CAP. XXI. An alt for bolding the fummer affixes, and feffions of the peace, for the county of Norfolk, in the city and county of Norwich, until a new fhire boufe can be built for the faid county of Norfolk, and for building a new shire house on the caftle bill in the fame county; and for raising money on the faid county for that purpose. WHEREAS the bire boufe of the county of Norfolk, late fituate on the caftle bill in the faid county, in which the fummer affixes, and general quarter feffions of the peace of and for the faid county, have been always holden, and other publick business of the faid county tranfacted, hath, by accident, been lately entirely burnt down: and whereas it is abfolutely neceffary, that a new fhire house should be erected there for the purposes aforefaid; but the fame cannot be rebuilt, completed, and finished, against the next fummer affizes to be holden for the faid county of Norfolk, which will be in the year of our Lord one thousand. feven hundred and forty feven; and there is no place fo convenient for the holding fuch fummer affixes, and the general quarter feffions of the peace, and for tranfacting other publick business for the faid county of Norfolk, as the city of Norwich, which lies in or near the centre of the faid county; but the faid city being a county of itself, diftinct from the faid county of Norfolk, the faid affizes, or feffions of the peace for the faid county of Norfolk, cannot, by any law now in being, be held within the faid city and county of Norwich: and whereas the mayor, fheriffs, citizens, and commonalty of the faid city of Norwich, in common council assembled, have confented to the holding of the faid affizes and feffions within the city and county of Norwich aforefaid; be it therefore enacted, &c. The fummer affizes, and feffions of the peace for the county of Norfolk to be held at Norwich. The thire houfe of Norfolk to be rebuilt, &c. at the county charge. Quarter feffions to contract for building thereof. Money to be raised by a general rate. CAP. XXII. An act for building a bridge cross the river Thames, from the parish of Walton upon Thames in the county of Surrey, to Shepperton in the county of Middlesex. Samuel Dicker efquire, impowered to build a bridge from Walton to Shepperton. Open paffage to be left for the water to pafs 212 feet. Burning or deftroying the bridge, or taking away, &c. any of the works, felony. Pontage to be paid. For every coach, or other vehicle, drawn by 6 horses, 2 s. by 4 horfes 1 s. 6d. by lefs than 4 horfes, 1 s. For every waggon, cart, or carriage drawn by 4 horfes or oxen, 1 s. 6 d. and by less than four, 1 s. For every horse, &c. not drawing, 1 d. For every foot paffenger, 2q. For every drove of neat cattle, 12 d. per fcore. For every drove of calves, hogs, fheep, or lambs, 6 d. per fcore. Tolls vefted in Mr. Dicker, to be paid but once a day. Owners names to be fet on the outside of every vessel, and the name of the town and parish where he belongs. The bridge to be deemed extraparochial. Surrey and Middlefex exempted from repairing the bridge. Rights of the mayor and city of London faved. САР. 3 CAP. XXIII. An act for repairing the road leading from Cirencester, in the county of Certain tolls granted for 21 years. CAP. XXIV. An att for the better fecuring the payment of shares of prizes taken from the enemy, to the royal hofpital at Greenwich; and for preventing the embezzlement of goods and ftores belonging to the faid bospital. WH WHEREAS by an act made in thirteenth year of his prefent 13 Geo. 2. c.4. Majefty's reign, intituled, An act for the more effectual fecuring and encouraging the trade of his Majesty's British subjects in America; and for the encouragement of feamen to enter into his Majesty's fervice, the fole intereft and property of and in all and every fbip, vessel, goods, and merchandizes taken from the Spaniards is given to the flag officers, commanders, and other offi cers, feamen, marines, and foldiers on board every ship and veffel of war in his Majefty's pay, and privateer; (being firft adjudged lawful prize in any of his Majefty's courts of admiralty in Great Britain, or in his plantations in America, or elsewhere) and divers rules and regulations are therein established for the adjudication and condemnation of prizes taken from the Spaniards; and by the faid att a bounty is given to the officers, feamen, marines, foldiers, or others, that hall have been actually on board fuch of his Majesty's fhip or fhips of war, or privateer or privateers, in any action where any ship or fhips of war, or privateer, shall be taken from the enemy, funk, burnt, or otherwife deftroyed: and whereas by an act made in the Seventeenth year of his said prefent Majefty's reign, intituled, An act 17 Geo. 7. for the better encouragement of feamen in his Majefty's fervice, C. 34. and privateers, to annoy the enemy; it was found neceffary, that the fame encouragement should be given for the captors of French fhips, veffels, goods, and merchandizes, and the fame rules and regulations fhould be obferved in the adjudication and condemnation of prizes taken from the French: and to the end that his Majesty's most gracious intentions might have full force and effect, and for the better carrying on the faid war against France with vigour, and for the encouragement of the officers and feamen of his Majesty's fhips of war, and the officers and feamen of all other British hips and vessels, having commiffions, or letters of marque; and for inducing all British feamen, who might be in any foreign