and commons, in common council affembled, are hereby guthorized to appoint their agents or workmen, to pull' fuch houfes down, and to lay out fuch lands, and difpofe of the monies to arife from the fale of any old materials, in fuel maner as they fhall think fit, for or towards the refpective purposes aforefaid.

XI. And be it further enacted, That it fhall and may be and the leafe lawful to and for the faid mayor, aldermen, and commons, in of London common council affembled, and they are hereby impowered to Bridge tolls, treat and agree with the leffee of, and other perfon or perfons interested in, the leafe of the faid tolls for the paffage over London Bridge, for the purchase of the fame, and of all profits, advantages, and emoluments, arifing or to arife from the said leafe.

of

XII. And be it further enacted, That it fhall and may be Bodies polilawful to and for all bodies politic, corporate, or collegiate, cor- tic, &c. tru porations aggregate or fole, truftees, and feoffees in truft, guar- ftees, and dians and committees for lunaticks and ideots, executors, adother perfons impower ministrators, and guardians whatfoever, not only for or on be- ed to fell and half of themfelves, their heirs, and fucceffors, but also for and convey. on behalf of their ceftuique trufts, whether infants, or iffue un◄ born, lunaticks, ideots, femes covert, or other perfons whatfoever, and to and for all femes covert who are or shall be seised in their own right, and to and for all and every person and perfons whomfoever, who are or fhall be feifed or poffeffed of, or interested in, any lands, tenements, or hereditaments, which by the faid mayor, aldermen, and commons, in common council affembled, thall be thought neceffary to be purchased for any the purposes of this act, or in the faid leafe of the tolls, to fell and convey, affign, or furrender, all or any fuch lands, tenements, hereditaments, eftates, tolls, lease, and interefts, or any part thereof, to the faid mayor and commonalty, and citizens; and that all contracts, agreements, bargains, fales, and conveyances, which shall be made by fuch perfons as aforefaid, shall be good and valid in law, to all intents and purposes, not only to convey the estate and intereft of the perfon and perfons conveying, but also to convey all right, eftate, intereft, ufe, property, claim, and demand whatsoever, of their faid feveral and respective ceftuique trusts, and all claiming or to claim, by, from, or under them; any law, ftatute, ufage, or any other matter or thing whatsoever, to the contrary thereof, in any ways notwithstanding; and that all fuch perfons fo conveying as aforefaid, are and shall be indemnified for what they fhall do by virtue of or in pursuance of this act, notwithstanding any omiffion or mistake of matter or form whatsoever: and if it thall happen that any perfon or perfons, bodies politick, corporate, or collegiate, or other perfon or perfons feifed or poffeffed of, or interested in, any fuch lands, tenements, or hereditaments, as aforefaid, or in fuch leafe of the tolls, fhall refufe to treat or agree for the fale Where any and conveyance of their refpective eftates and interefts therein, fhall refufe to with the faid mayor, aldermen, and commons, in common treat, or be council prevented

CC4

court to iffue a precept for a jury,

from treating, council affembled, or with any person or persons authorized by the mayor's them, or fhall not produce and evince a clear title to the premiffes they are in poffeffion of, or to the intereft they claim, to the fatisfaction of the faid mayor, aldermen, and commons, in common council affembled, or of the perfon or perfons fo authorized by them; then, and in every fuch cafe, it fhall and may be lawful to and for the court of mayor and aldermen of the faid city, to be holden in the outer chamber of the Guildhall of the faid city, according to the cuftom of the faid city, and the faid court are hereby impowered and authorized to iffue a warrant or warrants, precept or precepts, directed to the sheriffs of the faid city of London, who are hereby authorized, directed, and required accordingly to impanel and return a competent number of fubftantial and difinterested perfons qualified to ferve on juries, not less than forty eight, nor more than feventy two; and out of fuch perfons fo to be impanelled, fummoned, and returned, a jury of twelve men fhall be drawn, by fome perfon to be by the faid court appointed, in fuch manner as juries for the trial of iffues joined in his Majefty's courts at Westminster, by an act made in the third year of the reign of the faid King George the fecond, intituled, An act for the better regulation of juries, are directed to be drawn; which perfons fo to be impanelled, fummoned, and returned as aforefaid, are hereby required to come and appear before the faid court of mayor and aldermen, at such time and place as in fuch warrant or warrants, precept or precepts, fhall be directed and appointed, and to at tend the faid court from day to day, till difcharged by the faid court; and all perfons concerned fhall and may have their lawful challenges against any of the faid jurymen, but fhall not be at liberty to challenge the array: and the faid court of mayor fummon and and aldermen are hereby authorized and impowered by' precept examine wit- or precepts, from time to time, as occafion fhall require, to neffes on oath, call before them all and every perfon and perfons whomfoever, jury to view. who fhall be thought proper or neceflary to be examined as

who are to be drawn as the aft 3 Geo. 2.

directs.

Jury may be challenged.

