56» 
guineas aman. Colonels, &c. making falfe 
returns, fhall forfeit scol. Irifh currency. 
«¢ An At for raifine the Sum of Five 
Millions by Loans, or Exchequer Bills, on 
the Credit of {uch Aids or Supplies as have 
been, or fhail be granted by Parliament for 
the Service of Great Britain, for the Year 
1803.""——( Pafled 17 December.) 
The Lords of the Treafury may raife 
five millions by loans, or exchequer bills, 
in manner prefcribed by the laft aét of this 
feffion: fuch exchequer bills to be payable 
at any time out of the fupplies for the 
year 1803, on fourteen days notice in the 
Gazette, and in three new{papers. Such 
exchequer bills to bear an intereft, not 
exceeding three-pence per cent. per diem. 
They fhall not be received in payment of 
any taxes till the day on which they hall 
be made receivable, as money in payment 
for taxes. ‘The Bank of England is autho- 
rifed to advance two millions on the credit 
of this act. 
Jin A&G to amend an AG made in the thirty- 
feventh Year of bis prefent Majefty, intituled, 
«An Act to provide for the more {peedy 
payment of all Navy, Vidtualling, and 
‘Fran{port Bills, that fhall be tfued in 
future.”’—(Pafled 29 December.) 
It is enacted, that from the firft of Ja- 
nuary, 3803, navy,victualling,and transter 
bills, thall carry an intereft of three-pence 
per cent. per diem, from their date, and. 
mo more; but this not to extend to contracts 
exifting at the time of pafiing this act, for 
which three-pence halfpenny per cent. per 
diem {hall be payable, as if the prefent act 
bad not been made. 
«¢ An A& to facilitate, and render more eafy 
the Tranfportation of Offenders.*” 
Whereas it is expedient that provifion 
be made for transferring the fervices of 
offenders, tranfported in his Majefty’s 
fhips or veflels, in cafes where no contraét 
is entered into, or fecurity given, in re- 
fpe& of fuch tranfportation: it is enacted, 
that his Majefty may, by his fign manual, 
give a property in the fervice of fuch of- 
fenders, to any perfon or perfons nomt- 
nated and appointed for that purpofe, 
in his Majefty’s order, for fuch term, or 
part thereof, as fuch offender were or- 
dered to be tranfported. 
«¢ An AG for appointing Commiffioners to 
enquire and examine into any Irregularities, 
Frauds, or Abufes, which are, or have been 
prattifed by Perfons employed in the feveral 
Javal Departments therein mentioned, andin 
the Bufinefs of Prize Agency 3; and to report 
fuch Obfervations as fhall pceur to them for 
New £&éts of the Britifh Legiflature, 
[ Feb. 1, 
preventing fuch Irregularities, Frauds, and. 
Abufes, and for the better conducting and 
managing the Bufinefs of the faid Depart- 
ments, and of Prize Agency, in future.”— 
(Paffed 29 December. ) 
It is enagted, that Sir Charles Morice 
Pole, Bart. Hugh Leycefter, Efq. Evan 
Law, Efq. John Ford, Efq. and Henry 
Nichols, Efq. be appointed commiflioners 
for making the inguiries intended by this 
act, with powerto examine into, and m= 
veftigate all fuch corrupt and fraudulent 
practices, as may be found to exift, either 
at home or abraad, in any of the Admi- 
ralty, Navy, Victualling, Tranfport, Sick 
and Wounded, Greenwich Hofpital, Cheft. 
at Chatham, Offices; or in any of the 
Dock-yards, and Naval yards, or in the 
bufinefs of Prize-agency: and the faid 
Commiffioners fhal, from time to time, — 
certify their proceedings, in writing, 
under their hands and feal, to the 
King and both Houfes of Parliament, 
{pecifying the nature of fuch mal-practices, 
irregularities, frauds, or abufes, as they 
fhall have difcovered; with fuch obfer- 
vations and plans as fhall occur to them, 
either for correcting and improving,’ or 
for abolifhing or regulating any of the faid 
departments or offices, or for regulating 
the bufinefs of prize-agency, as may ap- 
pear to them proper to be adopted in fu- 
ture. They fhall be entitled to call for 
all neceflary books and papers, and to cite 
before them any perfon or perfons, and 
examine them on oath; and, in cafe of fuch 
perfons neglecting to attend, and produce 
accounts, &c. or refufing to be fworn, or. 
to anfwer queitions, ‘provided fuch quef- 
tions do not tend to criminate themfelves,. 
to iflue warrants for apprehending fuch 
perfons, and committing them to prifon 
till they fhall {fubmit. Perfons giving 
falfe evidence, fhall be liable to the pains of 
perjury. Vacancies. of Commiffioners 
may be filled up by his, Majelty—fuch 
Commiffioners not being Members of the 
Houfe of Commons. The Commiffioners 
may appoint, &c. all proper allowances ; 
for which purpofe the Lords of the Trea- 
fury fhall caufe tobe paid, out of the con- 
folidated fund, any fum, not exceeding: 
2000l.— No aétion fhall be brought againft 
the faid Commiffioners, or again{ft any 
perfon or perfons, for any matter or thing 
done or committed in execution of this 
act, unlefs fuch action fhall be brought 
within fix calendar months after doing, or 
committing fuch matters or things. The 
defendants, in fuch a&tions, may plead the 
general iflue; and, in cafe of non-fuir, 
fhall be entitled to triple cofts. Best 
RETROSPECT 
