The Annals of the Barber-Surgeons of London

by Unknown

First, Because most of the united Company’s Lands and Tenements, (particularly the Site of their Hall, Parlour, &c.) originally belonged to them, and by the uniting Act[375] seem with great Justice to have been intended to remain to their sole and separate Use, tho’ in fact the Surgeons have hitherto been indulged in the equal Enjoyment of them with the Barbers.

Secondly, Because the Surgeons Share of what may have been acquired since the Union, will scarce be an adequate Recompence to the Barbers for the above Indulgence, much less for the unmerited Loss of a Brotherhood now so honourable and advantageous to them.

Thirdly, Because the Expenses of the Barbers when distinctly incorporated, can fall but very little, if any thing, short of those of the united Company, so that a Reduction of Income must subject them to very great Difficulties, which (considering that they neither desire, nor have given the Surgeons just Cause to desire a Separation) would be extremely hard and unreasonable.

Lastly, Because the present flourishing Condition of the Surgeons, (the only real Alteration in the Circumstances of Things) will sufficiently enable them to support the Dignity of their new and favourite Institution with becoming Splendor, without distressing their less happy Brethren the Barbers.

APPENDIX F.

Act of Parliament 18 Geo. II, cap. 15. (See page [162].)

And it is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That such of the Members of the said United Company or Corporation, who are Freemen of the said Company, and are not admitted or approved Surgeons, and their Successors, shall, from and after the said Twenty-fourth day of June, One thousand seven hundred and forty-five, be, and they are hereby made and constituted, a Body Corporate, and Commonalty Perpetual, which, at all times hereafter, shall be called by the Name of The Master, Governors, and Commonalty of the Mystery of Barbers of London; and, by the same name, shall plead and be impleaded before all Manner of Justices, in all Courts, and in all Manner of Actions and Suits; and also purchase, enjoy, and take to them, and their Successors, any Lands, Tenements, Rents, or Hereditaments, not exceeding the yearly Rent or Value of Two hundred Pounds in the Whole, without incurring any of the Penalties or Forfeitures of the Statutes of Mortmain.

And it is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, that Master Jonathan Medley, the present First Master or Governor of the said United Company or Corporation, and Master Humphrey Negus, the present Third Master or Governor of the said United Company, and such Two other Persons as shall hereafter be elected and appointed for that Purpose, in pursuance of this Act, and as is hereinafter mentioned shall be, and they are hereby respectively established and confirmed, the Master and Governors of the Company or Corporation of Barbers of London, established and incorporated by this Act; and shall continue in, and hold, exercise, and enjoy the said Offices respectively, until others shall be chosen, elected, and appointed in and to the same Offices respectively, pursuant and according to the By-laws, Rules, Orders, and Constitutions of the same Company; and that the said Jonathan Medley, Humphrey Negus, and William Parker, Luke Maurice, John Barnwell, John Truelove, William Haddon, John Negus, Edward Boxley, Samuel Rutter, Robert Scrooby, Richard Swithin, Edward Colebeck, Togarmah Jones, and John Gurney, being Fifteen of the present Court of Assistants of the said United Company, and such Nine other Persons as shall be hereafter elected and appointed for that purpose, in pursuance of this Act, and as is hereinafter mentioned, shall be, and they are hereby constituted and appointed, the Court of Assistants of the Company of Barbers, made, established, and incorporated by this Act; and shall continue in, and hold, enjoy, and exercise the said office during their natural Lives respectively, or until they shall be respectively removed out of the said Office, pursuant and according to the said By-laws, Rules, Ordinances and Constitutions of the said Company of Barbers of London.

And it is hereby further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Jonathan Medley, Humphrey Negus, William Parker, Luke Maurice, John Barnwell, John Truelove, William Haddon, John Negus, Edward Boxley, Samuel Rutter, Robert Scrooby, Richard Swithin, Edward Colebeck, Togarmah Jones and John Gurney, or the major Part of them, to meet at or in the Hall now belonging to the said united Company, situate in Monkwell Street in the City of London, on the Twenty-fifth Day of June, One thousand seven hundred and forty-five, between the Hours of Nine in the Morning and One in the Afternoon of the same Day, and then and there to elect, choose, and appoint, out of the Freemen of the said Company or Corporation of the Barbers of London, established and incorporated by this Act, by the Majority of the Votes of such of the said Fifteen Persons last mentioned, who shall be present at such Meeting, so many other Persons to be of the said Court of Assistants of the said Company or Corporation of the Barbers of London, as will make the Number Twenty-four, to continue in the said Office respectively for and during their natural Lives, or until they shall be respectively removed out of the said Office; and also that immediately after such Court of Assistants shall be made up the said Number of Twenty-four Persons, the said Court of Assistants shall then and there, by the Majority of Votes of such of the said Court of Assistants as shall be then present, elect, choose, and appoint from among themselves, Two Persons, to be the Third and Fourth Governors of the said Company or Corporation of the Barbers of London, to continue in, hold, exercise, and enjoy, the said Offices respectively as aforesaid.