Greenwich Hospital Act 1865

Preliminary

1 Short Title.

This Act may be cited as The Greenwich Hospital Act, 1865.

2 Commencement of Act.

This Act shall commence from and immediately after the Thirtieth Day of September One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five.

3 Interpretation of Terms.

In this Act—

• The Term " the Admiralty " means the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom or the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral:

• The Term " Lands " includes any Estate, Term, Easement, Eight, or Interest in, to, over, or affecting Lands.

4 Enactments described in Schedule repealed.

From and after the Commencement of this Act the Enactments described in the Schedule to this Act shall be repealed, but this Repeal shall not affect the past Operation of any such Enactment, or anything done, or Eight, Title, Obligation, or Liability accrued, under any such Enactment before the Commencement of this Act, or any Offence against any such Enactment committed before the Commencement of this Act, or any Punishment, Forfeiture, Remedy, or Proceeding in respect thereof.

Pensions, Gratuities, and Allowances

5 Power to order new Pensions, &c.

It shall be lawful for Her Majesty in Council from Time to Time, by Order in Council, to appoint such Pensions as seem fit to Officers, Non-commissioned Officers, and Men of the Royal Navy and Marines, and Seamen of the Merchant Service for the Time being entitled to the Benefits of Greenwich Hospital, to be enjoyed by them so long only as they are not on the Establishment or Inmates of Greenwich Hospital, but in addition to any Half Pay, Pension, or other Allowance coming to them otherwise than under any such Order in Council,—and to prescribe the Conditions on which such Pensions are to be held,—and to appoint such Gratuities as seem fit to Widows of Non-commissioned Officers and Men of the Royal Navy and Marines killed or drowned in the Service of the Crown,

6 Power to grant Allowances to present Inmates.

The Admiralty may from Time to Time appoint to any Non-commissioned Officers and Men of the Royal Navy and Marines who were on the Sixth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five Inmates of Greenwich Hospital, and who being Inmates thereof after the Commencement of this Act are willing to cease to be Inmates thereof, such Allowances as seem fit, not exceeding the Rates of Money Allowance of which, on the Sixth Day of April One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, they were in receipt as Inmates of the Hospital, to be enjoyed by them respectively in addition to any Pensions appointed to them under any such Order in Council.

7 Name of Pensions, &c.

Pensions and Gratuities under any such Order in Council and such Allowances shall be distinguished as Greenwich Hospital Pensions, Gratuities, and Allowances (as the Case may be); and the Pensions now known as Greenwich Out Pensions shall be called Naval Pensions.

8 Assignments, &c. void.

Any Assignment, Sale, or Contract of or relating to any Greenwich Hospital Pension, Gratuity, or Allowance, other than such as may be made or entered into under the Authority of and in conformity with any Order in Council under this Act, shall be void.

9 Pensions, &c. to be voted.

Greenwich, Hospital Pensions, Gratuities, and Allowances shall be in the first instance defrayed out of Money to be provided by Parliament for that Purpose.

Alteration of Establishment

10 Abolition of Commissioners, &c.

On the Commencement of this Act the several Offices of the Commissioners and of the Governor and of the Lieutenant Governor of Greenwich Hospital shall be abolished.

11 Power to remove other Officers, &c.

On the Commencement of this Act, or at any Time and from Time to Time thereafter, if and when for the better Execution of the Purposes of this Act it seems expedient, the Admiralty may remove from Office all or any Officers, Military or Civil, on the Establishment of Greenwich, Hospital, and may remove from Employment all or any Clerks or Persons employed in connexion with the Hospital.

12 Annuities to be provided for Commissioners, &c.

Out of the Funded Property of Greenwich Hospital there shall be purchased from the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt and provided (subject and according to the Provisions of the Acts relating to the Purchase of Annuities from the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt) for each of the Persons holding Office at the Commencement of this Act as the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital (other than the ex officio Commissioners), and for the Governor and the Lieutenant Governor of the Hospital, and for each Officer, Military or Civil, on the Establishment of the Hospital, remunerated by Salary, who is removed from Office by the Admiralty under the Provisions of this Act, an Annuity for his Life equal in Amount to the Value of the Salary and Emoluments attached to the Office of Commissioner, Governor, or Lieutenant Governor (as the Case may be), or to the Office from which each such Officer is so removed.

13 Continuance of Superannuation Allowance.

Provided, That if any Commissioner, or any Officer who is removed from Office as aforesaid, is at the Commencement of this Act entitled to receive, in addition to the Salary of his Office, any Superannuation Allowance in respect of any former Employment in the Civil Service of the Crown, he shall be entitled to continue to receive, in addition to such Annuity as aforesaid, the Amount of Superannuation Allowance which he is at the Commencement of this Act so entitled to receive, and no more.

