copy of an Act to be presented to his Grace, his Majesties high Commissioner, and to the Right Honourable Estates of Parliament, anent gunpowder and alum.  
OUR sovereign Lord, Considering the great Encouragements, offered and given for the Erecting of Manufactories, by several Acts of Parliaments, Specially by the Act 1661, entitled, Act for Erecting of Manufactories, and the Act 1681, entitled, Act for Encouraging of Trade, and Manufactories; And that in pursuance thereof, and upon the Experience of the Benefit and Advantage redounding thereby to this Kingdom, particular Acts of Parliament have been made and past in favours of Manufactories, already set up. As also, That this Kingdom having at present no Pouder-Mill, or work for making of gunpowder, nor having ever had a Work for making of alum, both which may nevertheless be very advantageous as well for Export, as for necessary inward Consumption. Several persons have engaged in a Co-partnarie for setting up and carrying on the said Works, which may be so useful, as said is. Therefore, His majesty, with Advice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament, Statutes and Declares in Favours of Sir Alexander Hope of Kerss, Sir Robert Dickson of Sornbegg, George Clerk, Junior and James Balfour, Merchants in Edinburgh, and their Co-partners, either already assumed, or to be assumed, and their Successors, Undertakers, of the said Works, That the said two Works for making of gunpowder, and for making of alum, when set up and Erected, shall be Manufactories, And that the foresaid Partners and society engaged for carrying on the said Works, shall be a Free and Lawful Incorporation, with all privileges usual, and shall have Right to, and brook and enjoy all the privileges and Immunities provided in Favours of Manufactories by the foresaid Acts of Parliament; And particularly, and for the more special Amplification hereof, the hail privileges, Liberties, and Immunities, granted to the Cloath and linen Manufactories, which are here holden as expressed. And father, Because the said Allom-Work was never before erected in this Kingdom, and that the Undertakers must necessarily at first be at great pains and expenses. Therfore, His majesty with Advice and Consent foresaid, Statutes and Ordains, That the foresaid Undertakers thereof, shall have the sole power and privilege of making of the same, for the space of twenty five years, from and after the date hereof, and that it shall not be Leisom during that space, for any other person or persons to make alum within this Kingdom, providing always that the said Undertakers do set up the said alum work with due Diligence. As also, That these Presents shall be without prejudice to the Importation of alum from foreign parts by Merchants, as they have been in Use to do before the making hereof.   

REASONS FOR Passing the Act in Favours of the UNDERTAKERS for the making of gunpowder and alum.  

1mo. Because the need of both gunpowder and alum for the use of the Kingdom, is evident.  
2do. Because we have formerly had gunpowder Mills; But thorough the want of due encouragement, they have long since been neglected and gone to ruin.  
3tio. Because the foresaid works when set up, will not only hinder the necessary import of both gunpowder and alum; But this Kingdom having within itself the most of the Matterials necessary, the works may be quickly improven to furnish a good export.  
4to. The setting up of the said work at first, where such works are quiter out of use, will evidently require great pains and charges.  
5to. If set up they would entertain a great many Idle and Poor people both in Work and Bread.  
6to. The alum work being wholly new, and which will need great preparations, and if once set up, would employ and maintain at least a hundred persons, deserves the encouragement of the sole power of making alum for twenty five years after the Grant of the Act; Specially when the same is sought with the provision; that in the mean time this privilege shall not hinder the usual import.  
7mo. There is also a special reason for the Pouder-work; because it may not only furnish powder for the Kings Forces and magazines; But if at any time thorough accidents which often happen the powder in the public magazines should be spoiled, or grow weak, the foresaid Pouder-work would recover it from time to time, to its full strength, and when Ships of force go abroad they may be furnished by our own Mills.  
8vo. It is found by experience of all other Nations, that Manufactories do Enrich those Kingdoms, where they are unanimously carried on.