for the purpose of ascertaining the rights and interests of such parties as aforesaid it shall be lawful for the said Inclosure Commissioners or assistant Commissioner to call such meetings as they or he shall think fit of all persons having or claiming any such rights or interests in the said common and commonable lands as aforesaid, at such time and place as the said Commissioners or assistant Commissioner shall think fit, so as the same shall be appointed by a public notice thereof in writing to be affixed at least twelve days before such meeting on the principal outer door of the parish church in which such land or any part is situate; and to be inserted in one of the public newspapers published or generally circulated in the county in which such land is situate; and at such meeting the said Commissioners or assistant Commissioner do and shall proceed to examine into and ascertain all and every the claims which shall be made or put forward in respect of any such rights or interests as aforesaid, and the relative and proportionate value of the estates, rights, and interests of any person or persons claiming to be entitled thereto, and for that purpose do and may employ any valuer or surveyor, and call for and receive such records, deeds, and writings, and such other proof or evidence as the said Commissioners or assistant Commissioner may think fit; and they and he are and is hereby authorized and required to take the testimony of any witnesses upon oath (which oath they and he are and is respectively hereby empowered to administer), or to take the affirmation of such witnesses in cases where affirmation is allowed by law instead of oath. XVIII. All the costs and expenses of the said Inclosure Commissioners and assistant Commissioner, and of any valuer or surveyor employed by them or him under the provisions herein before contained, shall, in the first place, be paid out of such compensation monies, and the residue of the said monies shall be paid and divided between and amongst the said several parties to be named in the said award, and in the shares and proportions to be ascertained and set forth in such award.

XIX. When it shall appear to the Commissioners or assistant Commissioner that any of the parties entitled to such rights or interests are only entitled thereto for a limited interest, then it shall be lawful for them or him, by their or his award, to direct that the monies to be paid in respect of such right or interest, where the same shall exceed 201., shall be paid to the trustees acting under the will, conveyance, or settlement, under which such person having such limited interest shall be interested in such rights or interests, and where there are no trustees then into the hands of trustees to be appointed under the hands and seal of the Commissioners, to be held by them on trusts similar to the uses or trusts to which such rights or interests had been immediately before the payment of such monies into the Bank subject to, or as near thereto as the said Commissioners or assistant Commissioner can ascertain; and the receipts of any trustees to whom any such monies shall be paid as aforesaid shall be good and sufficient discharges for the same: Provided always, that the payment of all such sums shall from time to time be subject to such rules and regulations, for the purpose of ensuring the payment thereof to the person or persons duly entitled to receive the same, as the said Commissioners shall by any order direct.

xx. In all cases where the sum payable by virtue of such award, in respect of any estate, right, or interest, shall not exceed 204, and the person entitled to such estate, right, or interest shall be under any disability or incapacity, such sum shall and may be paid to the guardian, committee, or husband of such person; and where any such person shall have a limited interest only in such estate, right, or interest, the whole of such sum shall and may, nevertheless, be paid to the person having such limited interest, to his or her guardian, committee, or husband, as the case may be.

XXI. This Act shall be taken to be a part of the said Acts, and shall be construed therewith, and be deemed to be included under any reference to 'The Acts for the Inclosure, Exchange, and Improvement of Land.'

CAP. XCVIII.

AN ACT to regulate the Salaries of the Parochial Schoolmasters of Scotland.

(10th August 1854.)

CAP. XCIX.-IRELAND.

AN ACT to provide for the Establishment of a National Gallery of Paintings, Sculpture, and the Fine Arts, for the Care of a Public Library, and the Erection of a Public Museum, in Dublin.

This ACT contains the following clauses :-

1. Building trustees appointed and empowered to receive subscriptions and donations.

II. Trustees empowered to lay out monies in the purchase of a site.

II. Persons enabled to made leases for the purposes of this Act.

IV. Governors or guardians of Marsh's Library empowered to remove the library to the new building.

(10th August 1854.)

v. Governors, &c. of Marsh's Library empowered to dispose of their present premises after such removal.

