2

naval department at Gibraltar, the like bounty for deftroying certain Spanish ships of war, as is allowed to the officers and men on board any of his Majefty's fhips of war taking or deftroying fhips of war belonging to the enemy), it is, among other things, enacted, That the commiffioners of his Majesty's navy shall, and they are thereby authorised and required (upon proof made to the fatisfaction of the faid commiffioners, by certificates or otherwife, of the number of men living on board the Jaid Spanish Ships of war at the time of the attack and furrender of them refpectively), to make out bills for the amount of the faid bounty, directed to the treasurer of his Majefty's navy, to be divided among ft the officers, foldiers, feamen, and marines, within and belonging to the faid garrison and naval department, at the refpective times aforefaid, in fuch manner, and in fuch proportions, as his Majefty fhould graciously please to order, direct, and appoint; and the treasurer of the navy was thereby authorifed and required to pay all fuch bills, according to the course of the navy, to the faid officers, foldiers, feamen, and marines, or to fuch agent or agents as they should authorife or appoint to receive the fame: and whereas, befides the bounty money given by the said act, and received by the agent or agents appointed by the late garrison and naval department of Gibraltar, to receive and diftribute the fame, the faid agent or agents have received, and are likely to receive, under and by virtue of the like appointment, further Jums to a confiderable amount; which further fums are or may be diftributable to and among ft the officers, foldiers, feamen, and marines of the faid garrifon, as prize money, in fuch or the like hares and proportions as the faid bounty money has been distributed, or is diftributable and whereas the diftribution of such part of the faid bounty money and prize money, as bath been allotted to and remains to be diftributed, and shall hereafter be allotted to, and diftributable among, the officers and foldiers of fuch of the British regiments and royal artillery, which formed part of the faid garrison, and are still fubfifting corps, may be greatly facilitated if the prize agent or agents, appointed as aforefaid, were authorifed to pay the fame over to the agents for the time being of the faid British regiments and royal artillery, in order that the fame may be paid and distributed by them to and among fuch of the officers and foldiers of the faid corps as are intitled to receive the fame may it therefore please your Majefty that it may be enact-" ed; and be it enacted by the King's moft excellent majefty, by and with the advice and confent of the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons, in this prefent parliament affembled, and Commiffion by the authority of the fame, That the fecretary at war, the ers appointed governor of Chelsea Hofpital, and the adjutant general of his for fettling Majefty's forces for the time being, together with the prefent governor, and lieutenant governor of Gibraltar, fhall be, and they are hereby appointed commiffioners for the inspecting, examining, and fettling of all accounts of fuch bounty money and prize money, with the prize agent or agents who have received, or fhall hereafter receive, all or any part of the faid bounty money and prize money, and for directing the future diftribution of the faid bounty money and prize money, as it

accounts of bounty money, etc. with prize agents.

a

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:

fhall,

fhall, from time to time, come to the hands of the faid prize agent or agents; fuch diftribution nevertheless being always to be made in fuch and the like fhares and proportions, as have been heretofore settled and observed with respect to the faid bounty money and prize money already received and distributed, unless his Majesty shall think fit to order any variation in the fame.

fioners ac

II. And, for the better enabling the faid commiffioners to inspect and examine fuch accounts, and to order fuch diftribution to be made in future; be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That the Prize agents. prize agent or agents who now are, or hereafter thall be ap- to deliver to pointed, by the officers, foldiers, feamen, and marines, of the the commiffaid garrison of Gibraltar, to receive their feveral shares of bounty counts of money or prize money, which hath already been, or fhall at their receipts any time hereafter be allotted and diftributable to and amongst and difburfements, &c. them as aforesaid, is and are hereby required, within one calendar month after the paffing of this act, and once in every three months after the expiration of the faid calendar month, to deliver to the faid commiffioners, and each of them, a true and perfect account in writing of his and their receipts and difbursements of the faid bounty money and prize money, and of the balance remaining in his or their hands, diftinguishing such money as shall be then in a course of diftribution, from fuch money whereof no diftribution fhall have been then directed; which account the said commiffioners are hereby authorised and required to infpect and examine; and it fhall and may be lawful for them to demand, and the faid prize agent or agents is and are hereby required, from time to time, to furnish to them, and each of them, fuch further information as may be neceffary, by production of any books, papers, or vouchers, in his or their cuftody or possession, relating to the said bounty money or prize money.

III. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid,

1

of bounty

That it fhall and may be lawful for the faid commiffioners, or Commission-
a majority of them, after inspection and examination of fuch ers may order
accounts as aforefaid, from time to time, as they fhall fee fit a diftribution
and reasonable, to order, by writing under their hands and feals, money, etc.
a diftribution, by the faid prize agent or agents, of the whole in the bands
or any part of such bounty money or prize money, as fhall have of agents.
come to his or their hands, and of which a distribution fhall
not before have been made by the said prize agent or agents,
on fuch day or days as they fhall think proper; which order of
the faid commiffioners thall, and is hereby declared to be bind-
ing upon the faid prize agent or agents, who fhall forthwith
proceed to make a diftribution accordingly.

IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid,
That it shall and may be lawful for the faid commiffioners, or Commission-
a majority of them, from time to time, if they fhall fee fit, by ers impower-
writing under their hands and feals, to authorize and direct the ed to order
the prize
faid prize agent or agents to pay over to the regimental agent agents to pay
or agents for the time being, of such of the said British regi- to the regi

F 3

ments mental a

gents, etc.

remain in

their hands.

ments and royal artillery as are ftill fubfifting corps, and to the fuch thares of perfons who were, on the thirteenth day of September, one thoubounty mofand feven hundred and eighty-two, colonels or commanding ney, etc. as fhall hereafter Officers of British regiments at Gibraltar, which have fince been reduced or disbanded, or to fuch agent or agents as fhall be appointed by the faid colonels or commanding officers refpectively, for the purpose of their being distributed by fuch regimental agent or agents, colonels or commanding officers, or their agent or agents refpectively, as aforefaid, to and among the officers and foldiers of fuch fubfifting and difbanding corps respectively, all and every the fhares of fuch bounty money or prize money, which fhall at any time or times hereafter be or remain in the hands of the faid prize agent or agents, under or in a course of diftribution, including in fuch payment to fuch regimental agent or agents, all and every the fhares of fuch officers, non-commiffioned officers, and foldiers, as were a part of the faid ftill fubfifting corps whilft on fervice at Gibraltar, but who may fince have died, quitted, or been difcharged from the fame, after deducting from all and every fuch payment or payments as aforefaid the ufual allowance of five pounds per centum, by way of commiffion on fuch bounty money and prize money so received and paid by him or them as aforefaid; and the receipts or acquittances which, fhall from time to time bei to be accepted given, by the faid regimental agent or agents, colonels, or comas vouchers of manding officers, or their agent or agents refpectively, as aforefaid, to the faid prize agent or agents, fhall be, and shall, in the fettling and allowance of the accounts to be rendered by the faid prize agent or agents, with the faid commiffioners, or the major part of them, be accepted and received as good and fufficient vouchers for all and every fuch payment and payments as aforefaid.

Receipts of
regimental
agents, etc.

payment.

Commiffion

ers not to di

rect com

manding of

ficers to re-
ceive fuch

inares, unlefs
upon their

V. Provided always, and it is hereby alfo enacted, That the faid commiffioners fhall not authorise or direct the faid colonels or commanding officers of British regiments, or their agent or agents respectively, to receive from the faid prize agent or agents any part of the fhares fo due as aforefaid, unless upon application previously made to them by fuch colonel or comrequest, etc. manding officer requesting fuch authority or direction; nor unlefs fuch colonel or commanding officer, or his or their agent or agents respectively, fhall alfo, previoufly to his or their receiving fuch authority and direction, give full and ample fecurity to the fatisfaction of the faid commiflioners, or a majority of them, for the due and faithful diftribution of fuch monies fa directed to be paid to them as aforefaid.

to thares of
bounty mo-

VI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, From Jan. 1, That, from and after the first day of January, one thousand 1788, no claim feven hundred and eighty-eight, no claim or claims fhall be admitted or received by the faid prize agent or agents, nor by the faid regimental agents, nor by the faid colonels or combe received, manding officers, his or their agent or agents refpectively, or fent of com- any of them, to any share or hares of the faid bounty money miffioners. or prize money, unless the faid commiffioners, or a majority

ney, etc. to

without con

of

of them, fhall fee good reason to declare a further day for receiving and admitting fuch claim or claims; in which cafe the faid commiffioners, or a majority of them, may, by writing under their hands, fix a further day, not exceeding twelve months after the faid first day of January, one thousand feven hundred and eighty-eight for receiving and admitting fuch claims.