14 As to Titles, &c. of (governor and Lieut. Governor.

Provided also, That the Officers holding the Offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Greenwich Hospital at the Commencement of this Act may retain their Titles as such, and may continue to occupy their Official Residences in the Hospital, and to enjoy the Allowances and Emoluments incident to those Residences ; and in case the Governor or the Lieutenant Governor elects to continue to occupy his Official Residence, the Amount of the Annuity to be purchased for him as aforesaid shall be diminished by the annual Value to him of the Residence and of the Emoluments and Allowances incident thereto.

15 Appointment of Visitor and Governor.

Provided further, That on the Death of the Officer holding the Office of Governor of Greenwich Hospital at the Commencement of this Act, the Admiralty may appoint an Officer of the Royal Navy of Rank not lower than that of Vice Admiral to be Visitor and Governor of Greenwich Hospital during good Behaviour, and from Time to Time on any Vacancy in the said Office may appoint a Successor with the like Qualification, and may (subject to the Approval of Her Majesty in Council) fix the Salary of such Officer, and may from Time to Time assign to him as Visitor such Duties as seem fit, but so that he be not authorized to interfere with the ordinary Government of the Hospital or of the Schools thereof.

16 Annuities to be provided for Clerks, &c, if removed.

Out of the Funded Property of Greenwich Hospital there shall be purchased as aforesaid and provided for each Clerk or other Person employed in a subordinate Civil Capacity in connexion with Greenwich Hospital, and remunerated wholly or in part by Salary, who is removed from Employment by the Admiralty under the Provisions of this Act, an Annuity not less in Amount than the Superannuation Allowance to which a Person subject to The Superannuation Act, 1859, would under like Circumstances be entitled on Abolition of his Office.

17 Annuity to be held with Half Pay, &c.

Every Annuity provided as aforesaid shall be held and enjoyed by the Person for whom it is provided without Prejudice to his Right (if any) to the continued Receipt of any Naval or Military Pension or Half Pay which he received while holding the Office of Commissioner, Governor, or Lieutenant Governor, or while holding such other Office or Employment as aforesaid, subject, however, to the subsequent Provisions of this Act.

18 Power to require Clerks for whom Annuities have been provided to serve in any suitable Capacity.

The Admiralty may at any Time require any Clerk or other Person employed in a subordinate Civil Capacity in connexion with Greenwich Hospital, for whom an Annuity is provided as aforesaid, to serve in England under the Admiralty in any suitable Civil Capacity, regard being had to the former Position of such Person in connexion with the Hospital, and at a Salary not less than the Amount of the Emoluments of his Employment in connexion with the Hospital; and if any such Clerk or other Person being required fails so to serve, the Admiralty may direct that the Annuity so provided for him cease to be paid to him, and the same shall so cease, and shall revert to and be deemed Part of the Income of Greenwich Hospital.

19 Provision as to Annuities on Appointment to Offices.

Where any Commissioner, Officer, Clerk or Person, while in receipt of an Annuity provided as aforesaid, is appointed to any Office under the Crown or under the Admiralty, then, if the Annuity is equal to or greater than the annual Emoluments of the Office to which he is appointed, the Annuity shall be received by him in full Discharge of those Emoluments, and if the Annuity is less than those Emoluments, the Amount of the Annuity shall be received by him in discharge of an equal Amount of those Emoluments.

Hospital and Schools

20 As to Government of the Hospital, &c.

The Government of Greenwich Hospital and of the Schools of the Hospital, including the Authority to establish from Time to Time Regulations for the Admission of Inmates into the Hospital and of Children into the Schools, shall be vested exclusively in the Admiralty, but any such Regulations shall not have effect unless and until they are approved by Her Majesty in Council; and the Admiralty shall from Time to Time continue or appoint such Officers, Clerks, and Servants for the Purposes of the Hospital and Schools as seem fit, and may (subject to the Approval of Her Majesty in Council) fix the Salaries of such Officers and Clerks, and may regulate the Wages of such Servants, and may from Time to Time remove any of the Officers, Clerks, and Servants, and appoint others in their Stead.

21 Expenses to be paid out of Money provided by Parliament.

From and after the Commencement of this Act the Expenses of the Maintenance and Government of Greenwich Hospital and of the Schools of the Hospital shall be in the first instance defrayed out of Money to be provided by Parliament for that Purpose.