Court may

and direct the

the value on

witnefs or witneffes before them, on their oath or oaths, touching and concerning the premiffes; and the faid court, if they think fit, fhall and may likewife authorize the faid jury to view the place or places in queftion, in fuch manner as they fhall direct; and the faid court fhall have power to adjourn fuch meeting from day to day as occafion fhall require, and to command fuch jury, witneffes, and parties to attend, until all fuch affairs Jury to affels for which they were fummoned fhall be concluded; and the faid jury, upon their oaths (which oaths, as alfo the oaths to fuch perfon or perfons as fhall be called upon to give evidence, the faid court are hereby impowered and required to adminifter) fhall enquire of and affefs the value of fuch lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and of fuch leafe of the tolls as aforefaid, and of the proportionable value of the refpective eftates and interefts claimed therein, or in any part thereof: and the faid court of mayor and aldermen fhall and may give judgement, that the fum or fums of money fo to be affeffed, be the value of

oath.

The court to give final judgement thereon.

fuch

fuch lands, tenements, or hereditaments, and of fuch refpective eftates and interefts therein; which faid verdict or verdicts, and

the faid judgement thereupon (notice in writing being given to Previous nothe perfon or perfons interested, or claiming fo to be, at leaft tice to be given to the parfourteen days before the time of the meeting of the said court ties interested. and jury, by leaving fuch notice at the dwelling-house of fuch perfon or perfons, or at his, her, or their ufual place or places of abode, or with fome tenant or occupier of fome of the faid i lands, tenements, or hereditaments, intended to be valued and affeffed, or at the toll-houfe for collecting fuch tolls, in cafe fuch party cannot otherwise be found out to be ferved with fuch notice) fhall be binding and conclufive, as to value, as well against the King's majesty, his heirs, and fucceffors, as against every other perfon or perfons, bodies politick, and corporate, and against all other perfons whomfoever, claiming any eftate, right, title, truft, ufe, or intereft in, to, or out of, the faid lands, tenements, or hereditaments and premiffes, or in, to, or out of, fuch leafe of the tolls, either in poffeffion, reverfion, remainder, or expectancy.

conveyed to

XIII. And be it further enacted and declared, That upon Uponpayment payment of the fum or fums of money fo to be awarded or ad- of the value judged to the perfon or perfons to whom the fame fhall be fo affeffed, preawarded, for the purchafe of the faid lands, tenements, or here- miles to be ditaments, or for the purchase of any eftate or intereft therein, the city. or for the purchase of the faid leafe of the tolls, fuch perfon or perfons fhall make and execute, or procure to be made and executed, good, valid, and legal, conveyances, affignments, and affurances, in the law, to the faid mayor and commonalty, and citizens, of the said lands, tenements, and hereditaments, or of fuch eftate or intereft, for which fuch fum or fums of money fhall be so awarded; and fhall alfo affign or furrender to the faid mayor and commonalty, and citizens, fuch lease of the tolls, and fhall procure all neceffary parties to execute fuch conveyances, affignments, and affurances, and fhall do all acts, matters, and things, neceffary and requifite to make a good, clear, and perfect title to the faid mayor and commonalty, and citizens: and in cafe the perfon or perfons to whom fuch fum or fums Where a good fhall be awarded as aforefaid, fhall not be able to evince their title cannot title to the premiffes, to the fatisfaction of the faid mayor, alder- be made, or men, and commons, in common council affembled, and to legal conveymake, or procure to be made, good, valid, and legal, convey- ed, &c. ances thereof, to the faid mayor and commonalty, and citizens, or fhall refuse so to do, being thereto required, and the fum or fums fo affeffed and awarded being produced and tendered to be paid to him, her, or them, on their making fuch title, and executing, or procuring to be executed, fuch conveyances, affignments, or affurances, as aforefaid; or in cafe fuch perfon or per- or the parties fons to whom fuch fum or fums of money fhall be so awarded, are not to be cannot be found in the faid city; then, and in every such case, found, &c. it fhall and may be lawful to and for the faid court of mayor and Court to oraldermen to order the faid fum or fums fo affeffed and awarded chafe money

as

ance execut

der the pur

court of Chan

tion.

to be paid in- as the value of, and purchase-money for, the faid lands, teneto the bank; ments, and hereditaments, or for the purchase of fuch lease of the tolls as aforefaid, to be paid into the bank of England in the name, and with the privity, of the accountant general of the high court of Chancery, to be placed to his account, to the credit of the parties interested in the faid lands, tenements, or hereditaments (defcribing them) or in the faid leafe of the tolls, fubject to the fubject to the order, controul, and difpofition, of the faid court of Chancery; which faid court of Chancery, on the application of cery,uponmo- any person or perfons making claim to fuch fum, or any part tion or peti. thereof, by motion or petition, shall be, and is hereby, impowered, in a fummary way of proceeding, or otherwife, as to the fame court fhall feem meet, to order diftribution thereof, according to the respective estate or eftates, title or interest, of the perfon or perfons making claim thereunto, of, in, or to, fuch lands, tenements, and hereditaments, or fuch leafe of the tolls, to be made appear to, and to be declared by, the faid court, and according to the value thereof affeffed as aforefaid; and to make fuch other order in the premiffes as to the faid court shall seem juft and reasonable; and the cashier or cashiers of the bank of England, who fhall receive fuch fum and fums, is and are hereby required to give a receipt or receipts for fuch fum or fums, mentioning and fpecifying for what premiffes, and for whofe ufe, the fame is or are received, to fuch perfon as fshall pay any fuch fum or fums into the bank as aforefaid.