fervice, to return into this kingdom, and become ferviceable to his Majefty; and for the more effectual fecuring and extending the trade of his Majefty's fubjects, it was enafted, That the flag officers, commanders, and other officers, feamen, marines, and foldiers on board every ship and veffel of war in his Majefty's pay, fhould have the fole intereft and property of and in all and every fhip, veffel, goods, and merchandizes, which they had taken on or fince the twenty ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and forty four, or should thereafter E 3 take take (being first adjudged lawful prize in any of his Majefty courts of admiralty in Great Britain, or his plantations in America, or elsewhere) to be divided in fuch proportions, and after fuch manner, as his Majefty, by his declaration bearing date the twenty ninth day of March, one thousand feven hundred and forty four, had ordered and directed, or in fuch proportions, and after fuch manner, as his Majesty, his heirs and fucceffors, fhould think fit to order and direct by proclamation er proclamations thereafter to be issued for that purpose; and by the faid act a bounty is likewife given to the officers, feamen, marines, foldiers, or others, that shall have been actually on board fuch of his Majefty's Jhip or fhips of war, or privateer or privateers, in any action where any fhip or fhips of war, or privateers, fhould be taken from the enemy, funk, burnt, or otherwife deftroyed: and it was further enacted, That after the fale or fales of fuch prize or prizes as should be taken from the enemy by any of his Majesty's ships of war, publick notification fhould be given by the perfons or agents appointed as thereby is directed, of the day appointed for the payment of the feveral fhares of the captors aforefaid; after which publick notification, if any mens fbares fhould remain in the hands of the perfons or agents appointed as aforefaid, either belonging to fuch men as fhould be run from his Majefty's fervice, or which should not be legally demanded within three years; then fuch fhare or shares fo remaining in the perfons or agents bands, or belonging to fuch men as should run from his Majefty's fervice, fhould go and be paid to the ufe of Greenwich Hofpital: and whereas by the above recited act of the thirteenth year of his present Majefty, the fhares of prizes belonging to run-men are not exprefly granted to Greenwich Hofpital, whereby the faid hofpital lofeth the benefit of all fuch fhares of run-men, of and in all prizes taken from the Spaniards, on or fince the fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine, in Europe'; and on or fince the twenty fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand feven hundred and forty, in any other part of the world; and fome doubt may arife whether the fhares of prizes belonging to men running from their fhips, after adjudication and condemnation of fuch prizes, fhall be forfeited by the faid clause in the said laft recited act: for remedy whereof, and to the intent that all and every the fhares of prizes belonging to run-men, as well after as before adjudication and condemnation, and as well thofe taken from his Majefty's enemies, on or fince the fourth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and thirty nine, in Europe, and on or fince the twenty fourth day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand feven hundred and forty, in any other part of the world, as those taken on or fince the twenty ninth day of March, one thousand seven hundred and forty four, may be given, and go to, and be paid to the ufe of Greenwich Hospital aforefaid; be it enacted by the King's most excellent majefty, by and with the advice and confent of the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons, in this ing on board prefent parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That no perfon or perfons who, on the fourth day of January, in the year of Lord one thousand feven hundred and thirty nine, Perfons ferv. the fleet, &c. fince 4 Jan. 1739. or or at any time fince did belong, or now does or do belong, or at any time hereafter shall belong, to any of his Majefty's thips or veffels of war, or to any merchant fhip employed in his Majefty's fervice, and hath or have, at any time heretofore, or fhall who shall quit at any time hereafter, run away, or withdraw him or themselves their fhips, from the fhip or veffel by which any prize or prizes shall be taken from any of his Majesty's enemies, or otherwise from his Majefty's fervice, before or after notification fhall be given by the perfons or agents appointed as aforefaid, of the day appointed for the payment of the several shares to the captors of the faid prize or prizes, fhall have, or be intitled to have or claim to forfeit their any interest in, or benefit of the faid fhare or fhares of the said claim, prize or prizes, or the bounty-money aforefaid, or any part thereof; but fuch fhare and fhares of fuch prize and prizes, and to the use of bounty-money, fhall go and be paid to the ufe of Greenwich Greenwich Hofpital. Hospital. II. Provided always, That if any perfon or perfons fhall or share of the do run away, or withdraw him or themselves from any fuch Prize money ship or veffel as aforefaid, after notification given as aforefaid, in the agents he or they fhall only forfeit and lofe fuch part of his and their hands to be fhare and shares of the faid prize and prizes, and bounty-money, only forfeited. as fhall be remaining in the said agent or agents hands, at the time of his and their