Sheriffs Depute annually to examine the State of Record Offices, and the Progreſs and State of Records kept by Sheriff Clerks; and to report thereon at the Court of Juſticiary; and to report thereon to the Court of Juſticary.X. And be it further enacted, That the Sheriffs Depute and Stewarts Depute of the ſeveral Shires and Stewartries, or their Subſtitutes, ſhall at leaſt once in every Year carefully examine into the Progreſs and State of all the different Records framed and kept by the reſpective Sheriff Clerks and Stewart Clerks, and ſhall prepare exact Reports in Writing, ſetting forth the Reſult of their Examinations, and particularly ſpecifying the State and Situation of the Buildings in which the Records of their reſpective Shires and Stewartries are kept, and how far the Laws and Regulations relative to the ſeveral Records have been faithfully and punctually executed and obeyed; and the Sheriffs Depute of the ſeveral Shires of Edinburgh, Haddington, and Linlithgow, or their Subſtitutes reſpectively, ſhall in the Month of November in every Year preſent ſuch Reports, duly authenticated, to the Lords Commiſſioners of Juſticiary at Edinburgh, and The Sheriffs Depute and Stewarts Depute of the other Shires and Stewartries, or their Subſtitutes reſpectively, ſhall preſent their ſaid Reports, duly authenticated, to the Lords Commiſſioners of Juſticiary, at the Circuit Courts that ſhall be holden within their reſpective Bounds, in the Autumn of every Year; The Court of Juſticiary to direct Inquiries and make Orders thereon and the ſaid Lords Commiſſioners of Juſticiary are hereby empowered to make ſuch Orders thereon, or direct ſuch further Inquiries to be made as may appear to them to be neceſſary, and direct their Clerks to enter the ſame in the Minutes of the Court, and make Orders thereafter to tranſmit the ſeveral Reports, with a certified Copy of the Orders that may have been made by them thereon, to the Lord Clerk Regiſter, at whoſe Insſtance it ſhall be competent to preſent to the Lords of Council and Seſſion ſummary Complaints againſt any of the Sheriff Clerks or Stewart Clerks, or their Deputies, on account of any Neglect or Malverſation in the Buſineſs of the ſeveral Records committed to their Care, and for redreſſing and puniſhing the ſame according to Law.
Magiſtraites of Royal Burghs annually to examine the progreſs and State of Records; and to report theron to the Court of Juſticiary.XI. And be it further enacted, That the Chief Magiſtrates of the ſaid Royal Burghs reſpectively, ſhall at leaſt once in every Year carefully examine into the Progreſs and State of all the different Records framed and kept by the reſpective Clerks of ſuch Royal Burghs, and ſhall prepare exact Reports in Writing, in the Manner above directed, in the Caſe of Sheriff Clerks and Stewart Clerks; and ſuch Chief Magiſtrates ſhall, in the Month of November in every Year, tranſmit ſuch Reports to the Lords Commiſſioners of Juſticiary at Edinburgh, who are hereby empowered to make Orders, and direct Inquiries, in the Manner above provided, in the Caſe of Sheriff Clerks and Stewart Clerks as aforeſaid; and the Clerks of Juſticiary ſhall in like Manner tranſmit ſuch Reports, with a certified Copy of ſuch Orders, to the Lord Clerk Regiſter, at whoſe Inſtance ſummary Complaints may be made againſt Clerks of Royal Burghs, in the Manner above directed, in the Caſe of Sheriff Clerks and Stewart Clerks as aforeſaid.
Reigiſters by Law tranſmisſſible periodically to the general Regiſter Houſe, to be delivered within Six Months after completion.XII. And whereas it is expedient that the Tranſmiſſion of the ſucceſſive Volumes or Books of the ſeveral Public Records, from the Offices in which they are formed, to His Majeſty's General Regiſter Houſe, ſhould be made with the leaſt poſſible Delay; be it enacted, That within Six Months after the paſſing of this Act, the Keepers of the ſeveral Public Records which are by Law tranſmiſſible to His Majeſty's General Regiſter Houſe ſhall deliver all the Volumes or Books of their reſpective Records that are already completed, together with the Minute Books and the
