London, and shall be carried into execution in accordance with the Laws for the Time being in force relating to the City of London: Provided always, that the Resolution of such Public Meeting, signed by the Lord Mayor, shall be reported to the said Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, in Common Council assembled, and entered on the Minutes thereof, and that such Entry shall be Evidence; the Expenses incurred in calling and holding the Meeting, whether this Act shall be adopted or not, and the Expenses of carrying this Act into execution in the City of London, shall be paid out of the Consolidated Rate, and the Commissioners of Sewers of the City of London may levy a Part of the Consolidated Rate, or by a separate Rate, to be assessed and recovered in like Manner as the Consolidated Rate, all Monies from Time to Time necessary for defraying such Expenses, and distinct Accounts shall be kept of the Receipts, Payments, and Liabilities of the said Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons with reference to the Execution of the Act.

XXV. The Admission to all Libraries and Museums established under this Act shall be open to the Public free of all Charge.

XXVI. This Act shall not extend to Ireland or Scotland.

Property of

Library, &c. to

be vested in Council, &c.

If Meeting does not adopt Act, no other Meeting to be held for a Year.

Act may be adopted in the City of London

if Two Thirds of Persons rated

to the Consolidated Rate, assembled at a Public Meeting,

assent.

Museums to be free.

Extent of Act.

С А Р.

6

West Indies Relief Loans Arrangement.

CA P. LXXI.

An Act to authorize the Commissioners of the Treasury to make Arrangements concerning certain Loans advanced by way of Relief to the Islands of Antigua, Nevis, and Montserrat. [30th July 1855.] 6 & 7 Vict. c. 63. WHEREAS by an Act passed in the Session holden in the Sixth and Seventh Years of Her Majesty, Chapter Sixtythree ("for granting Relief to the Islands of Antigua, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Dominica, and Montserrat,") the Commissioners of 'Her Majesty's Treasury were authorized in manner therein 'mentioned to lend Exchequer Bills, for any Sum not exceeding 'One hundred thousand Pounds for the Service of the Island of Antigua, and any Sums not exceeding in the whole Fifty thou'sand Pounds for the Service of the Islands of Saint Kitts, Nevis, Dominica, and Montserrat, on the Credit of the Revenues and 'Public Property of the said Islands respectively, as soon as the 'said Commissioners should be satisfied that Repayment of the 'several Sums to be advanced (with Interest thereon, at the yearly 'Rate of Four Pounds by the Hundred,) was duly secured to the "Satisfaction of the said Commissioners by some Act or Acts passed or to be passed by the several Legislatures of the said Islands respectively: And whereas the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury accordingly advanced the Sum of One hundred thousand Pounds to the Island of Antigua, the Sum of Twelve thousand Pounds to the Island of Nevis, and the Sum of Twenty-three thousand Pounds to the Island of Montserrat, the Repayment of 'such several Sums, with Interest, having been secured by the Legislatures of the said respective Islands, as required by the 'said Act, and out of the Sums so advanced Advances were made ' under the Authority of the said respective Legislatures, to Persons 'who had suffered Losses by the Earthquakes in the said Islands : And whereas under the Circumstances of the said Islands the Payment of some of the Instalments of the Principal Money remaining due on the Securities given by the said Legislatures has been suspended: And whereas it is expedient that the Com'missioners of the Treasury should be empowered to extend the Time for the Repayment of the Principal Monies remaining 'owing on the said Securities, and to reduce the Interest payable thereunder as herein-after mentioned:' Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows:

Treasury may

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I. It shall be lawful for the Commissioners of Her Majesty's extend Time of Treasury to grant such Extension of the Period for Payment of Repayment of the Principal Monies owing by the said Islands of Antigua, Nevis, Loans to Antigua, Nevis, and Montserrat respectively in respect of the said Loans, and to and Montser- accept Payment thereof by such Instalments and at such Times as rat, and to re- the said Commissioners in their Discretion may think proper and duce Interest to fix in the Case of each of the said Islands, and to accept Interest 31. 58. per Cent.;

upon

West Indies Relief Loans Arrangement.

