AN ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE COMPANY OF Tinn-Plate-Workers OF LONDON; Concerning the Erecting of Lamp Lights.  
WHEREAS One Edward Windus in the Thirty Sixth Year of King Charles the Second, (upon Suggestion that he had obtained a Discovery of a New Experiment, for the great and durab e Increase of Light by extraordinary Glasses and Lamps,) whereupon his then Majesty did grant unto him the said Edward Windus, a Patent for the better improvement of Ship Lanterns, Light-houses, and dispersing of Light in Mines, and such like places. But upon condition, that if it should prove grievous to any his Loving Subjects, the Patent to be void, as by the Patent appears.  
That since the granting of this Patent, several Gentlemen and others have obtained a Share or Right in the same of the Original Pattentee, and under Colour and Pretence of that, do now presume to set up and erect those Lamp-Lights within this City and Suburbs, and the Streets, and Lanes thereof; notwithstanding there is no grant in the Patent for so doing; And under the Umbrage of it, do take all the indirect means that Malice can invent, to prevent those from erecting those Lights, who indeed have the only Right to do it, (namely, the Company of Tinn-plate-workers of London.)  
That accordingly several Falsities and Threats are spread abroad, on purpose to amuse and frighten the Inhabitants: The Company of Tinn-plate-workers of London, therefore thought it advisable to make public to the World the indirect ways that is taken by these Pattentees, to interrupt the said Company in the free Exercise of their Trade; And if such Pretensions as these should meet with encouragement, the trading Part of the Nation must of necessity be undone; Farewell all Communities, and Bodies Corporate. We that are the Company do believe, and hope, that the thinking Part of Mankind will consider it; and especially in this Case of the Tinn-plate-workers: For by the same Rule, all handicraft Trades may fall under the same Predictment, and consequently they and their Families brought to Ruin.  
But to state nothing but Fact; in short, take the Cause in the late Act of Parliament: Entitled, An Act for paving and cleansing the Streets in the City of London and Westminster, and Suburbs and Liberties thereof passed in, etc. 1690. (Verbatim) And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid; That every Housholder within any of the Parishes, Places or Precincts in the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey, and City and Liberties of Westminster, comprised within the weekly Bills of Mortality, whose House adjoins unto, or is near the Street, from Michaelmas unto our Lady-day yearly; shall every Night set or hang out Candles, or Light in Lanterns, on the outside of the House next the Street, to enlighten the same for the Conveniency of Passengers, from time to time a● it shall grow dark, until Twelve of the Clock at Night, upon pain to forfeit the Sum of two Shillings for exery Default; excepting such Person or Persons, as shall agree to make use of Lamps of any sort, to be placed at such Distances in the Street, as shall be approved of by two or more justices of the Peace.  
By the Clause in the Act you may perceive, that every Inhabitant is enjoined to hang out Candles or Lights in Lanterns; the Direction in the Act is according to the Ancient way of Lighting the Streets; so 'tis plain, the Tinn-plate-workers do not only lose a considerable Branch of their Trade, which is making and vending Tin-Lanthorns: But if the aforesaid Pattentees might Rule: Must the Company be hindered from Erecting these Lamp-Lights, which the said Company have made above Twenty Years ago, and is as much a Part of their Trade, as making of Tinn-Lanthorns; and 'twould be very hard for the Company to lose the Advantage of making of Lamps, since they lose such a Branch of their Trade, as aforesaid?  
Now by this Act of Parliament, 'tis indifferently left to every Man's liberty, to make use of what Lamps he thinks fit, or to use none at all: So far it is from Compulsion in any kind: And 'tis plain, the Parliament at the time of making this Act, had a regard to the Company, and what was done by them was intended in favour and ease of the Subject, and never intended t● encourage Monopolies of any kind.  
A great deal more might be said, but we the Company aforesaid, do th●● only to satisfy the World of the Justice of our Case, and to show that 〈◊〉 Proceed of those that call themselves Pattentees to be unjust. A●● thus, their going from place to place, and forewarning the Inhabitants fr●● contracting with the said Company, for the said Lamp-Lights; threatening them if they do, they will make them pay over again; and where the Company have already contracted, do go and Actually erect Posts, and other Conveniencies for setting up their Lights, amongst those very Inhabitants, w● whom the said Company have already contracted, and did light the 〈◊〉 Year.  
This being some Part of the Case; 
 THE said Company intending to maintain their Rights and Priviledg● which by Law does of Right belong to them, do resolve to go on w●●● their Undertaking; and do hereby assure all such Person or Persons what●●ever, who have already contracted with the said Company, or whosoe●●● shall from time to time hereafter contract with them for the Use of the s●●● Lamp-Lights, that is, for such as are erected, or to be erected; That we 〈◊〉 said Company aforesaid, shall and will save harmless and indemnified, all s●●● Persons so contracting with us as aforesaid, of and from all Damages wh● has or shall accrue from the Pattentees, and of and from all Forfeiture for not hanging out a Candle and Lantern pursuant to the Direction of 〈◊〉 afore recited Act; And what Threaten soever has been made by the aforesaid Pattentees, and their Agents is groundless, and what they cannot maintain and done only on purpose to amuse and deceive you.  
☞ And all Persons that desire to be furnished with our Lamps, or to 〈◊〉 further satisfied in this Affair, if they please to come to our Office in Critc●●● Friars, within Algate, in the New Buildings; where we meet every Tues●●● and Friday at Six a Clock in the Evening, may be furnished with the s●●● Lights, and fully satisfied about the whole matter, we being resolved to st●●● the Test with all Pretenders: And not so easily lose so considerable a Bran● of our Trade.   
FINIS.