time within six calendar months after the offence committed; and all such penalties and forfeitures, when recovered, shall and are hereby directed to be paid to the said Treasurer; and shall be applied (except such penalties and forfeitures as are otherwise directed to be applied by this Act) in manner following; (that is to say), one moiety of all such penalties and forfeitures shall go to the informer, and the other moiety towards defraying the expenses attending the execution of this Act: And all penalties and forfeitures which shall be incurred for offences against this Act, not within the said cities of London or Westminster, or within seven miles of the same, or within the said County of Middlesex, shall and may be sued for and recovered by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information, by and in the name of the Clerk of the Peace for the County where any such offence shall be committed; and all such penalties and forfeitures, when recovered, shall be applied, one moiety to the informer, and the other moiety for defraying the expenses attending the execution of this Act, within such County.
And be it further enacted, That if any Action or Suit shall be commenced or brought against any person or persons, for any thing done in pursuance of this Act, the same shall be commenced within six calendar months next after the fact committed; and shall be laid or brought in the county, city, or place, where the cause of Action shall have arisen, and not elsewhere; and the defendant or defendants, in every such Action or Suit, shall and may, at his election, plead specially, or the general issue, Not Guilty; and give this Act, and the special matter, in evidence, at any trial to be had thereupon, and that the same was done in pursuance and by the authority of this Act: And if the same shall appear to be so done, or that such Action or Suit shall be brought in any other county, city, or place, or shall not have been commenced within the time before limited for bringing the same; that then the jury shall find a verdict for the defendant or defendants; and, upon a verdict being so found, or if the plaintiff or plaintiffs shall be nonsuited, or discon-
