Proviso as to Annuities on joint Lives. Affidavit of the Party producing Certificate of the Life of Nominee. such Certificate shall be under the Hand of the Minister, or in his Absence (which shall be expressed in such Certificate), under the Hands of the Churchwardens or Chapelwardens or Overseers of the Parish or Place (or any Two of them) within the United Kingdom, wherein such Nominee shall be then resident, or under the Hand of some Justice of the Peace or Magistrate of the County, Riding, City, or Town wherein such Parish or Place shall be situate; and in case any Nominee shall at any Time after his or her Nomination become resident in Parts beyond the Seas, in any of the Dominions of His Majesty, then such Certificate as aforesaid shall be under the Hands of the Governor or Person acting as Governor of the Settlement where such Nominee shall be resident; and in case such Nominee shall, after his or her Nomination, become resident in any Kingdom or State in Europe in Amity with His Majesty, or in any other Kingdom or State or Place beyond the Seas, then and in every such Case such Certificate as aforesaid shall be under the Hand of the British Minister or Consul, or Governor, or Person acting as such, who shall be resident in the City, Town, or Place where such Nominee shall be residing; and if no British Minister or Consul, or Governor, or Person acting as such, shall be resident in such City, Town, or Place, then such Certificate as aforesaid shall be under the Hand and Seal of the Chief Magistrate of such City, Town, or Place, or any other Magistrate acting at the Time as such, or for or in the Place of any such Chief Magistrate: Provided always, that in all Cases where an Annuity shall depend on the Lives of Two joint Nominees, and the Life of the longest Liver of them, who shall both be living, it shall be sufficient to produce the Certificate of the Life of either of the Nominees; and that in all Cases where any Annuity shall depend upon the joint Continuance of the Lives of Two joint Nominees, such Certificate shall state that both such Nominees are then living. XXV. And be it further enacted, That there shall be annexed to every Certificate of the Life of any Nominee, and produced to the proper Officer, an Affidavit or solemn Affirmation made before some Justice of the Peace or Magistrate, or before such Comptroller General or Assistant Comptroller, or other Officer appointed by and acting under the said Commissioners, by the Person or Persons so entitled to such Life Annuity, or by the Person applying to receive such Annuity on Behalf of the Person or Persons so entitled; which Affidavit or Affirmation shall state that the Matters and Things contained in such Certificate are true to the best of the Deponent's Belief, and that the Person described or certified therein is the Nominee or One of the Nominees, or both the Nominees, in case the Annuity shall depend upon the joint Continuance of Two Joint Nominees, on whose Life or Lives the Annuity whereof such Half-yearly Payment shall be claimed doth depend; and in case such Annuity shall have been granted on the Lives of Two Nominees, and on the Life of the longest Liver of them, then in such Affidavit or Affirmation shall also be specified, to the best of the Knowledge or Belief of the Deponent, whether the other of the Two Nominees whose Life shall not be so certified as aforesaid, be living or dead, and if living, the usual Place of the Residence of such Nominee, or that such Deponent is wholly ignorant ignorant whether the other of such Two Nominees be living or dead, and if living, the usual Place of Abode of such Nominee, as the Truth shall require. XXVI. And be it further enacted, That upon the Production to the proper Officer of such Certificate and Affidavit as by this Act are required, or in case any Nominee on whose Life, whether singly or jointly with any other Nominee and the Life of the longest Liver of them, any Annuity shall depend, or where such Annuity shall depend upon the joint Continuance of the Lives of Two joint Nominees, then in case both such Nominees shall appear personally before such Officer, and such Officer shall be satisfied of the Identity of such Nominee or Nominees, it shall be lawful for such Officer, and he is hereby required, to grant to the Person producing such Certificates and Affidavits, or to the Person or Persons entitled to the Annuity depending upon the Life of the Nominee or Nominees so appearing before such Officer, a Certificate; which Certificate, being produced to and lodged with the proper Officer of the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, shall be sufficient to authorize the Receipt, by or on Behalf of the Party entitled to such Annuity, of the Half-yearly Payment of such Annuity then due, and also of all such preceding Half-yearly Payments of such Annuity as may have become due and shall then remain unpaid. XXVII. And be it further enacted, That in all Cases where upon the Death of any single Nominee, or of the Survivor of any Two joint Nominees, or of either of the Two joint Nominees (in Cases where any expired Annuity shall have depended upon the joint Continuance of the Lives of Two joint Nominees), any Claim shall be preferred under the Provisions of this Act for the Payment of a Sum equal to One Fourth Part of the Annuity depending upon the Life or Lives, and expired by the Death of such Nominee, then and in either of such Cases the Person or Persons preferring such Claim shall produce to the proper Officer a Certificate, specifying the Day of the Death or Burial of such Nominee, together with an Affidavit in Proof of the Identity, and stating the Day of the Death of such Nominee, to be respectively granted and taken by and before such and the like Persons as are by this Act authorized and empowered to grant Certificates and to administer Affidavits in Proof of the Life of any Nominee ; and upon the Production of such Certificate and