As foon as

fhall have

shall choose or nominate for the experiment, without losing their longitude beyond the limits before mentioned.

IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That fuch method as foon as fuch method for the discovery of the faid longitude shall have been tried and found practicable and useful at fea, been found practicable, within any of the degrees aforefaid, That the faid commiffionthe commif- ers, or the major part of them, fhall certify the fame accordfioners fall ingly, under their hands and feals, to the commiffioners of the certify the navy for the time being, together with the perfon or perfons fame to the commiffioners names, who are the authors of fuch propofal;, and upon fuch of the navy, certificate the faid commiffioners are hereby authorized and required to make out a bill or bills for the refpective fum or fums make out bills of money, to which the author or authors of such proposal, for payment of the reward, their executors, adminiftrators, or affigns, fhall be entitled by and the trea- virtue of this act; which fum or fums the treasurer of the navy is hereby required to pay to the faid author or authors, their navy shall pay executors, adminiftrators, or affigns, out of any money that fhall be in his hands unapplied to the ufe of the navy, according to the true intent and meaning of this act.

who fhail

furer of the

the fame,

The commif.

fioners may

allow a lefs reward for

airy propofal

of confider

V. And it is hereby further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That if any fuch propofal fhall not, on trial, be found of fo great ufe, as aforementioned, yet if the fame, on trial, in the judgment of the faid commiffioners, or the major part of them, be found of confiderable ufe to the publick, that then in fuch able ufe to the cafe, the faid author or authors, their executors, administrators, publick. or affigns, fhall have and receive fuch lefs reward therefore, as the faid commiffioners, or the major part of them, shall think reasonable, to be paid by the treasurer of the navy, on fuch certificate, as aforefaid,

CAP. XVI.

An att to reduce the rate of intereft, without any prejudice to parliamentary fecurities.

HEREAS the reducing of intereft to ten, and from thence to eight, and thence to fix in the hundred, bath, from time to time, by experience been found very beneficial to the advancement of trade, and improvement of lands: and whereas the heavy burden of the late long and expenfive war hath been chiefly born by the owners of the land of this kingdom, by reafon whereof they have been neceffitated to contract very large debts, and thereby, and by the abatement in the value of their lands, are become greatly impoverished: and whereas by reafon of the great intereft and profit which hath been made of money at home, the foreign trade of this nation hath of late years been much neglected, and at this time there is a great abatement in the value of the merchandizes, wares, and commodities of this kingdom, both at home and in foreign parts, whither they are tranfported: and whereas for the redress of thefe mifchiefs, and the preventing the encrease of the fame, it is abfolutely neceffary to reduce the high rate of intereft of fix pounds in the hundred pounds for a year to a nearer proportion with the intereft allowed for money in foreign ftates; be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most excellent majefty, by and with the

fon fhall take above 51 per

cent. intereft.

interest shall

be void.

advice and confent of the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons, in this prefent parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That no perfon or perfons whatfoever, from After 29 Sept. and after the nine and twentieth day of September in the year of 1714. no perour Lord one thousand seven hundred and fourteen, upon any contract, which fhall be made from and after the faid nine and twentieth day of September, take, directly or indirectly, for loan of any monies, wares, merchandize, or other commodities whatfoever, above the value of five pounds for the forbearance of one hundred pounds for a year, and fo after that rate for a greater or leffer fum, or for a longer or fhorter time; and that All bonds, &c. all bonds, contracts, and affurances whatsoever, made after the for a greater time aforefaid, for payment of any principal, or money to be lent or covenanted to be performed upon or for any ufury, whereupon or whereby there fhall be referved or taken above the rate of five pounds in the hundred, as aforefaid, fhall be utterly void; and that all and every perfon or perfons whatfo- And perfons ever, which fhall after the time aforefaid, upon any contract to 51. for the taking above be made after the faid nine and twentieth day of September, take, forbearance of accept and receive, by way or means of any corrupt bargain, loan, 100l. for a exchange, chevizance, fhift, or intereft of any wares, merchan- year, hali fordizes or other thing or things whatsoever, or by any deceitful value of the way or means, or by any covin, engine, or deceitful convey- monies, &c, ance, for the forbearing or giving day of payment for one whole year, of and for their money or other thing, above the fum of five pounds for the forbearing of one hundred pounds for a year, and fo after that rate for a greater or leffer fum, or for a fonger or fhorter term, fhall forfeit and lofe for every fuch offence the treble value of the monies, wares, merchandizes, and other things fo lent, bargained, exchanged or fhifted.

feit treble the

vener, &c.