limited time,

receipts and

VII. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That when the time by this act limited, or to be limited by Prize agents, authority thereof, for receiving and admitting fuch claims as etc. within a aforefaid, fhall be expired, the faid prize agent or agents, and to deliver to also the said regimental agent or agents, and the faid colonels each commifor commanding officers, his or their agent or agents refpective- fioner an acly, in cafe any of the faid bounty money or prize money fhall count of all have been paid to them, or any of them, by virtue of any of disbursethe directions and provifions contained in this act, thall, within ments, etc. three months after the expiration of the time fo limited or to relative to be limited as aforefaid, deliver to each of the faid commiffioners bounty and an exact account in writing, attefted upon oath, which oath prize money; the said commiffioners, or a majority of them, are hereby authorifed and required to adminifter, of all receipts and difburfements, and of all money remaining in their hands, cuftody, or power respectively, for or on account of the shares unclaimed of fuch bounty money and prize money, or on any other account; and shall alfo produce and fhew to the faid commiffioners, or the major part of them, and verify the fame upon oath, if thereunto required, all books, papers, and vouchers, neceffary or material for explaining the said accounts; and shall pay and all fuch and deliver, or caufe to be paid and delivered, to fuch commif- money refioners, or a majority of them, all fuch money remaining in their hands. maining in his or their hands refpectively, taking from the faid commiffioners, or fuch majority of them, their acquittance or acquittances for the fame, which acquittance or acquittances is and are hereby declared to be valid and effectual; any thing in any former law contained to the contrary notwithstanding.

deliver ac

counts, and

VIII. And be it further enacted, That all and every perfon Perfons negand perfons, hereby directed to deliver all or any of the ac- lecting to counts fo required to be delivered and verified upon oath as aforefaid, who fhall refuse or neglect to deliver all or any fuch to pay the baaccount or accounts to the faid commiffioners herein-before lance, mentioned, or a majority of them, within the time before limited and appointed in manner and form as is herein-before mentioned and required; or who shall neglect or refuse to pay and deliver over, within ten days after the fettling of fuch accounts, all and every such sum or fums of money as fhall remain In his or their cuftody, power, or poffeffion, after fettling fuch accounts as aforefaid, fhall, for every fuch offence, forfeit shall forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds, over and above fuch money 100l. then in his or their hands respectively; one third part whereof shall belong to his Majefty, and the remaining two thirds to the royal hofpital at Chelsea, to be recovered by the treasurer

F 4

for

A

for the time being of the faid royal hofpital, with cofts of fuit, by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in any of his Majefty's courts of record, in which no effoin, protection, privilege, or wager of law, or more than one imparlance, fhall be allowed.

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If any fraud IX. And be it further enacted, That if any fraud, collufhall be com- fion, or deceit, fhall be wittingly or wilfully made, used, committed in ftating, etc. of mitted, permitted, done, or fuffered, in making, stating, or faid accounts, balancing, any fuch accounts fo to be verified upon oath as the offender aforefaid, then all and every perfon or perfons, who fhall be to forfeit 100l. thereof duly convicted, shall forfeit and pay, for every fuch offence, over and above the penalties inflicted by this act, the fum of one hundred pounds; one third part whereof fhall be to the use of his Majefty, one other third to the use of the faid, royal hofpital at Chelsea, and the other third to the informer who fhall fue for the fame, to be recovered, with cofts of fuit, by action of debt, bill, plaint, or information, in any of his Majefty's courts of record, in which no effoin, privilege, protection, or wager of law, or more than one imparlance, fhall be allowed.

Money arifing from unclaimed and forfeited

thares, how to be applied.

20 Geo. 3. C. 23.

X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That all fuch money as fhall arife from the unclaimed shares of such bounty money or prize money, or otherwife, which shall be received by the faid commiffioners, or a majority of them, upon fettling fuch accounts as aforefaid, thall (after deducting such chargés and expences as fhall feem reasonable to the faid commiffioners) be, as to fo much thereof as may arise from the unclaimed thares of the foldiers, by them immediately paid over to the treasurer of Chelsea Hofpital for the time being; and fo much thereof as may arife from the forfeited and unclaimed shares of the seamen and marines, be by them immediately paid over to the treasurer of Greenwich Hofpital, who fhall, and are hereby respectively authorised to give them a full and complete discharge for the fame; and the faid money, when fo received by the laid refpective treasurers, fhall by then be carried to the credit, and fhall be applied to the ufe and benefit of the said hofpitals refpectively; any thing in an act paffed in the twentieth year of the reign of his prefent Majefty, (intituled, An att to amend an act, made in the laft feffion of parliament, intituled, An act for the encouragement of feamen, and the more speedy and effectual manning his Majefty's navy; and for making further provifions for thofe purposes), to the contrary thereof in any-wife notwithstanding.

Xi. And whereas a great number of brafs and iron ordnance, anchors, cables, and other flores, have been fifhed up from the ruins or Ordnance, wreck of the Spanish bastering ships which were deftroyed on the late eto. fished no attack of Gibraltar, to a confiderable amount in value; be it enactfrom the ruins ed, That all fums of money which have arifen, or fhall hereof the Spanish after arife, from the fale of fuch ordnance, anchors, cables, and battering fhips, how to ftores, as have already been, or thall hereafter be fished up be disposed of, from the ruins or wreck of the faid battering fhips, within three years