Charles II, 1672: An Act for continuing a former Act concerning Coynage.

Recital of the Advantages of 18 (18 & 19) C. II. c. 5.

The said Act continued for Seven Years, &c.

Forasmuch as great advantage hath accrewed to this Kingdome by one Act of this present Parlyament passed in the eighteenth yeare of your Majestyes Raigne entituled An Act for Encouragement of Coynage. for that very great quantities of Gold and Silver have beene brought into this Realme, and converted into the current Coynes thereof by reason of the encouragement given thereto by the said Act; And whereas the said Act was to continue untill the twentyeth of December in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred seaventy and one, and untill the end of the first Session of Parlyment then next following and noe longer, soe as that unlesse the said Act be now renewed, the encouragement given thereby to Coynage will cease, and this Kingdome be deprived for the future of soe great a good as it hath thereby for these yeares last past enjoyed; Wee therefore your Majestyes Dutyfull and Loyall Subjects, doe humbly pray that it may be enacted and bee it enacted by the Kings most excellent Majestie by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons now be in Parlyament assembled and by the authoritie of the same That the said Act shall continue and be in force for the space of seaven yeares to commence from and after the determination of this present Session of this Parlyament, and untill the end of the first Session of Parlyament then next following and noe longer.

II. Recital of 18 (18 & 19) C. II. c.5. ? 6. and of the Inconvenience thereof.

Regulation as to what Officers the Monies levied under this Act are to be paid.; Certificate from Comptroller General of the Customs.; Quietus.; Further like Regulations where the Customs farmed.; Certificate.; Quietus.

Provided alwayes that whereas by the said Act it is enacted That the moneys leavyed, collected and paid by vertue thereof should be leavyed, collected and paid at the respective Custome-houses to the Collectors and other Officers of the Customes for the time being, and be by them respectively paid into the Receipt of the Exchequer, whereby each of the said Collectors are oblidged to passe a distinct accompt in the Exchequer for the moneyes received by them by vertue of the said Acts, although the summes received by many of them are very small and inconsiderable, and yet noe allowance to bee made unto them for the doeing thereof; For the avoiding of this unnecessary trouble and inconvenience to the said Collectors bee it enacted and it is hereby enacted by the authoritie aforesaid That during such time as the Customes shall be in Collection under the mannagement of Commissioners, the moneys collected, leavyed and paid by vertue of this Act shall be levyed, collected and paid to such Officers, as doe or shall from time to time collect and receive the Customes in the respective Ports upon the Commodities charged by this Act, and shall be by them respectively answered and paid to the Receiver Generall of the Customes now and for the time being, whose acquittance shall be to them and every of them a sufficient discharge for the moneys by them paid to him and a Certificate by them obtained, yearely or oftner from the Comptroller Generall of the Accompts of the customes now and for the time being with the allowance of the Commissioners of the Customes or any three or more of them, of their haveing soe paid all the moneys by them received shall be to them and every of them a Quietus and free them from all other accompts or trouble for the same. And in case the Customes shall be farmed that the moneys leavyed.; collected and paid by vertue of this Act dureing such time shall be collected leavyed and paid in the respective Ports to such [person. (fn. 1) ] as shall be appointed [to (fn. 2) ] the Lord Treasurer or Commissioners of the Treasury for the time being to leavy, collect and receive the same and be by them paid to such person as shall be in like manner appointed to receive the said moneys from them, whose acquittance shall be to them and every of them a sufficient discharge for the moneys by them paid to him, and a certificate by them obtained yearely or oftner from such person or persons as shall be in like manner appointed to give such Certificate of their haveing soe paid all the moneys by them received shall be to them and every of them a Quietus, and free them from all other accompts or trouble for the said moneys, Any thing in the said Act for the encouragement of Coynage, or any other Law, Statute or Usage to the contrary, in, any wise notwithstanding.

III. Duties to be paid at the Importation of the Commodities.

Penalty.

And it is hereby enacted by the authority aforesaid That the moneys to be leavyed, collected and paid by vertue of this Act, shall be leavyed collected and paid at the Importation of the Commodities charged thereby, and that over and above all other Dutyes and Summes of Moneys charged and payable upon the same and under the same Penalties and Forfeitures as for non payment of, or defrauding his Majestie of his Customes upon the said Commodities.

IV. Money to be kept distinct, and paid monthly in London, and quarterly in the Out Ports to Receiver General.;

to whom to be paid where no. Receiver General.; Duty of Receiver General, or such other Person.

And it is hereby further enacted by the authority aforesaid That the moneys collected in the respective Ports by vertue of this Act shall be by the respective Officers who shall collect the same distinguished and kept apart from all other moneys by them collected upon the same Coo[m]odities, or upon any other Commodity or Merchandize whatsoever, and shall be by them respectively soe answered and paid monethly at least from the Officers of the Port of London, and quarterly at ( (fn. 3) ) least from the Officers of the Outports to the Receiver-Generall of the Customes for the time being; And when there shall be noe such Receiver Generall to such other person as shall be appointed as aforesaid to receive the same from them; and that such Receiver Generall or other person who shall receive the said moneys from the Officers of the respective Ports shall alsoe keepe the same distinct from all other moneys whatsoever, and soe pay the same once in every moneth at least into the Receipt of the Exchequer, there alsoe to be kept distinct and apart from all other moneys ariseing by the Customes, or by any otherway or Revenue whatsoever.

V. Salaries to Officers.

And lastly Bee it enacted-by the authoritie aforesaid That for the encouragement of the respective Officers before mentioned it shall bee lawfull for the Lord Treasurer, or Commissioners of the Treasury for the time being, to allow unto them out of the moneys ariseing by this Act for the Services above-mentioned such Sallaries and Allowances as to them shall seeme meete and reasonable; soe as that the said Sallaries and Allowances doe not exceede in the whole the summe of twelve pence in the pound of the moneys collected by this Act.