the lords spiritual and temporal, and commons, in this present parliament assembled, and by the authority of the fame, That any person or persons, bodies politick or corporate, who now Persons inteor hereafter may be interested in, or intitled unto, any part of rested in the the faid national debt redeemable by law, incurred before Mi- national debt, chaelmas, one thousand seven hundred and forty nine, amount- amounting to 57,703,4751. ing in the whole to the sum of fifty seven millions seven hun-68.4d.2q. dred three thousand four hundred seventy five pounds, fix thil- which now lings and four pence halfpenny, which now carries an interest carries an intereft of 41. after the rate of four pounds per centum per annum, and who have per cent. or shall, on or before the faid twenty eighth day of February, one who thall conthousand seven hundred and forty nine, subscribe their names sent to accept or fignify their confent, to accept of an interest of three pounds of 3 1. per cent. per centum per annum, to commence from the faid twenty fifth from 25 Dec. 1757, shall reday of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, ceive 41. per fubject to the same provifoes, notices, and clauses of redemp-cent. until tion, which their respective four per cents are now liable to, 25 Dec. 1750, shall, in lieu of their present interest be intitled unto, and receive an interest of four pounds per centum per annum, until the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty; and from and after the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, an interest of three pounds ten thillings per centum per annum until the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven; and no part of the fame, except what is due to the East India company, shall be liable to be redeemed till after the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven.

and 31. 108. per cent. until 25 Dec. 1757. 23Geo.2. C.22.

in the fame

II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That The faid anthe several annuities of four pounds per centum per annum, now nuities made payable in respect of the said principal fum of fifty seven milli- payable and ons seven hundred three thousand four hundred seventy five transferrable pounds, fix shillings, and four pence halfpenny, to the proprie- manner as the tors thereof, and by this act continued to them until the faid present annuitwenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and ties, fifty, as also the several and respective reduced annuities of three pounds ten shillings per centum per annum, and three pounds per centum per annum, by this act made payable in lieu thereof, from the respective days therein mentioned, shall during the respective continuances thereof, be paid and payable to the respective persons and corporations intitled thereunto, their executors, administrators, and affigns, at the same respective offices and places, and out of the same duties, revenues, and incomes, and at such time or times, and shall be affignable, transferrable, and disposeable, in the same manner and form, as the said annuities of four pounds per centum per annum, are now payable, affignable, transferrable, and disposeable, by the respective acts or statutes now in force, for or concerning the fame, and as if this present act had never been made, subject subject to redemption nevertheless to redemption by parliament, from the faid twenty after 25 Dec. fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty 1757. seven,

B2

seven, in manner herein after-mentioned; any thing herein contained to the contrary thereof, in any wife notwithstanding. III. And whereas books have been already opened in pursuance of a resolution of the commons of Great Britain, in this session of parliament, in the office of the auditor of the receipt of his Majesty's exchequer at Westminster, and also at the respective offices of the governor and company of the bank of England, and of the faid governor and company of merchants of Great Britain trading to the South Seas, and for encouraging the fishery, commonly called the South Sea Company, for taking in the fubfcriptions, or receiving the consents of such persons or corporations, as now are, or shall be, interested in, or intitled unto, any part of the said annuities or interests, after the faid rate of four pounds per centum per annum, who are willing to accept of an annuity of three pounds ten shillings per centum per annum, in lieu thereof, from the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, until the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, and of an annuity of three pounds per centum per annum, from the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty Seven, in such manner as hath already been, or hereafter shall be directed in that behalf: and whereas in pursuance of the faid refolution, notices have already been affixed in the office of the auditor of the Said receipt of exchequer, and in other the publick offices aforesaid, and at the Royal Exchange of London, and also published in the London Gazette, that the book or books for taking in the faid fubfcriptions, or receiving the faid consents, were laid open at the faid receipt of exchequer, and in other the publick offices aforesaid, to the end the proprietors of the faid annuities, after the said rate of four pounds per centum per annum, might be apprized thereof, and make their Subscriptions, or give their consents, in the faid respective book or books, under a proper preface to be prepared for that purpose, by subScribing their respective sums, names, and places of abode, with his, her, or their respective proper additions: and whereas it may so happen, that notwithstanding the said several notices, many of the perfons or corporations intitled to the faid annuities or interests, after the faid rate of four pounds per centum per annum, may hitherto have omitted to make fuch subscriptions, or give their consents in the faid books, in the manner before-mentioned; be it therefore enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said several and respective books shall constantly be opened at the said receipt of exchequer, and other the publick offices aforesaid, for that purpose Feb. 1749, for every day, Sundays only excepted, until the said twenty eighth subscriptions day of February, one thousand seven hundred and forty nine, of the 41. per inclusive, and no longer; fubject nevertheless to such further

