1784: 24 George 3 c.3: An Act to continue so much of an Act made in the last Session of Parliament, as allows further Time for the Payment of certain Sums due, and to become due to the Publick, from the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies.

[Preamble.]

‘WHEREAS by an Act made in the last Session of Parliament,

[23 Geo. III. Cap. 83, recited.]

intituled, An Act for granting Relief to the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, by allowing further Time for the Payment of certain Sums due, and to become due to the Publick, and by advancing to the said Company, on the Terms therein mentioned, a certain Sum of Money to be raised by Loans or Exchequer Bills; and to enable the said Company to make a Dividend of four Pounds per Centum to the Proprietors, at Christmas one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three; and to regulate the future Payment of Debentures of Drawbacks on East India Goods; it is, among other Things, enacted, That it should and might be lawful to and for the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury for the Time being, or any three or more of them, to postpone and allow further Time for the Payment of the Sum of six hundred forty-four thousand seven hundred forty-three Pounds seventeen Shillings and Two-pence, which became due for Customs at the several Times in the said Act mentioned; and of the Sum of one hundred thousand Pounds, which became due on the first Day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-one; and to allow Time for Payment of such Sums as should become due for Customs before the tenth Day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, or any Part or Parts of the said several Sums respectively, unto such Time or Times as they should think fit, not exceeding forty Days next after the Commencement of the then next Session of Parliament: And whereas it is expedient that such Power should be continued for a further Time:’ May it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,

[Commissioners of the Treasury may allow the Company further Time for the Payment of their Debts due to the Publick.]

That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Commissioners of his Majesty’s Treasury for the Time being, or any three or more of them, to postpone and allow further Time for the Payment of the said Sum of six hundred forty-four thousand seven hundred forty-three Pounds seventeen Shilling and Two pence, which became due for Customs at the several Times in the said Act mentioned, and of the said Sum of one hundred thousand Pounds, which became due on the first Day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, and to allow Time for Payment of such Sums as shall become due for Customs before the tenth Day of December, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three, or any Part or Parts of the said several Sums respectively, unto such Time or Times as they shall think fit, not beyond the first Day of May, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-four; and if the said United Company do and shall pay the said Sums respectively at such Time or Times to which the said Payments, or any Part thereof respectively, shall be postponed as aforesaid, the same shall be accepted and received in like Manner as if the said Sums respectively had been paid on or before the several and respective Days on which the said Sums became due; and the said United Company, upon such Payment at such postponed Time or Times, shall be freed and discharged from all Damages, Interest, and Losses, which they became liable to by Means of not having made the said Payments respectively at the several Times on which the same became due, and shall be intitled unto, and have the same Discounts, Allowances, and Advantages, as if the said Sums respectively had been paid on or before the several and respective Days on which they became due; any Thing in any Act or Acts of Parliament in anywise notwithstanding.

Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, vol. 14.