THE

C A S E

OF

The Makers of and Dealers in

Cards and Dice.

THAT by the Act of the 10th of Queen Anne, For laying Duties on Printed Callicoes, &c. it is Provided, That Cards and Dice may be Exported, free of the Stamp-Duty, upon giving Bonds to the Crown, with sufficient Sureties, for due Export thereof; and that the fame shall not be Re-landed in Great Britain; which Bonds are to be left in the Hands of the Commissioners for the Stamp-Duties.

THAT the Exporters of Cards and Dice, have, purfuant to that Act, entred into several Bonds, in Penalties amounting to several Thoufand Pounds; and have duly made their Exports accordingly, from Time to Time; notwithſtanding which, the Commitlioners for the Stamp-Duties have lately caus'd divers of the faid Bonds to be put in Suit, and Judgments have been obtained for the Penalties thereof; although no Proof hath been made of any Breach of the Conditions of the faid Bonds.

THE Exporters being put to prove their own Innocency;

THEY humbly repreſent the great Hardſhips they lie under in this Cafe; in regard they are ſubject to Pay the Penalties of the ſaid Bonds, though Innocent; unleſs they can at Tryals at Law, to be, at any diſtant Time, had thereupon, produce living Wituſſes, from Foreign Parts, to prove ſuch Exports actually made to the Places Appointed; and that there has not been any Re-landing within ſeveral Years before ſuch Bonds put in Suit, which in this Cafe is impraſcicable, and impoſſible to be done.

THAT, in regard they have not been guilty of any Crime, they humbly pray, that the ſaid Act may be ſo Explained and Amended, as that the Exportation of Cards and Dice may be made Praſcivable; and that the Securities given for ſuch Exportation, may be diſcharged upon the Oaths of the Exporters and proper Certificates, as in Cafes of the like Nature; or that they may have ſuch other Reſlief in the Premiffes as ſhall be Juſt.

FOR ſhould Proſecutions on theſe Bonds go on now, when there is no Proſection, by the ſaid Act, for any Juitification or Diſcharge at any Time; nor any Poffibility as the Law now ſtands, to prove by ſuch Evidence, as is required at Tryals, ſtrict Performance of the Conditions (according to the wording) of theſe Bonds; Theſe Perfons (as if prefumed to be Guilty) muſt ſuffer, though no Guilt is proved upon them; And

IN farther Conſequence thereof, the Exportation of this Manufacture becoming impraſcicable, will be intirely loſt; and this will loſe the Paper-Duty arifing to His Majefty, which is 10 s. per Groſs of Cards Exported.

IT is therefore humbly hoped, the Relief deſired will be thought as reaſonable in this CASE as in others.