VI. Governors, &c. of Marsh's Library to retain their exclusive controul over the library.

VII. Governors and guardians of the National Gallery for Ireland incorporated.

VIII. Governors, &c. empowered to receive donations and subscriptions, &c.

18. Building to be erected according to plans approved, &c.

x. After the completion of the building, the governers, &c. of the National Gallery, and the governors, &c. of Marsh's Library, to be a body corporate as trustees of the building, for ever.

XI. Term of office of the governors, &c. of the National Gallery limited to five years.

XII. Mode of filling vacancies in the number of the governors of the National Gallery.

XIII. Power to governors, &c. to make bye-laws and to appoint officers.

XIV. Power to governors, &c. of Marsh's Library to admit any other collection of books into the same building. xv. Interpretation of terms.

XVI. Land in possession of Royal Dublin Society for the promotion of husbandry may be appropriated for a building for the purposes of a museum.

XVII. Board of Trade and Navigation to divide lands between the said building trustees and the Royal Dublin Society. XVIII. Act to extend only, to Ireland.

CAP. C.

AN ACT to make further Provision for the more speedy and efficient Despatch of Business in the High Court of Chancery.

(10th August 1854.)

ABSTRACT OF THE ENACTMENTS.

1. Master may inquire respecting abatement, &c.

2. Master may certify as to the abatement, &c.

3. Order of revivor, &c. shall be drawn up on Master's certificate.

4. Upon Master's certificate of abatement, &c. Court may order prosecution or disposal of suit.

5. Proceedings may be carried on by solicitor to Suitors Fund.

6. Master may obtain assistance of accountant.

7. Master may certify specially to obtain opinion of Court.

8. Additional temporary clerks in Master's offices.

9. Salaries how to be paid.

10. "The Lord Chancellor."

By this ACT,

After reciting that the enlargement in manner hereinafter mentioned of the powers of the Masters in Ordinary of the High Court of Chancery during their continuance in office, and the appointment of additional temporary clerks in their offices, would enable them to wind up the more expeditiously the causes, matters, and things from time to time depending before them: And that better provision is required for the examining and settling of the accounts of receivers and others in the said Court,It is Enacted as follows:

1. Upon a suit in which any proceeding may from time to time be depending before a Master in Ordinary of the High Court of Chancery becoming abated by death, marriage, or otherwise, or becoming defective by reason of some change or transmission of interest or liability, it shall be lawful for the Master, notwithstanding that the suit has become abated or defective, to summon as he shall deem fit all or any of the parties to the suit or proceeding, or their or any of their solicitors, and to require and obtain from them or any of them such information as may to him seem necessary or proper respecting the abatement of the suit, or respecting the same having become defective and the change or transmission of interest or liability, and respecting the person or persons by and against whom the suit and proceedings ought to be revived, or the decree or order carried on and prosecuted; for which purposes the Master shall be at liberty to proceed in the absence of any of the parties or solicitors neglecting or refusing to attend his summons.

II. In case the Master shall, by the means aforesaid, or otherwise, obtain sufficient information for his guidance in this behalf, he shall be at liberty to certify the abatement of the suit, or that the same has become defective and the change or transmission of interest or liability.

III. The Master's certificate shall be filed by such person as the Master may direct, and then such order to the effect of the usual order to revive or of the usual supplemental decree as is mentioned in the section numbered LII. of the Act "to amend the Practice and Course of Proceeding in the High Court of Chancery," 15 & 16 Vict., shall be drawn up by the registrar upon the Master's certificate, which shall be deemed equivalent to such allegation as is in the said section mentioned; and the course of proceeding upon and the effect of an order obtained under these present provisions shall be the same in all respects as if the order had been obtained upon such allegation as aforesaid.

