44 G.3.c.99. Persons pose sessed of 5 per Cent. per as therein after is mentioned, at his, her or their Election; and that after Six Months previous Notice of such his, her or their Intention, the said Annuities should be redeemed and paid off, or converted into such Annuities accordingly: And Whereas 'the Commons of Great Britain in Parliament assembled, did, on the Eighth Day of December One thousand seven hundred and ninety six, resolve that the Sum of Eighteen Millions be • raised by Annuities: and did also resolve that every Contributor to the said Sum of Eighteen Millions should, for every One hundred Pounds contributed and paid, be entitled to the principal Sum of One hundred and twelve Pounds Ten Shillings in Annuities after the Rate of Five Pounds per Centum per • Annum, to commence from the Tenth Day of October One thou• sand seven hundred and ninety six, and to be irredeemable, unless with the Consent of the Proprietors thereof, until the Expiration of Three Years from the Period at which the existing Annuities, after the Rate of Five Pounds Centum per Annum, • should be redeemed and paid off, or the Interest payable thereon reduced; that every Proprietor of the said Annuities should, at his Desire, on Three Months' Notice, be entitled at any Period of Time, not less than Two Years after the End of the present 'War and Ratification of the Definitive Treaty of Peace thereupon, to have the said Annuities redeemed, either by the Pay⚫ment of One hundred Pounds for every One hundred Pounds of such Annuities, or of One hundred and thirty three Pounds Six Shillings and Eight Pence Capital in the Three Pounds per Centum Consolidated Annuities, at the Option of such Proprietor: And Whereas an Act passed in the last Session of Parliament, intituled An Act for granting additional Annuities to the Proprietors of Stock created by Two Acts passed in the Thirty • seventh and Forty second Years of his present Majesty: And Whereas certain of the Proprietors of Stock, created by the said Two first recited Acts, have in pursuance of the Provisions of the said last recited Act, taken Annuities granted by the said Act for such Stock: And Whereas certain of the other Proprietors of such Stock, to the Amount of Four Millions four hundred and forty eight thousand eight hundred and seventeen Pounds Four Shillings and Six Pence Capital Stock, did, on or before the Tenth Day of October One thousand eight hundred and four, signify to the Governor and Company of the Bank of England their Election to ' have the same paid off in Money on the Fifth Day of April next : 'And Whereas it is expedient that Provision should be made for redeeming and paying off the said Annuities by converting the same into other Annuities at the Option of such Proprietors on ' certain Terms:' May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted, and be it enacted by the King's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That all Persons and Bodies Politic and Corporate, possessed of any Capital Stock in the Annuities, after the Rate of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum, granted by the said recited Acts of the Thirty seventh and Forty second Years aforesaid, who did, on or before the Tenth Day of October One thousand eight hundred and four, signify to Annuities of 37 G.3. c. 10. and 42 G.3. c.8. and having signified their Election, to be paid off under 44 G.3. c.99. on signifying to the Bank, before March 11, 1805, their Desire of taking the Benefit of this Act, shall be entitled to the mentioned. the Governor and Company of the Bank of England their Elec- certain Antion to have the same paid off in Money on the Fifth Day of nuities as herein April next, and who shall, by themselves or any Agents duly authorized, further signify to the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, on or before the Eleventh Day of March One thousand eight hundred and five, their Desire to take the Benefit of the Terms contained in this Act, shall, from and after the Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and five, be entitled to receive, for every One hundred Pounds of such Capital Stock, and in lieu thereof, so much Capital Stock either in the Consolidated Annuities after the Rate of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum, created by an Act made in the Twenty fourth Year of His present Majesty, and several subsequent Acts, receiving thereon One Half Year's Dividend on the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and five, or so much Capital Stock in Reduced Annuities after the Rate of Three Pounds per Centum per Annum, as shall be equal in Value to One hundred Pounds Sterling, together with such further Sum in the said last mentioned Capital Stock as shall be equal in Value to Ten Shillings Sterling on every One hundred Pounds of such Capital Stock in Reduced Annuities after the Rate of Three Pounds per Centum per Annum, the Interest whereon to commence from the Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and five; or to have any Proportion thereof in such Annuities after the Rate of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum, or of Three Pounds per Centum per Annum respectively, as shall be specified by any such Persons or Bodies Politic or Corporate respectively, at the Time of signifying such Desire to take the Benefit of the Terms of this Act as aforesaid; the Value of such several Annuities to be computed and taken on the average Price of such Annuities respectively, on the last Ten Days previous to the