upon the Principal Monies remaining unpaid after the yearly Rate of Three Pounds Five Shillings per Centum, instead of the said yearly Rate of Four Pounds per Centum, upon being satisfied that Acts have been passed by the Legislatures of such Islands respectively for securing on the Credit of the Revenue or public Property thereof the punctual Payment of the Instalments of Principal Monies, with Interest as aforesaid, at the Times and in manner fixed by the said Commissioners, and also for securing to the Persons corresponding indebted in respect of the Advances made out of the said Loans to Advantages the Sufferers in the said Islands Advantages corresponding with to private Borbeing secured those granted to such Legislatures under this Act.

rowers.

fault of Payment at Times fixed under this

II. Provided always, That in case of Default in Payment of any In case of Deof the Instalments of Principal Monies which may become payable from any of the said Islands under such Extension of Time, or of the said reduced Interest, at the Times fixed by the said ComAct, Interest missioners of the Treasury, it shall be lawful for such Commis- and Instalments sioners to require from the Island so in default Payment of originally Interest at the yearly Rate of Four Pounds per Centum on the agreed upon Principal Monies remaining due, and also Payment of such Prin- may be recipal Monies by such Instalments as were made payable by the quired. Securities originally given by the Legislature of such Island; and such Interest and Instalments of Principal Monies which may be so required to be paid shall thereupon become payable accordingly.

CA P. LXXII.

An Act for legalizing and preserving the restored Standards
of Weights and Measures.
[30th July 1855.]
WHEREAS by an Act of the Fifth Year of the Reign of

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King George the Fourth, Chapter Seventy-four, "for 5 G. 4. c. 74. "ascertaining and establishing Uniformity of Weights and Mea6.66 sures,' ," it was enacted, that from and after the First Day of May 'One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five the straight Line or Distance between the Centres of the Two Points in the Gold Studs in a certain straight Brass Rod then in the Custody of the Clerk of the House of Commons should be the original and ⚫ genuine Standard of that Measure of Length or lineal Extension called a Yard, and that the same straight Line or Distance between the Centres of the said Two Points in the said Gold Studs in the said Brass Rod, the Brass being at the Temperature of Sixty-two Degrees by Fahrenheit's Thermometer, should be the "Imperial Standard Yard ;" and that from and after the First Day of May One thousand eight hundred and twenty-five the Standard Brass Weight of One Pound Troy Weight made in the Year One thousand seven hundred and fifty-eight, then in the Custody of the Clerk of the House of Commons, should be ⚫ and the same was thereby declared to be the original and genuine • Standard Measure of Weight, and that such Brass Weight should be the "Imperial Standard Troy Pound," and should be and the same was thereby declared to be the Unit or only Standard Measure of Weight from which all other Weights should be derived, 'computed, and ascertained, and that One Twelfth Part of the 18 & 19 VICT.

U

'said

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Weights and Measures.

said Troy Pound should be an Ounce, and that One Twentieth Part of such Ounce should be a Pennyweight, and that One Twenty-fourth Part of such Pennyweight should be a Grain, so that Five thousand seven hundred and sixty such Grains 'should be a Troy Pound, and that Seven thousand such Grains 'should be and they were thereby declared to be a Pound Avoirdupois: And whereas by the said Act Provision was 'made for restoring the said Imperial Standard Yard and the 'said Imperial Standard Troy Pound respectively, in case of Loss, Destruction, Defacement, or other Injury, by Reference 'to the Length of a Pendulum and to the Weight of a Cubic 'Inch of Water respectively: And whereas the said Imperial Standard Yard and Standard Pound Troy were destroyed in the Fire at the Houses of Parliament: And whereas by the Researches of scientific Men Doubts were thrown on the Accu" racy of the Methods provided by the said Act for the Restoration of the said Standards: And whereas there exist Bars and Weights which had been accurately compared with the said • Standard Yard and Standard Pound Troy so destroyed as aforesaid, which afforded sufficient Means for restoring such original Standards: And whereas scientific Men acting for that Purpose under the Direction of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury have constructed a Standard of Length equivalent to the Imperial Standard Yard so destroyed, and Four accurate Copies of the Standard so constructed, and it having been ' deemed expedient that the Standard for Reference as a Measure of Weight should be a Pound Avoirdupois, there has been 'constructed in like Manner a Pound Weight Avoirdupois equi'valent to the Pound Avoirdupois of Seven thousand such Grains as are mentioned in the said recited Act, and Four accurate Copies of the said Pound Avoirdupois so constructed: And whereas the Form adopted for the Standard of Length and for all the Copies thereof is that of a solid square Bar Thirty-eight 'Inches long and One Inch square in transverse Section, the Bar 'being of Bronze or Gun Metal; near to each End a cylindrical Hole is sunk (the Distance between the Centres of the Two Holes being Thirty-six Inches) to the Depth of Half an Inch; at the Bottom of this Hole is inserted in a smaller Hole a Gold Plug or Pin about One Tenth of an Inch in Diameter, and upon the Surface of this Pin there are cut Three fine Lines at Intervals of about the One Hundredth Part of an Inch transverse to the Axis of the Bar, and Two Lines at nearly the same Interval parallel to the Axis of the Bar; the Measure of Length is given by the Interval between the Middle transversal Line at one End and the Middle transversal Line at the other End, the Part of each Line which is employed being the Point Midway between the longitudinal Lines; and the said Points are herein referred to as the Centres of the said Gold Plugs or Pins: And whereas the Standard Pound Avoirdupois so constructed as aforesaid, and the Copies thereof, are of Platinum, the Form being that of a Cylinder nearly 135 Inch in Height and 1*15 Inch in Diameter, with a Groove or Channel round it whose • Middle