II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That After 29 Sept. all and every fcrivener and fcriveners, broker and brokers, folici- 1714. no fcritor and folicitors, driver and drivers of bargains for contracts, fhall take who fhall after the faid nine and twentieth day of September above 5 s. for take or receive, directly or indirectly, any fum or fums of mo- rool. for a ney, or other reward or thing for brokage, foliciting, driving, or year, for bro. kage, &c. nor procuring the loan, or forbearing of any fum or fums of money, above 12d. beover and above the rate or value of five fhillings for the loan, fides stamp or forbearing of one hundred pounds for a year, and fo ratably, duties, for or above twelve pence, over and above the ftamp-duties, for making or remaking or renewing of the bond or bill for loan, or forbearing bond, &c. on newing any thereof, or for any counterbond or bill concerning the fame, penalty of 201. fhall forfeit for every fuch offence twenty pounds, with cofts of cofts, and imfuit, and fuffer imprisonment for half a year; the one moiety of prifonment all which forfeitures to be to the Queen's most excellent majefty, one moie to for fix months; molely her heirs and fucceffors, and the other moiety to him or them the crown, the that will fue for the fame in the fame county where the feveral other to the offences are committed, and not elsewhere, by action of debt, profecutor. bill, plaint or information, in which no effoin, wager of law or protection fhall be allowed.

14

CAP.

CAP. XVII.

An att for the fpeedy and effectual preferving the navigation of the river of Thames, by stopping the breach in the levels of Havering and Dagenham in the county of Effex; and for afcertaining the coal measure.

WHEREAS the prefervation of the river of Thames is

of the utmost importance, as well to the city of London, as to the trade of this whole kingdom: and whereas in the year one thou fand feven hundred and feven, by a violent inundation of the faid river of Thames, there happened a great breach in the walls or banks of the levels of Havering and Dagenham in the county of Effex, next adjoining to the faid river, whereby one thousand acres of land in the faid levels is overflowed, and the fame, if not speedily remedied, will tend to the apparent hazard of the navigation of the faid river, by the Continual quantities of earth and gravel, which every tide are brought from the faid breach, and have already occafioned a shelf or fand bank to grow up near the mouth of the faid breach, which reaches almost half cross the river in breadth, and near a mile in length; infamuch that if the faid breach is not flopped, and the walls or banks made good again, the navigation of the faid river of Thames is in danger of being utterly deftroyed: for remedy whereof, be it enacted, &c. For 10 years from 10 July 1714. Ships coming into the port of London, to pay 3d. per ton. Coafters 3's. each voyage. Colliers d. per chaider. Names of the trustees. Trustees may appoint receivers of thefe duties. Duties to be applied to the stopping the breach. Accounts, &c. to be laid before the parliament. No customer, &c. to take any entries, &c. till thefe duties are paid, on forfeiture of 50l. Collector may enter fhips, and diftrain for the duties. Trustees may borrow money on this act at 61, per cent. If fufficient money be raised within the ro years, then the duties to cease. EXP.

XI. And whereas the practice and ufage in the port of London for many years laft paft, in the measurement of all forts of coals, commonly called fea coals, water-born, liable to the feveral duties, and chargeable with the fame by feveral acts of parliament, hath ufually been made by a bushel equal to one bushel and one quart, Winchester meafure, according to the ftandard in her Majefty's Exchequer and whereas fome doubts and difputes have of late arifen touching the measurement of fea coals; for preventing therefore all fuch difputes for the future, be it enacted and declared by the authority The contents aforefaid, That the bufhel commonly called the coal bushel, fhall be made round, with a plain and even bottom, and to be nineteen inches and a half from outfide to outfide, and to contain one Winchefter bushel and one quart of water, according to the ftandard for the Winchester bufhel, defcribed by an act of parliament made in the thirteenth year of the reign of his late majefty King William for fettling a duty upon malt, and all fea coals and culm chargeable with any duties by the Winchefter measure, from and after the first day of August one thousand feven hundred and fourteen, thall be chargeable with the faid

of a coal

buthel.

13 & 14 W. 3. 5.1.28.

C.

duties,

duties, and be fold, measured, and paid by the chalder, containing thirty-fix of fuch bufhels, as aforefaid, heaped up, and no other, and fo in proportion for any greater or leffer quantity, under the like penalties and forfeitures as are by law prescribed in regard to the Winchefter bufhel; any law, ufage or custom to the contrary in any wife notwithstanding.

kept in the

XII. And for the more eafy and better afcertaining the contents of A ftandard the faid bufbel, be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, bufhel to be That the lord high treasurer, or any three or more of the com- Exchequer. miffioners of the treafury for the time being, fhall caufe an ex- The penalty of act bushel to be made of brass of the manner and dimensions a- 501. is laid on dealers in coals forefaid, and the fame to be fealed and kept in her Majefty's Exchequer as a standard for the purposes aforefaid, that recourfe bubel, by may be had thereto as occafion fhall require.

Lands fold by decree of commiffioners of fewers, &c. may be redeemed by the land owners before 1 Dec. 1714. Notice in the gazette of receiving proposals for stopping the breach. Coafting hoys not chargeable. EXP.

CAP. XVIII.

An act for the preferving all fuch ships and goods there-of, which hall happen to be forced on fore, or stranded, upon the coafts of this kingdom, or any other of ber Majefty's dominions.

not using fuch a

3 Geo. 2. c.26.

f. 13.