1

Books to be

open at the exchequer, &c. until 28

directions, with respect to the taking in or receiving such subSee 23 Geo. 2. fcriptions or consents from the proprietors of the said annuities of four pounds per centum per annum, as shall or may be given by the commiffioners of the treasury or any three or more of them now being, or the high treasurer, or any three or more of the commissioners of the treasury for the time being, for the benefit and advantage of the publick; and it shall and may be lawful

i

lawful to and for the proprietors of the said annuities of four
pounds per centum per annum, or such person or persons, as he,
she or they shall respectively authorize and impower by wri-
ting in that behalf, to subscribe or consent for them, in manner
aforesaid, to have free access to the said several books, at all
seasonable hours, and they have hereby power to make their
subscriptions, or give their consents therein, for the whole sum
or fums due to them, or any of them, according to this act,
without any fee or charge whatsoever; and the several and re-
spective officers of the said receipt of exchequer, and of other
the publick offices aforesaid, appointed or to be appointed to
take in such subscriptions, or receive such consents, as aforesaid,
shall, during the time aforesaid, constantly attend at the faid re-
spective offices for that purpose, at such hours as business is ufu-
ally transacted at the faid several and respective publick offices.

cured to the subscribers;

IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, Annuities seThat all and every person and persons, bodies politick or corporate, who have or shall, on or before the faid twenty eighth day of February, one thousand seven hundred and forty nine, have subscribed, or given their consent in the book or books aforesaid, to accept of an interest or annuity after the rate of three pounds ten shillings per centum per annum, from the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, until the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven; and of an annuity of three pounds per centum per annum, to commence from the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty feven, in lieu of their present annuities of four pounds per centum per annum, shall have, receive, and enjoy, and they are hereby declared to be intitled to an annuity of three pounds ten shillings per centum per annum, from the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, until the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven; and to an annuity of three pounds per centum per annum, from the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, redeemable by parliament, in manner herein-after mentioned; and the said annuities of three pounds ten shillings per centum per annum, and three pounds per centum per annum, and the principal or capital for which the same shall be payable, are hereby declared, and shall be adjudged, taken, and accepted in construction of law, and in all courts of law and equity whatsoever, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, to be a personal and not a real estate, and personal estate, shall go to the executors or administrators of the perfon or perfons dying possessed thereof, interested therein, or intitled thereunto, and not to the heirs of such person or persons; any law, statute, custom, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding; and that the faid annuities shall be free from all taxes, charges, free from and impofitions whatsoever, in the same manner as they now taxes.

are.

V. And it is hereby enacted and declared, That it shall and Executors,

B 3

may

&c. impower- may be lawful for all executors, administrators, guardians, truf

ed to fub

scribe.

Treasury to defray the charges

The funds

made subject to the reduced interest,

and the fur

tees, committees of the estates of ideots or lunaticks, and the accomptant general of the court of chancery, and the deputy remembrancer of his Majesty's court of exchequer, to make, or cause to be made, subscriptions in the faid book or books, fignifying their confent to accept an interest or annuity of three pounds ten shillings per centum per annum, from the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, until the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, and of an annuity of three pounds per centum per annum, to commence from the said twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, for and on the behalf of their respective teftators, infants, minors, femes covert, ideots, or lunaticks, and the suitors of the court of chancery, and of the faid court of exchequer, and others, for whom they are or shall be respectively entrusted; and such executors, administrators, guardians, trustees, committees, and accomptant general, and deputy remembrancer, are, and shall be, by virtue of this act, indemnified in and for doing the

fame.

