be deemed a capital stock, XXIX. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That all the principal monies for which the faid feveral and refpective annuities fhall be payable by the faid cashier of the The principal bank of England for the time being, fhall be deemed, reputed monies thail and taken to be one capital or joint-stock, on which the faid annuities shall be attending; and that all perfons and corporations, in proportion to their respective annuities, fhall have a fhare in fuch ftock; and that all fuch fhares fhall be affignable, transferrable and deviseable, in the same manner as is prefcribed by act or acts of parliament made in the first year of his Majesty's affignable, &c. reign, touching the annuities after the rate of five pounds per Geo..itat.z. according to centum per annum therein mentioned; and that no ftamp-duties whatsoever shall be chargeable on fuch transfers; and that the No ftamps on faid governor and company of the bank of England, (notwith- transters. ftanding the redemption of all or any of their own funds or an- ration, till annuities in pursuance of the acts for establishing the fame, or any nuities reof them) fhall continue a corporation, to all intents and pur- deemed. pofes, relating only to the receiving, paying or accounting for the faid annuities fo payable by their cashier, till the fame fhall be redeemed by parliament according to this act; and that the faid governor and company of the bank of England, or any members thereof, fhall not incur any difability for or by reafon of their doing any matter or thing in pursuance of this act. XXX. And it is hereby enacted by the authority aforefaid, That no fee or gratuity whatsoever fhall or may be demanded C. 21. Bank a corpo ties, or taken of any of his Majefty's fubjects, for receiving or pay- No fees for ing fuch monies as fhall be advanced at the Exchequer for the paying or purposes aforefaid, or for any tallies, or other matters concern- transfeiring ing the fame, or for iffuing the faid general fund of feven hun- their annuidred twenty four thoufand eight hundred forty nine pounds fix fhillings and ten pence and one fifth part of a penny per annum, or any part thereof, or for paying the faid feveral and refpective annuities, or any of them, by the faid cashier for the time being; and that no fee or gratuity fhall be demanded or taken for any transfer of any fum, great or small, to be made in purfuance of this act, upon pain, that any officer or perfon offending, by taking or demanding any fee or gratuity contrary to this aft, fhall forfeit the fum of twenty pounds to the party grieved, to 8 14 be recovered with full cofts in any of his Majefty's courts of record at Westminster. charges XXXI. Provided always, and it is hereby enacted, That the commiffioners of the treasury, or high treasurer for the time being, fhall have power to pay and allow, or caufe to be paid Trenfor and allowed, out of the monies arifing of or for the faid general alow H yearly fund, as aforefaid, fuch falaries and allowances as they and clay fhall think reasonable, as well to the faid managers and direct- executing this ors, as to the faid cashier and accountant general for the time act. being, for their pains and service refpectively, in performance of the feveral trufts in them repofed by this act; and to allow and pay out of the fame money all other charges for books, under-clerks, or other matters or things which fhall be neceffarily incident in or for the execution of this act. Dd 4 XXXII. And XXXII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That the intereft after the rate of four pounds per centum per annum, payable from the twenty fourth day of June one thoufand feven hundred and feventeen, on the debentures authorizIntereft of 41. ed to be made forth by an act of this feffion of parliament for per cent. to be ftating and determining debts due to the army, fhall from time paid out of the to time, as the fame fhall become due and payable, during the general fund continuance thereof, be fatisfied and paid out of the monies of on army de. bentures of the faid general fund by this act established or intended to be this feffion. established, as aforefaid, and fhall be imprefted, from time to 13 Geo. 1. c. 3. time, to the paymafter of the forces for that purpose. Provifo for redemption of all the annuities upon repayment of the principal by parliament. vifo for re XXXIII. Provided always, and it is hereby enacted by the authority aforefaid, That at any time, upon notice to be given or left at the publick office of the governor and company of the bank of England, by authority of parliament, at any of the faid quarterly feaft-days for payment of the faid annuities, and upon repayment by parliament of the respective principal fums for which the faid annuities thall be payable by the faid cashier of the bank for the time being, and whereupon the faid respective annuities are to be computed, as aforefaid, to fuch rеfpective perfons and corporations as fhall be entitled to the faid annuities, according to fuch intereft as they refpectively shall then have in the faid annuities, and alfo upon full payment and fatisfaction of all arrears of the faid annuities, if any thall be then due, then and not till then, the fame annuities shall cease and determine; any thing herein contained to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding. XXXIV. And in regard it is intended, That upon fuch notice to be given at any quarterly feaft-day, all the principal monies for which the faid annuities fall be payable, may be fatisfied by any payments, not being less than five hundred thousand pounds of lawful money of Great Britain at a time, and that as the faid principal monies fball Another pro- be paid off, the faid annuities, and the capital flock for the fame, shall