Affidavit at any Time within Thirty Days next preceding the Fifth Day of January, Fifth Day of April, Fifth Day of July, or Tenth Day of October respectively in any Year, it shall and may be lawful for such Officer, and he is hereby authorized and required, at the next succeeding Period of making the Half-yearly Payment of any Life Annuity granted under the Provisions of this Act or of any Act or Acts heretofore in force enabling the said Commissioners to grant Life Annuities (whether such expired Annuities shall or shall not have been payable at such Half-yearly Period), to grant to the Person producing such Certificate of Death or Burial, and such Affidavit of Identity as aforesaid, a Certificate of such Production; and upon such last-mentioned Certificate being lodged with the proper Officer of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England, all Half-yearly Arrears which shall be and remain due upon any and I 2 every On Production of such Certificates, &c. a be granted for Payment of Annuity. Certificate shall Certificates of Death of Nominees to be produced upon Claim for Payment of One Fourth Part of expired Annuities. Certificate of Certificates as to Life of Nominee shall be applicable to all Annuities held for his Life. Personal Appearance of Nominees. sons having purchased any former Annuity. every such expired Annuity, and also the Fourth Part of every such expired Annuity, (in case such Fourth Part shall be claimed within Two Years after the Death of the Nominee, according to the Provisions of this Act,) shall be made and paid to the Person or Persons entitled thereto. XXVIII. And be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the proper Officer of the said Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, and he is hereby authorized, empowered, and required, to receive any Extracts or Copies from the Registers of the Society of Friends commonly called Quakers, or from the Registers of any Dissenting or Roman Catholic Chapel, or other Chapel not being Parochial, as Evidence of the Death or Burial of any Nominee or Nominees; provided that such Extracts or Copies shall be duly certified under the Hand of the Registrar or Person keeping such Registers; and that such Copy, so certified, shall be accompanied by an Affidavit as to the Identity of such Nominee or Nominees, to be made and taken by and before such and the like Person and Persons as is required by this Act on the Death of any Nominee. XXIX. And be it further enacted, That whenever it shall happen that Two or more Annuities shall have been purchased upon the Life of the same Nominee or Nominees, and a Certificate in conformity with the Directions of this Act, in Proof of such Nominee or Nominees being living, shall have been produced to the proper Officer by or on the Behalf of the Person or Persons entitled to any One of such Annuities, it shall and may be lawful for the Proper Officer, upon the Production of such Affidavit or Affidavits, or Affirmation or Affirmations, as to the Identity of such Nominee as are required by this Act, to grant a Certificate or Certificates for the Purpose of enabling any Person or Persons entitled to any other Annuity or Annuities payable in respect of the Life of such Nominee or Nominees to receive such Annuity or Annuities, without requiring the Production of any further Certificate; and in case of the personal Appearance of any Nominee or Nominees as herein-before mentioned, the Certificate authorizing the Receipt of any Annuity shall and may be granted by the said Officer, without requiring any further Proof of such Nominee being living. 6 Further An- XXX. And for the Purpose of enabling further Purchases of nuities may be 6 any Annuities to be made by any Person to whom any Annuity granted to Per-shall have been or shall be granted under the Provisions of any Act heretofore in force enabling the said Commissioners to grant Life Annuities, or under the Provisions of this Act;' Be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, and they are hereby authorized and empowered, to accept the Transfer of any Three Founds per Centum Bank Annuities to their Account in the Books of the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, the Amount of which shall not be less than Twenty Pounds, or to accept and receive any Bank Annuities carrying a higher Rate of Interest than Three Pounds per Centum per Annum, or any Long Annuities, or any Sum of Money equivalent thereto, in lieu of such Three Pounds per Centum Bank Annuities, to be computed and ascertained according to the average Price of Three Pounds per Centum Centum Consolidated or Reduced Bank Annuities as herein-before directed, as the Consideration for any further Life Annuity or for any further Annuity for Term of Years authorized by this Act, to be valued and ascertained according to the average Price of Three Pounds per Centum Annuities, and the Age of the Party nominated at the Time of purchasing such further Life Annuity, in pursuance of the Provisions of this Act. Annuity purchased under any Act heretobe considered fore in force to as One entire Annuity with this Act. XXXI. And be it further enacted, That whenever any Person or Persons shall purchase any Life Annuity under the Provisions of this Act, who shall stand possessed in the Books of the said Bank of any Annuity depending on the Life of the said Nominee, under any Act or Acts heretofore in force, enabling the said Commissioners to grant Life Annuities, the Life Annuity or Annuities so purchased under this Act shall be added to such former any Annuity Life Annuity, and such several Life Annuities shall be deemed granted under and taken to be, to all Intents and Purposes, as One entire Annuity depending upon the Life of such Nominee, as though such several Annuities had been purchased under the Provisions of this Act; and all Letters of Attorney from Time to Time in force, which shall have been granted for the Purpose of receiving