3

THEREAS by an act made in the third year of the reign of Ed. 1. c. 4. W King Edward the First, concerning wrecks at fea, it is enafted, That where a man, a dog, or a cat, efcape quick out of the hip, that fuch fhip, nor barge, nor any thing in them, shall be adjudged a wreck, but the goods fhall be faved, and kept by view of the Sheriff, coroner, or the King's bailiff, and delivered into the hands of fuch as are of the town where the goods were found; fo that if any fue for thofe goods, and after prove that they were his, or perished within his keeping, within a year and a day, they shall be restored to him without delay, and if not, they shall remain to the King, or to fuch others to whom wreck belongeth; and he that otherwife doth, and thereof be attainted, shall be awarded to prison, and make fine at the King's will: and whereas by another act made in the fourth year of the reign of the faid Edward the Firft, intituled, De officio Coro- 4 Ed.1. ftat. 2. natoris, concerning the wreck of the fea, it is enacted, That wherefoever it be found, if any lay hands of it, he shall be attached by fufficient pledges, and the price of the wreck shall be valued, and delivered to the town: and whereas great complaints have been made by Leveral merchants, as well her Majefty's fubjects as foreigners, trading to and from this kingdom, that many ships of trade, after all their dangers at fea efcaped, have unfortunately, near home, run on shore, or been tranded on the coafts thereof; and that fuch ships have been barbarously plundered by her Majefty's fubjects, and their cargoes embezilled, and when any part thereof has been faved, it has been fwallowed up by exorbitant demands for falvage, to the great lofs of her Majefty's revenue, and to the much greater damage of her Majesty's trading fubjects: for remedy whereof, be it enacted by the Queen's

most

Sheriffs,

mayors, &c. and cuftomhouse officers

to fummon men to affift fhips in diftrefs.

moft excellent majefty, by and with the advice and consent of the lords fpiritual and temporal, and commons, in this prefent parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That the fheriffs, juftices of the peace of every county, or county of a city or town, and alfo all mayors, bailiffs, and other head officers of corporations and port towns near adjoining to the sea, and all conftables, head boroughs, tything-men, and officers of the customs in all and every fuch places fhall, upon application made to them, or any of them, by or on the behalf of any commander or chief officer of any fhip or veffel of any of her Majesty's fubjects, or others, being in danger of being stranded or run on fhore, or being stranded or run on fhore, are hereby impowered and required to command the constables of the feveral ports within her Majefty's dominions, nearest to the fea coafts where any fuch fhip or veffel fhall be in danger, as aforefaid, to fummon and call together as many men as fhall be thought neceffary to the affiftance and for the prefervation of fuch fhip or veffel fo in diftrefs, as aforefaid, and their cargoes; and that if there fhall be any fhip or veffel, either man of war or merchants hip, belonging to her Majefty, or any of her fubjects, riding at anchor near the place where fuch fhip or veffel is in diftrefs or danger, as aforefaid, the officers of the cuftoms, and constables above mentioned, or any of them, are hereby impowered and required to demand of the fuperior officers of fuch fhip or veffel fo riding at anchor, as aforefaid, affistance by their boats, and fuch hands as they can conveniently fpare, for the faid fervice and prefervation of the faid fhip or veffel fo in distress, as aforefaid; and that in case such superior officer of fuch fhip or veffel riding at anchor, as aforefaid, fhall refuse or neglect to give fuch affiftance, he shall forfeit for the fame the fum of one on forfeiture hundred pounds, to be recovered by the fuperior officer of the

All ships to affift,

of 100l.

Reasonable

falvage to be

cuftom.

faid fhip or veffel fo in distress, as aforefaid, together with their cofts of fuit, in any of her Majesty's courts of record, by action, debt, bill, plaint or information, wherein no effoin, wager of law, or protection fhall be allowed.

II. And for the encouragement of fuch perfons as fhall give their affiftance to fuch fhips or veffels fo in diftrefs, as aforemade. faid, be it further enacted, That the faid collectors of the cuBy's Geo. 1. C. 11. 13. ftoms, and the mafter or commanding officer of any fhips or f. Goods faved veffels, and all others who fhall act or be imployed in the prefrom firanded ferving of any fuch fhip or veffel in diftrefs, as aforefaid, or their Shits are to pay cargoes, fhall within thirty days after the service performed be paid a reasonable reward for the fame, by the commander, mafter, or other fuperior officer, mariners or owners of the fhip or yeffel fo in diftrefs, as aforefaid, or by the merchant, whofe ship, veffel, or goods fhall be fo faved, as aforefaid; and in default thereof, the faid fhip, veffel or goods fo faved, as aforesaid, fhall remain in the custody of fuch officer of the customs, or his deputy, until fuch time that all charges fhall be paid, and until the faid officer of the customs, or his deputy, and the faid master or other officer of the ship or veffel, and all others fo im

ployed