proportionably fink and be abated: be it therefore further provided demption up- and enacted by the authority aforefaid, That if at any time or of the printimes notice fhall be given or left at any of the faid quarterly cipal by par- feaft-days by authority of parliament, for redemption of the cels, not being faid annuities by this act payable by the cafhier of the bank, as aforefaid; and if payment after fuch notice given be made by 500,000l. at a parliament to the refpective perfons and corporations as fhall be lefs than time. then entitled to the faid annuities, according to fuch refpective interefts as they fhall have in the faid annuities, of any fum or fums of money, not being lefs than five hundred thoufand pounds to all the proprietors at a time in part of the refpective principal fums for which the faid annuities thall be payable, as aforefaid; as alfo if payment be made of all arrearages then due to them of the fame annuities, or fo much of thofe, arrearages as fhall bear a proportion to the principal monies, from time to time, remaining unfatisfied, being computed till the time of every fuch payment of part of the principal respectively, then from and after every fuch payment fo made, fo much of the the faid annuities as fhall bear proportion to the monies so paid in part of the faid principal, fhall ceafe, determine and be abated; any thing in this, or in any former act or acts of parliament, or other matter or thing whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding. 9 XXXV. And it is hereby declared and enacted by the authority aforefaid, That any vote or refolution of the house of commons, fignified by their fpeaker in writing, to be delivered at the publick office of the governor and company of the bank of England, fhall be deemed and adjudged to be fufficient notice within the words and meaning of this act; any thing herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding. of the house of commons, fig (peaker, a fufficient notice. See 13 Geo. 1. c. 3. 1. I. f. XXXVI. And whereas in and by an act of this feffion of parlia- A refolution ment, for redeeming feveral funds of the governor and company of the bank of England, (amongst other things) it is declared and enacted, nified by their That the excess or furplus, which at the end of every or any quarter of a year (reckoning the quarters to end at the four moft ufual feaft-days therein mentioned) fhall and may be produced by the feveral rates, duties, revenues and incomes thereby appropriated, or mentioned to be 3 Geo. 1. c. 8. appropriated as is therein expreffed, and fhall remain in the Exchequer . 24. (over and above the money then due and demandable for or upon the Jeveral annuities, allowances, and other payments by that act payable, or any arrears of the fame) fhall extend to the difpofition of parliament, and be applied according to act or acts of parliament, and not otherwife; and in and by another act of this feffion of parliament, for redeeming the yearly fund of the governor and company of merchants of Great Britain trading to the South-Seas, and other parts of America, and for encouraging the fishery, (amongst other things) it is enacted, That if at any time or times, at the end of any quarter of a gear (reckoning the quarters to end at the ufual feafts therein alfo 3 Geo. 1. c. 7. mentioned) there fhall be an excess or furplus of the monies brought 1. 14. into the Exchequer, of the rates, duties, impofitions and revenues, and proportional parts of them, or any of them in that aƐt mentioned, and fuch excefs and furplus fhall remain there over and above the money then or before that time grown due, by or in pursuance of that aft, for fuch annual and other payments as are thereby prescribed, then and fo often, and in every fuch cafe, fuch excess or furplus fhall, from time to time, attend the difpofition of parliament, and be applied according to act or acts of parliament, and not otherwise: now it is hereby also enacted by the authority aforefaid, That the excess or furplus, which at the end of every or any quarter of a year, (reckoning the quarters to end at the four moft ufual feaft-days before-mentioned) fhall and may be produced by the customs, fubfidies, impofitions, additional and other duties, proportional parts of duties, and by the faid weekly and other payments by The excess or this prefent act appropriated or charged to make good the faid furplus of any general yearly fund of feven hundred twenty-four thoufand eight difpofeable by hundred forty-nine pounds fix fhillings and ten pence and one parliament. fifth part of a peony, in and by this act established or intended 5 Geo. to be eftablished, as aforefaid, over and above fo much as fhall C. 3. f. 1, be fufficient to make good the fame, and fo much of the fame general quarter to be See general yearly fund as at the end of any quarter of a year, as aforefaid, fhall remain in the receipt of the Exchequer, over and above all the monies then due or payable, to discharge the faid feveral annuities and other payments by this act directed to be fatisfied out of the fame, and all arrears thereof (if any fuch be) fhall likewife, from time to time, attend the difpofition of parliament, and be applied according to act or acts of parlia ment, and not otherwise. XXXVII. And be it enacted and declared by the authority aforefaid, That all the monies to arife, from time to time, as well of or for the faid excess or furplus by virtue of the said act made for redeeming the funds of the governor and company of the bank of England, and of or for the faid excefs or furplus by virtue of the faid act made for redeeming the funds of the faid Overplus mo- governor and company of merchants of Great Britain trading to nies to be em- the South-Seas, and other parts of America, and for encouraging ployed for