17. In case the Master shall not be able to obtain sufficient information for his guidance in certifying as aforesaid, he shall be

at liberty to certify the abatement of the suit, or that the same has become defective and the change or transmission of interest or liability, and that by reason thereof he is unable to dispose of the proceeding depending before him in the suit; upon which certificate the Court shall make such order as it shall think proper on all or any of the parties for the further prosecution of the suit, or for the final disposal thereof, and for the payment of the costs thereof, including any of the costs which may have been incurred by reason of the conduct of the parties.

v. In the event of the parties or their solicitors refusing or neglecting, within a time to be fixed by the Master, to file or to bring before the Court any such certificate as aforesaid, or to serve any order when drawn up as aforesaid, then by direction of the Master the certificate may be filed or brought before the Court, or the order may be served, by the solicitor for the time being to the Suitors Fund; and the Court is hereby empowered to order payment of the costs and expenses of the solicitor to the Suitors Fund out of such of the funds in the suit, or by such parties as to the Court shall seem just; and in case payment thereof cannot be obtained by any of the means aforesaid, the same, by the direction of the Court, may be paid out of the Suitors Fund.

VI. In any cause, matter, or thing which may from time to time be depending before or have been referred to a Master, it shall be lawful for him, in such way as he may think fit, to obtain the assistance of an accountant, the better to enable him to make any report or certificate, and to act upon the certificate of such accountant; and the allowances in respect of fees to the accountant shall be regulated by the taxing Master of the Court.

VII. In any cause, matter, or thing which may from time to time be depending before or have been referred to a Master he shall be at liberty to certify specially any decision at which he may arrive, or any other matter relating thereto, in order to obtain a decision or direction by or from the Court for his guidance in the further proceedings, or to enable any party to obtain the opinion of the Court with reference thereto.

VIII. It shall be lawful for the Lord Chancellor to appoint a fit person to act in the office of any Master as an additional temporary clerk, and in assistance to the Master's ordinary clerks, in such manner as the Master may direct; and every such temporary clerk may be removed by the Lord Chancellor as he may think fit, and shall receive, so long as he shall be so employed, such salary as the Lord Chancellor shall with the approbation of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury order, but shall not be entitled to or receive any compensation upon or by reason of the Master being released from his duties, or removed by resignation, death, or otherwise.

IX. The salaries given under this Act shall grow due from day to day, but shall be payable, under an order of the Lord Chancellor, on the 3rd of each of the months of February, May, August, and November in every year, or on such other days as the Lord Chancellor shall from time to time direct, and shall be paid to the persons entitled thereto respectively, or their respective executors or administrators, out of the fund standing in the name of the Accountant General of the Court of Chancery to the account intituled "The Suitors Fee Fund Account," subject to the payment of such salaries and sums of money as are now payable thereout.

x. In this Act the expression "the Lord Chancellor" shall be construed to mean the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain for the time being, and to include or be applicable to the Lord Keeper or Lords Comimssioners for the Custody of the Great Seal of the United Kingdom for the time being.

CAP. CI.

AN ACT to continue and amend the Acts now in force relating to Friendly Societies.

ABSTRACT OF THE ENACTMENTS.

1. Act further continued.

2. Transcripts of rules to be deposited with registrars.

(10th August 1854.)

By this ACT,

After reciting that the 13 & 14 Vict. c. 115. was continued in force for a period therein limited by an Act, 15 & 16 Vict. c. 75: and that the said Acts will expire at the end of the present session of Parliament, and it is expedient that the same shall be further continued:

It is Enacted as follows:

I. The said Act, 13 & 14 Vict. c. 115, shall be further continued to the 1st of October 1855, and to the end of the then next session of Parliament.

II. All transcripts of the rules of friendly societies now filed with the rolls of the sessions of the peace in any county, riding, or division of a county shall be taken off the file, and sent to the registrars, who shall keep the same in such manner as shall be from time to time directed by one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.

CAP. CII.

AN ACT to consolidate and amend the Laws relating to Bribery, Treating, and undue Influence at Elections of Members of Parliament.

ABSTRACT OF THE ENACTMENTS.

(10th August 1854.)