Verdicts and

tered of record, in the mayor's court.

evidence.

XIV. And be it further enacted, That all fuch verdicts, judgements, judgements, fentences, decrees, orders, and other proceedings &c. to be en- of the faid court of mayor and aldermen, and juries, as relate to or concern any fuch lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or such lease of the tolls, fo to be purchased; and all receipts which the faid cashier or cashiers of the bank shall give for any fum or fums of money paid into the bank, in confequence of any fuch verdict and judgement; fhall be entered among the records of the faid court of mayor and aldermen: and the faid verdicts, judgements, fentences, decrees, and orders, and other proceedings, fhall be deemed and taken to be records to all intents and purposes whatCopics good foever; and the fame, or true copies thereof, fhall be deemed and taken to be good and effectual evidence and proof in any court or courts of law or equity whatsoever; and all perfons fhall and may have recourse to the fame gratis, and take copies thereof, paying for every copy, not exceeding two hundred words, fix pence, and fo proportionably for any greater or leffer On fuch pay- number of words; and immediately after fuch verdicts, judgement, pre- ments, fentences, decrees, orders, and other proceedings of the miles to veft faid court of mayor and aldermen, and juries, and payment into in the city, the bank as aforefaid, all the eftate, right, title, intereft, use, truft, property, claim, and demand, in law and equity, of the perfon or perfons to whofe credit fuch money shall be paid, in, to, and out of, the faid lands, tenements, hereditaments, and premiffes, or in, to, or out of, such lease of the tolls, shall veft in the faid mayor and commonalty, and citizens; and they shall

be deemed in law to be in the actual poffeffion thereof, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as fully and effectually, as if every perfon having any eftate in the premiffes, had actually conveyed the fame by leafe and release, bargain and fale enrolled, feoffment with livery and feifin, fine and recovery, or any other conveyance whatsoever; and fuch payment fhall not only bar all in bar of right, title, intereft, claim, and demand, of the person or perfons dower, &c. to whofe credit fuch payment fhall have been made, but also fhall extend to, and be deemed and conftrued, to bar the dower and dowers of the wife or wives of fuch perfon or persons, and all eftates tail, in reverfion or remainder, and the iffue or iffues of such person or perfons, and every person claiming under them, as effectually as a fine or recovery would do, if levied or fuffered by the proper parties in due form of law.

XV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That it Mayor's fhall and may be lawful for the faid court of mayor and alder- court, on pemen, after fuch payment into the bank, and entry of the receipt tition, may as aforefaid, and before any application in refpect thereof to the inveft the mo ney in the faid court of Chancery, at the petition of any person or perfons public in poffeffion of fuch lands, tenements, or hereditaments, or of funds. fuch lease of the tolls, to place out or inveft, or cause to be placed out or invested, fuch fum or fums of money, or any part thereof, in fome of the public funds, or on government fecurity, at intereft, in the name of any perfon or perfons authorized and appointed by the faid court of mayor and aldermen, for that purpofe, in truft, to transfer and affign the fame to the perfon or perfons to whom the premiffes belong, on their executing proper conveyances thereof; and in the mean time, in truft, to pay the intereft and dividends, arising therefrom, to the perfon or perfons who was or were in poffeffion of the said premiffes at the time of the faid payment into the bank.

XVI. Provided alfo, and be it further enacted, That all and Perfons intievery person or perfons who would be intitled to recover the tled to mefne. mefne profits of the premiffes, or of the faid tolls for the paffage profits, to be over London Bridge, against the perfon or perfons in poffeffion, intereft of the intitled to the in cafe the fame had not been fo conveyed to, or vefted in, the purchase-mothe said mayor and commonalty, and citizens, as aforefaid, shall ney. be intitled to recover the fum or fums to arise from such interest and dividends as aforefaid, by action of debt, or otherwise, against the person or perfons who fhall receive the fame; and the said Court to orcourt of mayor and aldermen are hereby impowered to make der the fame fuch orders as aforefaid on the bank for the payment of fuch fum to be paid acor fums of money, or any part thereof, as fhall be neceffary in cordingly. order to the fame being fo invested in public fecurities; and the faid mayor and commonalty, and citizens, fhall be quieted in the poffeffion of the lands, tenements, and hereditaments, and of the faid leafe of the tolls, for which fuch money fhall be fo paid as aforefaid; and shall not be answerable or accountable in any court of law or equity for the money fo depofited and placed out as aforefaid, any otherwife than according to the tenor, purport, and true meaning, of this act

XVII. Pro