the the fishery, as alfo of and for the faid excefs or furplus of the difcharging, faid duties and revenues, by this act appropriated, as aforesaid, debts, incur- and the faid overplus monies of the faid general yearly fund by red before 25 this act established or intended to be established, as aforefaid, Dec. 1716, as fhall be appropriated, referved and employed, to and for the pointed by fu- difcharging the principal and intereft of fuch national debts and fuch national fhall be ap ture acts. C. 4. incumbrances as were incurred before the five and twentieth See 6 Geo. 1. day of December one thousand seven hundred and fixteen, and are declared to be national debts, and are provided for by act of parliament, in fuch manner and form as fhall be directed or appointed by any future act or acts of parliament to be discharge ed therewith or out of the fame, and to and for none other use, intent or purpose whatsoever. XXXVIII. And whereas by the act of tonnage and poundage made in the twelfth year of the reign of his late majesty King Charles the Second, and the book of rates thereto annexed, and by other acts of parliament fince made and now in force, feveral duties are payable to his Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, for and upon linfeed imported; and it having been found by experience that thofe duties are a difcou ragement to the importation thereof, and that fhould they be difconti12 Car. 2. c. 4. nued and taken off, the fame would tend to the fervice of the woollen and other manufactures, and to the improvement of tillage in this kingdom: be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That from and after the first day of August one thousand seven hundred and feventeen, it fhall and may be lawful to and for any perfon or perfons to import linfeed into this kingdom, without paying to his Majefty, his heirs and fucceffors, any custom, fubfidy or other duties for the fame; any thing in the faid act of tonnage and poundage, or any other act or acts of parliament to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding. Linfeed may be imported duty-free. XXXIX. And whereas in and by the act of tonnage and poundage, and the faid book of rates, which act has been by feveral fubfequent acts of parliament continued, and is now in force, a duty of fix pence is payable upon the exportation of every piece of linen cloth of British manufacture made of hemp or flax, fine or course, not exceeding forsy ells ells (except British-made fail-cloth, which by law is permitted to be exported duty-free :) and whereas the faid duty is a difcouragement to the faid manufacture which employs many thousands of the poor of this kingdom; be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That from and after the said first day of August one thousand seven hundred and feventeen, it fhall and may be lawful to and for any perfon or perfons to export out of this kingdom, to parts beyond the feas, all forts of linen cloth of the manufacture of this kingdom, which fhall be made of hemp or flax, whether fine or coarfe, free of all duties payable to his Majesty, his heirs or fucceffors; any thing in the faid act of tonnage and poundage, or any other act, or any thing to the contrary thereof in any wife notwithstanding. 12 Car, 2. c. 4. free. XL. Provided always, and be it hereby further enacted, That British linen all drawbacks, allowances and abatements granted or enacted may be exto be made by any act or acts of parliament now in force, upon ported duty-, or out of any duties upon any goods or merchandizes imported or exported, fhall be and continue, and are hereby continued, until the duties on which fuch allowances, drawbacks or abate1ments are granted or enacted to be made, shall respectively cease and determine, continue till duty ceases. liament. 3 Geo. I. c. 3. XLI. And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That All drawall the monies lent to his Majefty at the receipt of Exche- backs, &c. to quer, upon credit of a vote or refolution of the house of commons, made and paffed on or about the fifth day of March one thoufand feven hundred and fixteen, not exceeding fix hundred thousand pounds, for the fervice of the publick, by fea or land, which loans, with the intereft thereof, were appointed to be transferred to the register upon the act, intituled, An act for granting an aid to his Majefty by a land-tax in Great Britain, for propriating all Claufe for ap the fervice of the year one thousand seven hundred and feventeen, and the monies all other the monies lent and to be lent to his Majefty upon that granted this act, and fo much money (if any fuch be) of the tax thereby feffion of pargranted, as fhall arise and remain after all the loans made or to be made on that act, or thereby transferred, or directed to be transferred thereunto, and the interest thereof, and the charges thereby allowable for raifing the faid tax, fhall be fatisfied, or monies fufficient fhall be referved to discharge the fame; and all the monies lent and to be lent to his Majefty upon an act of this feflion of parliament for continuing the duties on malt, mum, cyder, and perry, for the fervice of the year one thou fand feven hundred and feventeen, and fo much of the duties on malt, mum, cyder, and perry thereby granted or continued, as fhall arife and remain (if any fuch be) after all the loans made or to be made on the fame act, or thereby transferred, or directed to be transferred thereunto, and the intereft thereof, 3 Geo. x. c. 4. and the charges thereby allowable for raifing the fame duties, fhall be fatisfied, or monies fufficient fhall be reserved to difcharge the fame, fhall be appropriated and applied, and are hereby appropriated for or towards the feveral ufes, intents and purposes herein expreffed, fubject nevertheless to such reftric |