Twenty sixth Day of February One thousand eight hundred and five, on which any Transfer shall have been made in the said last mentioned Capital Stocks at the Bank of England, after making a Deduction of the Amount of the Dividend due or accruing thereon; such Average as aforesaid to be settled and declared by the Governor and Deputy Governor of the Bank of England. II. And be it further enacted, That in case any Persons, or Bodies Politic or Corporate possessed of any such Five Pound per Centum Annuities, and who shall have signified such Election as aforesaid, shall not, on or before the said Eleventh Day of March One thousand eight hundred and five, by themselves or any Agents duly authorized, further signify to the Governor and Company of the Bank of England their Desire to take the Benefit of the Terms contained in this Act, it shall be lawful for the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty's Treasury, or any Three or more of them, to contract and agree with any Person or Persons, or Bodies Politic or Corporate, to contribute such Sums as shall be necessary to pay the same off on the Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and five, and to give for every One hundred Pounds in Money to be paid by such Person or Persons, Bodies Politic or Corporate, on or before the Fifth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and five, at the Bank of England, such Amount of Capital Stock, either in Annuities, after the Rate 1 Persons de- Annuities on The Five per nuities granted under this Act shall be added to the Joint Stock of Five per Cents. The Three per Annuities so granted shall be added to the Joint Stock of Three per Cents. Re duced. Times of of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum, or of Three Pounds III. And be it further enacted, That all the Annuities, after the IV. And be it further enacted, That all the Annuities, after the Rate of Three Pounds per Centum per Annum, to which any Persons or Bodies Politic or Corporate may become entitled by virtue of this Act, shall be added to the Joint Stock of Annuities transferable at the Bank of England, which, by an Act, made in the Twenty third Year of the Reign of His late Majesty, were reduced from Four Pounds per Centum per Annum to Three Pounds Centum per per per Annum, and shall be deemed Part of the said Joint Stock of Annuities, subject nevertheless to Redemption by Parliament, in such Manner and upon such Notice as in the several Acts by which the said Annuities, after the Rate of Four Pounds per Annum were respectively granted, are directed in respect of the Annuities redeemable by virtue thereof; and that all Persons and Corporations whatsoever, in Proportion to the Annuities to which they shall become entitled as aforesaid by virtue of this Act, shall have and be deemed to have a proportional Interest and Share in the said Joint Stock of Annuities at the Rate aforesaid. per Centum V. And be it further enacted, That all such Annuities shall be payable Half yearly at the Bank of England, at the most usual Days of Payment in the Year for such respective Annuities; that is to say, the Fifth Day of January and the Fifth Day of July in every Year for and in respect of the said several Annuities after the Rate of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum; and the Fifth Day of April and the Tenth Day of October in every Year for and in respect of the said several Annuities after the Rate of Three Pounds Centum per Annum; the First Payment on the said several Ânnuities after the Rate of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum to be due on the Fifth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and five, and on the said Reduced Annuities after the Rate of Three Pounds per Centum per Annum on the Tenth Day of October One thousand eight hundred and five; and that all Persons and Corporations entitled to any such Annuity or Annuities aforesaid, and his, her and their Administrators, Successors and per Assigns Assigns respectively, and all Persons and Corporations lawfully claiming under him, her or them, shall have good, sure, absolute and indefeasible Estates and Interests in the said respective Annuities, according to the true Tenor and Meaning of this Act, until the Redemption or Expiration thereof in the Manner herein directed. Fund. VI. And be it further enacted, That all the said Annuities shall Annuities paybe charged and chargeable upon and payable out of the Consoli- able out of the dated Fund of Great Britain, after paying, or reserving sufficient Consolidated to pay, all such Sums of Money as have been directed by any former Act or Acts of Parliament to be paid out of the same; and that the said several Annuities of Five Pounds per Centum per Annum and of Three Pounds per Centum per Annum respectively, shall be subject to Redemption by Parliament in Manner mentioned in this Act. Accountant. VII. And, for the more easy and sure Payment of the Annuities Bank to appoint established by this Act, it it hereby enacted, That the said Governor a Cashier and and Company of the Bank of England, and their Successors, shall from time to time, appoint and employ One or more sufficient Person or Persons within their Office in the City of London, to be their Chief or First Cashier or Cashiers, and One other Person or Persons within the same Office to be their Accountant General; and that so much of the Monies from time to time being in the Receipt of the Exchequer of the said Consolidated Fund, by this Act made applicable for the