2i6 C, 52. Anno vicefimo fecundo Georgii II. A. D. I 749. feveral laft-mcntioned Eftates, by •means of the faic! recited Settlements of the twenty-third and twenty- fourth Days oi March one thoufand fix hundred and ninety-one, and the twenty-third and twenty-fourth, Days of June one thoufand feven hundred and twelve, or either of them) all their Right, Title, Intcreil, Claim or Demand to the faid feveral Eflates intended to be hereby fettled to and for the Ufe and Benefit of the faid Royal Hofpital at Greenwich, or any Part or Parts thereof. Anno vicefimo tertio GEORGII If. Regis. T the Parliament begun and holden at Wejlminjler, the tenth Day of November, Anno Dom. 1747, in the twenty-firfl- Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord GEORGE the Second, by thi Grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, csV. and from thence continued by feveral Prorogations to the fixteenth Day of November 1749. being the third SeiTion of this prefent Parliament.' CAP. I. An Aft for reducing the feveral Annuities, which now carry an Intereft after the Rate of four Pounds per Centum per Annum, to the feveral Rates of Intereft therein mentioned. Moft Gracious Sovereign, HERE AS there is now due and owing from the Publick, to the Proprietors of certain Annuities payable at the Receipt of his Majefly's Exchequer, the Sum of three hundred and twelve thoufand Pounds, and to the Corporation of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, in their own Right, the Sum of eight millions four hundred eighty- fix thoufand eight hundred Pounds ; and to the Pro- prietors of certain Annuities transferrable there, the Sum of eighteen millions four hundred two thoufand four hundred feventy-two Pounds and ten Pence ; and to the Corporation of the United Company of Merchants o^ England tmi'mg to the Eajl Indies, the Sum of three millions twohundred thoufand Pounds; and alfo to the Governor and Company of Merchants of Great Britain trading to the South Seas, and other Parts of America, and for encouraging the Fifhery, commonly called the South Sea Company, in their <»wn Right, and for the Ufe and Benefit of the Proprietors of the Annuities, commonly called the Old Sluth Sea Annuities, and Nevj South Sea Annuities, the Sum of twenty-feven millions three hundred two thou- fand two hundred three Pounds five Shillings and fix Pence Halfpenny : All which faid feveral and refpec- tive Principal Sums do amount in the Whole to the Sum of fifty-feven millions izvtn hundred three thou- fand four hundred feventy-five Pounds fix Shillings and four Pence Halfpenny, and are attended with An- nuities, or an Intercff, after the Rate of four Pounds -per Centum per Annum, redeemable by Parliament: And whereas your Majefty hath been pleafed, by your moft gracious Speech to both Houfes alTembled in Parliament, to recommend to your dutiful and faithful Commons of Great Britain, to be watchful to im- prove any Opportunity of putting the National Debt in a Method of being reduced, with a ftrift Regard to publick Faith and private Property ; and your faid dutifid and loyal Commons being truly fenfible, that nothing can fo effectually contribute to make the Trade of this Kingdom flourifli, and render your Ma- jefty's Reign glorious to Pofterity, as the lefTening the publick Debts and Incumbrances, confiflent with Jufiice and publick Faith, have refolved, that any Perfon or Perfons, Bodies Politick or Corporate, who now are, or hereafter may be, interefted in, or intitled unto, any Part of the National Debt redeemable by Law, incurred before Michaelmas one thoufand feven hundred and forty-nine, which now carries an Litereft after the Rate of four Founds per Centum per Annum, and v.'ho fhall, on or before the twenty- eighth Day cf February one thoufand feven hundred and forty-nine, fubferibe their Names, or fignify their Confent to accept of an Intereft of three Pounds per Centum per Annum, to commence from the twenty- fifth Day of Dcft'w/f^'r one thoufand feven hundred and fifty-feven, fubjeii to the fame Proviibcs, Notices, and Claufes of Redemption, which their refpeftive Four />«• Cents are now liable to, fhall in lieu of their prefent Intereft be intitled unto, and receive an Intereft of four Pounds per Centum per Annum till the twenty-fifth Day of December one thoufand feven hundred and fifty ; and from and after the faid twenty- fifth Day of December one thoufand feven hundred and fifty, an Intereft of three Pounds ten Shillings /ii"/' Coitum per Annum, until the faid twenty-fifth Day of December one thoufand feven hundred and fifty-feven ; and no Part of the fame, except what is due to the Ecrji India Com.pany, fhall be liable to be redeemed till after the faid twenty-fifth Day of Decanber one thoufand leven hundred and fifty-feven ; and that all Exe- cutors, Adminiftrators, Guardians and Truftees, may fubfcribe and fignify fuch Confent for the fe'eral Parts of the faid Debt, for the holding of which their Names are made ule of refpeclively ; and that all Duties, Revenues and Incomes which now fland appropriated to the Payment of the faid Intereft of four Pounds per Centum per Annum refp?(3:ively, fhall continue, and be appropriated and applied to the Payment of the refpeftive Intereft of four Pounds per Centum per Annum, three Pounds ten Shillings Atv Centum per Annum, and three Pounds per Centum per Annum, in the famelNIanncr as the fame now ftand appropriated to the Payp.Tent of the faid four Pounds per Centum per Annum; and that tlie Surplullcs of the faid Funds, after the faid twenty-fifth Day of December one thoufand feven hundred and fifty, Ihall be made Part of the Sii:l;lng Fund, and applied in the fame Manner as the Surpluffes of the faid Funds are now applicable ; and ' alfo that Books be opened at the Receipt of his Majefty's Exchequer, at the Bank of England, and South ' iSf(/ Houfe, for receiving the faid Subfcriptions or Confent :' They therefore do mofl: humbly befeech your JVlajefty, that it may be enaded ; and be it enadfed by the King's moil Excellent Majefty, by and wltl] the