VI. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the commiffioners of the treasury, or any three or more of them now being, or the high treasurer, or any three or more of the commiffioners of the treasury for the time being, shall have power, and they are hereby authorized, out of any money remaining in the receipt of the exchequer, of or for the duties, revenues, and incomes appropriated for the payment of the faid annuities of four pounds per centum per annum, to reward all fuch perfons as shall be any ways employed in the execution of this act, in relation to the taking in such fubscriptions, or receiving such consents as aforesaid, and to defray all fuch incident charges, as shall necessarily attend the execution of the said act, in such manner as to them shall feem just and reasonable.

VII. And it is hereby also enacted by the authority aforefaid, That all the duties, revenues, and incomes which are now appropriated, subject, or applicable to the payment of the faid annuities of four pounds per contum per annum, shall, from and after the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, be subject and liable to the payment of fuch of the faid annuities of four pounds per centum per annum, as shall not be subscribed, in case any shall be unfubfcribed, and also of the said reduced annuities of three pounds ten shillings, and three pounds per centum per annum, in the fame manner, to all intents and purposes, as the fame were liable and subject to the payment of the said annuities of four pounds per centum per annum; and all the monies coming into the exchequer, of or for the feveral duties, revenues, and incomes, appropriated, fubject, or liable to the payment of the faid unsubscribed annuities and of the faid reduced annuities of three pounds ten Chillings per centum per annum, and three pounds per centum per annum,

which shall be more than sufficient to answer and pay the said respective annuities, shall, from and after the faid twenty fifth day of December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty, be applied to the fame uses, intents, and purposes, and in the fame manner, as the several surplusses, excesses, or overplus monies of the said duties, revenues, and incomes are now applicable.

VIII. Provided always, and it is hereby enacted by the autho- Clause of rerity aforesaid, That from and after the said twenty fifth day of demption. December, one thousand seven hundred and fifty seven, the faid reduced annuities of three pounds per centum per annum, shall and may be redeemed by parliament, upon giving the faid notices, and making the same payments of principal money at a time to such persons or corporations as now are, or hereafter shall be, intitled to the said annuities, and of all arrearages of the faid annuities, as are directed to be given and made by the several and respective acts, by which the said several annuities, after the rate of four pounds per centum per annum, were made payable, and from and after payment of any such principal money, to the said persons or corporations, as are or shall be intitled to the fame, a proportional part of the said annuities shall cease and determine, and be understood to be redeemed; any thing in this or any former act or acts of parliament to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding.

CAP. II.

An act for granting an aid to his Majesty by a land tax to be raised in Great Britain, for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty. EXP. At 35. in the pound.

CAP. III.

An act for continuing and granting to his Majesty certain duties upon malt, mum, cyder, and perry, for the service of the year one thousand seven hundred and fifty. EXP.

CAP. IV.

An act for punishing mutiny and desertion; and for the better payment of the army and their quarters. EXP.

CAP. V.

An act for enlarging the term and powers granted by an act passed in the
fifth year of the reign of his present Majesty, for repairing and amend-
ing the roads leading from the town of Manchester in the county of
Lancaster, through the town of Ashton under Line, and parish of Mot-
tram Longdendale, and from thence to Salters Brook in the county pa-
latine of Chester.

The act 5 Geo. 2. c. 10. continued for 21 years.
CAP. VI.

An act for repairing, improving, and maintaining the haven
and piers of Great Yarmouth; and for depthening, and
making more navigable the several rivers emptying them-
Selves into the said haven; and also for preserving ships,
wintering therein, from accidents by fire.

HEREAS by

an att made in the twentieth year of his

pre- 20 Geo. 2. co revive, continue, c. 40.

and