such Life Annuities so purchased under any of the said Acts, shall be valid and effectual for the Purposes of this Act; any Thing in any Act or Acts, or this Act, to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding. Annuities to be transferable XXXII. And be it further enacted, That the Right, Title, In- Immediate, deterest, and Benefit in and to any Life Annuity of whatsoever ferred, or reKind, whether such Life Annuity shall be immediate, deferred, versionary Life or reversionary, or whether actually in the Course of Payment at the Time of such Transfer or not, which may be purchased under the Provisions of this Act, shall from Time to Time be transferable in the Books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England; provided that such Annuity be transferred entire, and not in Parts or Shares, and that the original Nominee or Nominees of any Annuity shall never be varied or changed, notwithstanding any Transfer of the Right or Interest therein. XXXIII. And be it further enacted, That the Right, Title, Interest, and Benefit in and to any Annuities for any Term of Years, which may be purchased under the Provisions of this Act, shall from Time to Time be transferable, in Whole or in Part or Parts, in the Books of the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, during the Continuance of the Terms for which such Annuities shall be granted. XXXIV. And be it further enacted, That the Form and Words in Use in the Books of the said Governor and Company of the Bank of England, under any Act or Acts heretofore in force for enabling the Transfer and Assignment of any Life Annuities granted by the said Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt, under the Provisions of any such Act or Acts, shall continue and be in force, and shall be used for the Transfer and Assignment of any Life Annuities which shall be granted under this Act; any Thing in any Act or Acts, or in this Act, to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding. entire, without Change of Nominee. Annuities for Years shall be transferable. Forms used by Bank of England under former Acts may be used under this Act. XXXV. And be it further enacted, That Life Annuities and As to the LiaAnnuities for Terms of Years, purchased under the Provisions of bility of Annui I 3 this ties to Taxes. this Act, shall not be subject or liable to any Taxes, Charges, or Impositions whatever, other than and except such as Dividends of Bank Annuities or Long Annuities are or may be subject and liable Annuities shall to; and that all such Annuities shall be deemed Personal Estate; be Personal Estate. If annual Payments are not kept up, Annuity shall be forfeited. Transfers of Right to deferred Annui and in all Cases where the same shall not depend upon the Life of the Person entitled thereto shall go to the Executors or Administrators of such Person, as Personal Estate, and shall not be descendible to Heirs, XXXVI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That whenever it shall happen that any Person or Persons, having made any One or more yearly Payment or Payments for in respect of the Purchase of any deferred or reversionary Annuity under this Act, or their respective Executors, Administrators, Successors, or Assigns, shall make Default in paying or continuing to make the Residue of such annual Payments, until the whole Consideration for any such Annuity shall be fully paid according to the Agreement for the same, then and in every such Case the Amount of all annual Payments which shall have been made previous to such Default shall be forfeited for the Benefit of the Public, and all Right and Title to any Annuity in respect thereof shall be extinguished. XXXVII. And be it enacted, That every Transfer of any Right, Title, Interst, or Benefit of, in, or to any deferred or reversionary Annuity, the Consideration of which shall be agreed and contracted for by annual Payments in Money under this Act, shall be by annual Pay- entered and registered in such Books as the Commissioners for the ties purchased ments to be registered. Annuities to be transferred entire, and without Change of Nominees. Registers, Transfers, Re ceipts, &c. exempt from Stamp Duty. Reduction of the National Debt shall order and direct; which Entry shall be conceived in proper Words for that Purpose, and shall be signed by the Parties making such Assignment or Transfer, or by their Attorney or Attornies thereto lawfully authorized, in Writing under Hand and Seal, attested by Two or more credible Witnesses; and that the several Persons to whom such Transfers shall be made shall (if the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt or the Officer acting in their Behalf shall require them so to do) respectively underwrite his, her, or their Acceptance thereof in such Books, and that no other Method of assigning and transferring the Title to such Annuities shall be good or available in Law: Provided always, that such Annuities shall be transferred entire, and not in Parts or Shares; and that the original Nominee or Nominees (in case of Life Annuities) shall never be varied or changed, notwithstanding any Transfer of any such Right, Title, or Interest as aforesaid: Provided also, that all Persons possessed of any Right, Title, or Interest of or in such Annuities may devise the same by Will as Personal Estate, but that no Payment shall be received from any Devisee until so much of such Will as relates to such Estate or Interest in such Annuities be entered in such Books. XXXVIII. And be it further enacted, That no Stamp Duty whatever shall be paid or payable upon or in respect of any Copy of any Register of the Birth or Baptism or Burial of any Nominee or other Person; or upon or in respect of any Certificate, Affidavit, or Affirmation to be made or taken in pursuance of this Act; or any Transfer of Bank Annuities or Long Annuities, which shall be made to the said Commissioners for the Reduction of the National |