running away, or withdrawing him or themfelves; any thing herein before contained to the contrary thereof in any wife notwithstanding. the confidera. III. And as feveral persons may have bought the shares of prizes of run-men, for a confideration a great deal under the real value thereof, which hath much encouraged feamen to quit and leave their fhips, and his Majefly's fervice; be it enacted by the authority Perfons who bought the aforefaid, That the vendee or vendees, affignee or alligns of fhares of prizes fuch fhare and fhares, and bounty-money, or either of them, of run-men, as is and are, or fhall be, on or before the first day of June, in the year of our Lord one thousand feven hundred and forty feven, bona fide actually bought and affigned, fhall, on the payments of the fame, be allowed the full confideration-money, he on or before and they really and bona fide gave for the fame, and intereft af- 1 June, 1747, ter the rate of five pounds per centum, which thall have accrued to be allowed due from the day of the payment of the faid confideration- tion-money, money, to the time or times of payment of fuch fhare and and intereft, fhares, and bounty money, according to the direction of this at 51. per cent. act, or the several acts herein recited, or any of them, and no more; and that the furplus of the faid fhare and fhares, and the furplus of bounty-money, in the faid agents hands, after the real confi- fuch fhares, deration and interest for the fame fhall have been paid and fa- &c. to be paid tisfied, fhall be paid to the treasurer of the faid royal hofpital at to the treasuGreenwich, or his deputy or agent, for the use of the fame; and rer of Greenwich Hospital. for the better afcertaining the whole and true fum of the confideration-money bona fide paid, the vendee or affignee of every fuch fhare of run-men now actually bought, if living, and if Affidavit to be dead, then his and their refpective reprefentative and reprefen- made of the tatives to the best of their knowledge and belief, fhall make an fum of confi E 4 affidavit deration money paid; and the time of executing the affign ments. affidavit before fome or one of the judges of the courts of King's Bench, or Common Pleas, at Westminster, or before fome or one of the barons of the Exchequer, or fome commiffioner of the fame courts in the country in Great Britain, and in any other parts of his Majefty dominions, before fome or one of the judges of the courts of law or equity there, or before fome other perfon or persons authorized by thofe courts to take affidavits, of the real confideration-money paid for the faid fhare or shares, and of the true and real days and times of the execution of such affignments by the affigners thereof, and which affidavits so fworn and taken, fhall be filed in the faid courts where fworn; and all perfons who shall wilfully and corruptly swear falfly in such affidavits, fhall be guilty of, and tried, and punished as for wilful and corrupt perjury; and that no bill of fale or affignment now made and executed, or which fhall be made and executed on or before the said first day of June, of the fhare and shares No bill of fale of any prize or bounty-money to which fuch perfons as afore&c. to be va faid are or fhall, before the faid first day of June, be intitled, lid, where the fhall be deemed good and valid in law or equity, wherein the confideration- true or real fum and fums of money given and paid for fuch money is not share and shares to the faid captor or captors, vendor or veninferted, and attested on dors thereof, hath or have not been, or shall not be inserted in qath. the faid bill of fale or affignment before the execution thereof, and proved on oath in manner aforefaid. Penalty on making falfe affidavits, Bills of fale, &c. of prizes, made after I June, 1747, to be void. Agents to pay without re gard to bills of fale, &c. IV. And for the future preventing fuch impofitions on feamen, marines, and foldiers, and thereby encouraging them to quit and leave their fhips, and his Majefty's fervice; and for better encouragement of feamen, marines, and foldiers to continue in his Majesty's fervice, be it further enacted, That all and every bargain, fale, bill of fale, contract, agreement, and affignment whatsoever, of, for, or concerning any fhare or shares of any prize or prizes taken or to be taken from any of his Majefty's enemies, by any of his Majefty's fhips or veffels of war, or by any merchant fhip employed in his Majefty's service, or having letters of marque, or of, for, or concerning any share or fhares of any bounty-money given in and by the said recited acts, where any fhip or thips of war or privateers belonging to his Majesty's enemies fhould be taken, funk, burnt, or otherwife destroyed, which shall at any time after the faid first day of June, be made or entered into, fhall be, and is and are hereby declared to be void and of none effect, to all intents and purposes whatsoever; any law, ftatute, cuftom, or ufage, to the contrary thereof in any wife notwithstanding. V. And the faid perfons, or agents for prizes, appointed as by the said recited acts are directed, are hereby respectively authorized, directed, and required to pay, or caufe to be paid to all fuch feamen, marines, and foldiers, as fhall appear in perfon, or in their abfence to their lawful attornies, impowered by them refpectively, in the manner as is herein after directed, or to the executors or adminiftrators of fuch feamen, marines, and foldiers, or their respective attorney or attornies, duly authoriz, |