Purposes as shall be sufficient to answer the said Annuities, shall by the Order of the Commissioners of the Treasury, or any Three or more of them, or the High Treasurer for the time being, without any further or other Warrant to be sued for, had or obtained in that Behalf, from time to time, at the respective Days of Payment in this Act appointed, be issued and paid at the said Receipt of the Exchequer, to the First or Chief Cashier or Cashiers of the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, and their Successors for the time being, by Way of Imprest, and upon Account for the Payment of the said Annuities; and that such Cashier or Cashiers, to whom the said Monies shall from time to time be issued, shall from time to time, without Delay, apply and pay the same accordingly, and render his or their Accounts thereof according to the due Course of the Exchequer. VIII. And it is hereby also enacted, That the said Accountant Accountant General for the time being shall, from time to time, inspect and examine all Receipts and Payments of the said Cashier or Cashiers, and the Vouchers relating thereto, in order to prevent any Fraud, Negligence or Delay. IX. And be it further enacted, That the said respective Capitals or Joint Stocks, or any Share or Interest in either of them, shall (except so far as by this Act is provided) be assignable and transferable as this Act directs and not otherwise; and that there shall constantly be kept in the Office of the Accountant General for the time being, within the City of London, a Book or Books, wherein all Assignments or Transfers of the said respective Capitals or Joint Stocks, or any Part thereof, and the proportional Annuities attending the same, at the Rates aforesaid, shall be entered and registered; which Entries shall be conceived in proper Words for that Purpose, and shall be signed by the Parties making such General to inspect Receipt, Stocks may be &c. of Cashier. transferred. Transfers free from Stamp Duty. Annuities to be deemed Personal Estate. The Bank to continue a Corporation for the Purposes of this Act. Treasury to reward the Bank for their Execution of this Act. Assignments or Transfers, or if any such Party or Parties be absent, by his, her or their Attorney or Attornies thereunto lawfully authorized by Writing under his, her or their Hands and Seals, to be attested by Two or more credible Witnesses; ́ and that the Person or Persons to whom any such Transfer shall be made, shall respectively underwrite his or their Acceptance thereof; and that no other Method of assigning or transferring the said respective Capitals or Joint Stocks, and the Annuities attending the same, or any Part thereof, or any Interest therein, shall be good and available in Law; and that no Stamp Duties whatsoever shall be charged on the said Transfers, or any of them: Provided always, that all Persons possessed of any Share or Interest in any of the said several Joint Stocks of Annuities, or any Estate or Interest therein, may devise the same by Will in Writing, attested by Two or more credible Witnesses; but that no Payment shall be made upon any such Devise until so much of the said Will as relates to such Estate, Share or Interest be entered in the respective Offices; and that in Default of such Transfer or Devise as aforesaid, such Share, Estate or Interest, shall go to the Executors, Administrators, Successors and Assigns. X. And be it further enacted, That all Persons who shall be entitled to any of the Annuities hereby granted, and all Persons lawfully claiming under them, shall be possessed thereof as of a Personal Estate, which shall not be descendible to Heirs, nor liable to any foreign Attachment by the Custom of London or otherwise; any Law, Statute or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding. XI. Provided also, and be it further enacted, That the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, and their Successors, notwithstanding the Redemption of all or any of their own Funds, in pursuance of the Acts for establishing the same, or any of them, shall continue a Corporation for the Purposes of this Act, until all the said Annuities shall be redeemed as aforesaid; and the said Governor and Company, or any Member thereof, shall not incur any Disability for or by reason of his or their doing any Matter or Thing in pursuance of this Act. XII. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That the Commissioners of the Treasury, or any Three or more of them now Service in the being, or the High Treasurer, or any Three or more of the Commissioners of the Treasury for the time being, shall have Power, and they are hereby authorized, out of the said Consolidated Fund, to reward all such Persons as shall be any ways employed in the Execution of this Act, for their Service, Pains and Labour; and also to defray such incident Charges as shall necessarily attend the same; and also to settle and appoint such Allowances as they shall think proper for the Service, Pains and Labour of the Cashier or Cashiers of the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, for receiving, paying and accounting for the said Annuities made payable by this Act; and also for the Service, Pains and Trouble of the said Accountant General of the said Governor and Company, for performing the Duty and Trust incumbent on or reposed in him by this Act; all which Allowances to be made as aforesaid in respect of the Service, Pains and Labour of any Officer or Officers of the said Governor and Company, and at |