Weights and Measures.

Middle is about 0 34 Inch below the Top of the Cylinder, for 'Insertion of the Points of the Ivory Fork by which it is to be lifted; the Edges are carefully rounded off: And whereas the 'Standard of Length so constructed as aforesaid, the Bronze Bar, being marked "Copper 16 oz., Tin 2, Zinc 1. Mr. Baily's "Metal. No. 1. Standard Yard at 62°00 Fahrenheit. Cast "in 1845. Troughton & Simms, London," and the said Standard of Weight marked P.S. 1844, 1 lb., have respectively been deposited in the Office of the Exchequer at Westminster, and 'One of the said Copies of the said Standard of Length, the 'Bronze Bar, being marked "Copper 16 oz., Tin 2, Zinc 1. "Mr. Baily's Metal. No. 2. Standard Yard at 61° 94 Fahren"heit. Cast in 1845. Troughton & Simms, London," and One of the said Copies of the Standard of Weight marked No. 1, P.C. 1844, 1 lb., have been deposited at the Royal Mint; and One other of the said Copies of the Standard of Length, the Bronze Bar, being marked "Copper 16 oz., Tin 2, Zinc 1. "Mr. Baily's Metal. No. 3. Standard Yard at 62°* 10 Fahren"heit. Cast in 1845. Troughton and Simms, London," and One other of the said Copies of the Standard of Weight marked No. 2. P.C. 1844, 1 lb., have been delivered to the Royal So'ciety of London; and One other of the said Copies of the Standard of Length, the Bronze Bar, being marked "Copper “16 oz., Tin 24, Zinc 1. Mr. Baily's Metal. No. 5. Standard "Yard at 62° 16 Fahrenheit. Cast in 1845. Troughton & "Simms, London," and One other of the said Copies of the 'Standard of Weight marked No. 3. P.C. 1844, 1 lb., have been deposited in the Royal Observatory of Greenwich; and the other of the said Copies of the Standard of Length, the Bronze 'Bar, being marked "Copper 16 oz., Tin 21, Zinc 1. Mr. Baily's "Metal. No. 4. Standard Yard at 61° 98 Fahrenheit. Cast "in 1845. Troughton & Simms, London," and the other of the said Copies of the Standard of Weight marked No. 4. P.C. $ 1844, 1 lb., have been immured in the Cill of the Recess on the East Side of the lower Waiting Hall in the New Palace at 'Westminster: And whereas it is expedient to legalize the Standards so constructed and to provide for the Preservation thereof: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows:

I. So much of the said Act of the Fifth Year of King George 5 G. 4. c. 74. the Fourth as relates to the Restoration of the Imperial Standard ss. 3. & 5. reYard and of the Standard Troy Pound respectively, in case of pealed. Loss, Destruction, Defacement, or other Injury, shall be repealed.

II. The straight Line or Distance between the Centres of the Restored Two Gold Plugs or Pins in the Bronze Bar deposited in the Office Standard Yard of the Exchequer as aforesaid shall be the genuine Standard of established. that Measure of Length called a Yard, and the said straight Line or Distance between the Centres of the said Gold Plugs or Pins in the said Bronze Bar (the Bronze being at the Temperature