1. Repeal of Acts in the Schedule.

2. Bribery defined.

3. Bribery further defined.—Penalty.

4. Treating defined.-Penalty.

5. Undue influence defined.-Penalty.

6. Names of offenders to be struck out of register and inserted in separate list.

7. No cockades, &c. to be given at elections.-Penalty.

8. Voters not to serve as special constables during elections.

9. Penalties, how to be recovered.

10. Costs and expenses of prosecutions.

11. Returning officer to give notice of election.

12. In cases of private prosecutions, if judgment be given for the defendant, he shall recover costs from the prosecutor. 13. Prosecutor not to be entitled to costs unless he shall have entered into a recognizance to conduct prosecution and pay costs. 14. Limitation of actions.

15. Power to returning officers to appoint election auditors.

16. Bills, &c. to be sent in within one month to candidate or right to recover barred.

17. Bills, &c. received within one month to be sent in to election auditor.

18. No payments to be made except through election auditor.

19. Tender and payment into court by election auditor.

20. Copy of judgment and statement of payments made in satisfaction to be sent to auditor.

21. Consent of auditor necessary before settling action.

22. Candidate to pay personal expenses and expenses of advertising,

23. Refreshments to voters on the days of nomination or polling declared illegal.

24. No person to pay expenses of elections, except to candidate or election auditor.

25. Candidates and agents may make payments before day of election.

26. Account of election expenses to be made out by election auditor.

27. Election auditor to keep accounts in some convenient place which shall be open to insp ection.

28. Election auditor to publish abstract of such accounts.

29. Returning officer to appoint new election auditor in case of death, &c.

30. Monies, &c. to be handed over to new election auditor.

31. Appointment and notification of agents.

32. Nomination of absent candidate's expenses.

33. Payments before passing of Act.

34. Election auditor, how paid.

35. In actions for penalties, parties, &c. to be competent witnesses.

36. Candidate declared guilty of bribery incapable of being elected during Parliament then in existence.

37. Short title.

38. Interpretation of terms.

39. Duration of Act.

By this ACT,

After reciting that the laws now in force for preventing corrupt practices in the election of members to serve in Parliament have been found insufficient: And that it is expedient to consolidate and amend such laws, and to make further provision for securing the freedom of such elections;

It is Enacted as follows:

1. The several Acts of Parliament mentioned in the Schedule A. hereto annexed shall be repealed to the extent specified concerning the same Acts respectively in the third column of the said Schedule.

II. The following persons shall be deemed guilty of bribery, and shall be punishable accordingly:

1. Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, give, lend, or agree to give or lend, or shall offer, promise, or promise to procure or to endeavour to procure, any money or valuable consideration, to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter, or to or for any other person in order to induce any voter to vote, or refrain from voting, or shall corruptly do any such act as aforesaid, on account of such voter having voted or refrained from voting at any election :

2. Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, give or procure, or agree to give or procure, or offer, promise, or promise to procure or to endeavour to procure, any office, place, or employment to or for any voter, or to or for any person on behalf of any voter, or to or for any other person, in order to induce such

voter to vote or refrain from voting, or shall corruptly do any such act as aforesaid, on account of any voter having voted or refrained from voting at any election:

3. Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, make any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement, as aforesaid, to or for any person, in order to induce such person to procure, or endeavour to procure the return of any person to serve in Parliament, or the vote of any voter at any election:

4. Every person who shall, upon or in consequence of any such gift, loan, offer, promise, procurement, or agreement, procure or engage, promise, or endeavour to procure the return of any person to serve in Parliament, or the vote of any voter at any election:

5. Every person who shall advance or pay, or cause to be paid, any money to or to the use of any other person with the intent that such money or any part thereof shall be expended in bribery at any election, or who shall knowingly pay or cause to be paid any money to any person in discharge or repayment of any money wholly or in part expended in bribery at any election:

And any person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and in Scotland of an offence punishable by fine and imprisonment, and shall also be liable to forfeit the sum of 100l. to any person who shall sue for the same, together with full costs of suit: Provided always, that the aforesaid enactment shall not extend or be construed to extend to any money paid or agreed to be paid for or on account of any legal expenses bonâ fide incurred at or concerning any election.

