JB/075/009/003

Click Here To Edit

IN GENERAL REGISTER HOUSE, EDINBURGH. 3

far it was expedient, under these circumstances, to make any considerable
change on the rate of Fees hitherto paid in the General Register House, until
the experience of several years should have enabled the Commissioners to
decide on the safety or expediency of any such charge.

On taking into their consideration the rates of the Fees charged in the
General Register House, which rest more upon ancient usage than upon any
known and express establishment, it has appeared to the Commissioners, that
in the view of rendering the Public Records still more accessible, and in so
far more generally useful, than at present, a very considerable reduction in
several cases might with much propriety be recommended. But although such
reduction might not always be attended with a corresponding diminution in the
total receipt of Fees, inasmuch as a considerable increase in the number of
Fees might be expected, the Commissioners have not deemed it prudent, in the
present circumstances, to go the full length to which they would otherwise have
been disposed; and in the Table of Fees which they have framed, and which
they herewith report to Parliament in pursuance of the Act, they have not
made any material change in the rates hitherto in use, excepting in the Fees
for inspection of Books of Record. In that class of Registers to which there
exist corresponding Minute Books or Indexes, the rate is now reduced from five
shillings on each volume to two shillings and sixpence; and in these, where no
such facilities of exact reference exist, the rate has been reduced from two
shillings and sixpence to one shilling.

In the Fees paid for Extracts or regular Office Copies, a very considerable
reduction would be desirable; but, for the reasons already stated, the Commissioners
have not at present ventured to touch more than very slightly this
very important branch of the fund, and have only authorized an abatement of
a customary fee of five shillings "charged for the use of the Record," over and
above the proper "dues of Extract." In this particular department it would
afford a great additional relief if the Stamp duties or "Extracts" were entirely
repealed; and if such duties were to be continued, the limited number of
words on each page of an Extract ought certainly to be extended from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred.

In concluding this Report, the Commissioners have only to add, that as soon
as the debt chargeable on the fund, shall appear to them to admit of any
farther reduction in the rates of Fees, they will consider themselves as authorized
and bound to offer another Report on the subject. In the meantime they
have at least been enabled to simplify define and ascertain the Fees in question
in such a way as, independently of actual reduction, will be found of considerable
advantage to the Public.

C. HOPE.
W. DUNDAS.
WM RAE.
D. BOYLE.
S. SHEPHERD.
WILLIAM ADAM.

36. A 2 APPENDIX.

Identifier: | JB/075/009/003 "JB/" can not be assigned to a declared number type with value 75.
Date_1	1829-02-19	Marginal Summary Numbering
Box	075	Main Headings	law amendment
Folio number	009	Info in main headings field
Image	003	Titles	the first report of the right honourable the commissioners appointed to regulated certain fees payable in his majesty's general register house, edinburgh
Category	printed material	Number of Pages	6
Recto/Verso	recto	Page Numbering	36
Penner		Watermarks	[[watermarks::[star with h] c]]
Marginals		Paper Producer
Corrections	jeremy bentham	Paper Produced in Year
Notes public		ID Number	24463
Box Contents