the act to
attend the court, who being always of the law, give their judicial
assistance; they are chosen alternately by the lord of the manor and
the commissioners, being continued for life. At the expiration of two
years, ten of the commissioners are balloted out, and ten other of the
inhabitants are made choice of, as their successors. From the decision
of this court there is no appeal, and there are frequently two hundred
causes decided in one day; there are two sets of commissioners sitting
at the same time, for the dispatch of business, who in general give so
much satisfaction to both parties, that it is very unusual to hear any
remarks made upon their decision.

_Humane Society._

In the year 1790, a society was formed, under the above title, to
assist in the recovery of persons apparently drowned, which is now
transferred to the hospital.

_Society for the Protection of Trade against fraudulent Bankrupts,
Swindlers, &c._

This society was formed in the year 1804, to prevent any flagrant
attempts to impose on the honest and unwary, by fraudulent bankrupts
and swindlers, and to detect cheats of every description; also to
prevent the friends and suspected accomplices of such persons from
being appointed assignees or trustees, to the detriment of the
creditors at large.

_Chamber of Commerce._

In July, 1813, a public meeting was convened, for the purpose of
establishing a bond of union among the mercantile interests in this
town, under the above title; but at present it does not appear to have
made much progress.

_The Assay Office_

Is situated in Little Cannon-street, where all plate manufactured
in this town and its vicinity must be sent, for the purpose of
ascertaining the quality of the silver and being stamped with the
proper marks, denoting that it is standard, and has paid the proper
duties.

_Gold and Silver._ The quantity of these precious metals consumed in
this town and neighbourhood every week is incalculable, and if it
could be ascertained would appear incredible; there being in wrought
plate about two thousand ounces; but the quantity of silver used in
plating of different articles, it is not possible to discover, nor can
the quantity of gold used in different manufactories be made known,
but it is computed by those who have the best means of obtaining
information on the subject, that there are more than one hundred
ounces of gold purchased by the gilders every week, which is spread
o