III. The following persons shall also be deemed guilty of bribery, and shall be punishable accordingly :

1. Every voter who shall, before or during any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive, agree, or contract for any money, gift, loan, or valuable consideration, office, place, or employment for himself or for any other person, for voting or agreeing to vote, or for refraining or agreeing to refrain from voting, at any election:

2. Every person who shall, after any election, directly or indirectly, by himself or by any other person on his behalf, receive any money or valuable consideration on account of any person having voted or refrained from voting, or having induced any other person to vote or to refrain from voting, at any election:

And any person so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and in Scotland of an offence punishable by fine and imprisonment, and shall also be liable to forfeit the sum of 10%. to any person who shall sue for the same, together with full costs of suit. IV. Every candidate at an election, who shall corruptly by himself, or by or with any person, or by any other ways or means on his behalf, at any time, either before, during, or after any election, directly or indirectly give or provide, or cause to be given or provided, or shall be accessory to the giving or providing, or shall pay, wholly or in part, any expenses incurred for any meat, drink, entertainment, or provision to or for any person, in order to be elected, or for being elected, or for the purpose of corruptly influencing such person or any other person to give or refrain from giving his vote at such election, or on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting, or being about to vote or refrain from voting, at such election shall be deemed guilty of the offence of treating, and shall forfeit the sum of 50l. to any person who shall sue for the same, with full costs of suit; and every voter who shall corruptly accept or take any such meat, drink, entertainment, or provision, shall be incapable of voting at such election, and his vote, if given, shall be utterly void and of none effect.

v. Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, by himself, or by any other person on his behalf, make use of, or threaten to make use of, any force, violence, or restraint, or inflict or threaten the infliction, by himself or by or through any other person of any injury, damage, harm, or loss, or in any other manner practise intimidation upon or against any person in order to induce or compel such person to vote or refrain from voting, or on account of such person having voted or refrained from voting at any election, or who shall, by abduction, duress, or any fraudulent device or contrivance, impede, prevent, or otherwise interfere with the free exercise of the franchise of any voter, who shall thereby compel, induce, or prevail upon any voter, either to give or to refrain from giving his vote at any election, shall be deemed to have committed the offence of undue influence, and shall be guilty of a misdemeanour, and in Scotland of an offence punishable by fine or imprisonment, and shall also be liable to forfeit the sum of 50l. to any person who shall sue for the same, together with full costs of suit.

VI. Whenever it shall be proved before the revising barrister that any person who is or claims to be placed on the list or register of voters for any county, city, or borough has been convicted of bribery or undue influence at an election, or that judgment has been obtained against any such person for any penal sum hereby made recoverable in respect of the offences of bribery, treating, or undue influence, or either of them, then and in that case such revising barrister shall, in case the name of such person is in the list of voters, expunge the same therefrom, or shall, in case such person is claiming to have his name inserted therein, disallow such claim; and the names of all persons whose names shall be so expunged from the list of voters, and whose claims shall be so disallowed, shall be thereupon inserted in a separate list, to be entitled "The List of Persons disqualified for Bribery, Treating, or undue Influence," which last-mentioned list shall be appended to the list or register of voters, and shall be printed and published therewith, wherever the same shall be or is required to be printed or published.

VII. No candidate before, during, or after any election shall in regard to such election, by himself or agent, directly or indirectly, give or provide to or for any person having a vote at such election, or to or for any inhabitant of the county, city, borough, or place for which such election is had, any cockade, ribbon, or other mark of distinction; and every person so giving or providing shall for every such offence forfeit the sum of 21. to such person as shall sue for the same, together with full costs of suit; and all payments made for or on account of any chairing, or any such cockade, ribbon, or mark of distinction as aforesaid, or of any bands of music or flags or banners, shall be deemed illegal payments within this Act.

VIII. No person having a right to vote at the election for any county, city, borough, or other place shall be liable or compelled to serve as a special constable at or during any election for a member or members to serve in Parliament for such county, city, borough, or other place, unless he shall consent so to act; and he shall not be liable to any fine, penalty, or punishment whatever for refusing so to act, any statute, law, or usage to the contrary notwithstanding.