Property

22 As to Transfer of Real Property.

All Lands which at the Commencement of this Act are by yirtue of any Act of Parliament or Letters Patent, or otherwise, settled on or vested in or held by or in trust for the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital, shall thenceforth, by virtue of this Act, remain and be settled on and vested in the Admiralty for the Time being for such Estate or Interest as at the Commencement of this Act the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital have therein.

23 Lands to be held for Benefit of Hospital and subject to this Act and 27 & 28 Vict. c.57.

All Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act shall go to and be held by the Lord High Admiral for the Time being or the Commissioners for the Time being for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral, in succession, in trust for Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, for the exclusive Benefit of Greenwich Hospital ; and, subject thereto and to the other Provisions of this Act, the same shall be held in the same Manner, and with, under, and according to the same Powers, Restrictions, and Provisions, as Lands vested in the Admiralty under The Admiralty Lands and Works Act, 1864.

24 Quitrents, &c. for Lands.

Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act shall continue subject to any Quitrents, Crown Rents, and Duchy Rents to which the same are respectively liable, as if this Act had not been passed.

25 Services of Tenants.

On the Death of every successive Queen or King of this Realm, and at all other customary Times, all such Acts and Services shall be done and performed, and all such Fines and Sums of Money shall be paid, by the Tenants of the Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act, as by ancient Tenure, or by any Contract, Law, or Custom, or otherwise, have been or ought to be done, performed, and paid by them, and as if this Act had not been passed; and on their Default the same Forfeitures and Penalties shall accrue as would have accrued if the said Lands were vested in Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, individually and not in a political Capacity, and as if this Act had not been passed.

26 Protection of existing Leases.

Every Lease made before the Commencement of this Act of Lands of Greenwich Hospital shall be as valid and binding in favour of and against the Admiralty as if the Admiralty had been therein named as the Lessors.

27 Payment of Rents and Profits into Bank.

The Rents and Profits of the Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act shall, as and when received, be paid, without Deduction, into the Bank of England, to the Cash Account of Her Majesty's Paymaster General, who shall keep in his Books a separate Account to be called The Greenwich Hospital Income Account, and shall carry thereto the Sums so paid in.

28 Expenses of Management, &c.

The Expenses of Management of the Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act, and all necessary and proper Outgoings in respect thereof, shall be defrayed, under the Direction of the Admiralty, out of the Money for the Time being standing to the Credit of the Greenwich Hospital Income Account.

29 Restrictions on leasing.

The Power of the Admiralty to make Leases of any of the Lands vested in them by virtue of this Act shall be exercised subject and according to the following Restrictions and Provisions :

• First, The Term of an Agricultural Lease shall not exceed Twenty-one Years, of a Building Lease Ninety-nine Years, and of a Mining Lease Forty-two Years :

• Secondly, Every Lease shall take effect in Possession and not in Reversion, and there shall be reserved thereby the best yearly Rent, to be incident to the immediate Reversion, that can reasonably be gotten; and a Fine or anything in the Nature thereof shall not be taken :

• Thirdly, There shall be contained in every Lease a Condition of Re-entry for Nonpayment of Rent:

• Fourthly, The Lessee shall execute a Counterpart of every Lease, and shall thereby covenant for Payment of the Rent thereby reserved:

• Fifthly, In the Case of an Agricultural or Building Lease, the Lessee shall not be made dispunishable for Waste :

• Sixthly, In the Case of a Building Lease a Rent smaller than the Rent ultimately payable may be reserved for all or any Part of the first Five Years of the Term :

• Seventhly, In the Case of a Mining Lease, Rent may be reserved by way of Toll, Duty, Royalty, or Reservation, by the Acre, the Ton, or otherwise.

30 Power to make free Grants 'of Land for Places of Worship, &c.

The Admiralty, with the Approval of Her Majesty in Council, may from Time to Time make free Grants of Land Part of the Lands vested in them by virtue of this Act, and Grants of Money, for the Erection of Buildings and providing Conveniences for Places of Worship, Residence of Ministers, Education of Children, or other public Purposes (so that any such Grant of Land do not include any Right to the Minerals under the Land granted, or comprise more than Two Acres in any One Parish).

31 As to Purchase Money of Land sold.

Any Purchase Money paid to Her Majesty's Paymaster General in respect of any Part of the Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act no longer required to be held by the Admiralty for the Benefit of the Hospital, and accordingly sold by them under the Powers of The Admiralty Lands and Works Act, 1864, as applied by this Act, shall be carried by him to an Account to be called The Greenwich Hospital Capital Account.

32 Transfer of Stock.

On or as soon as may be after the Commencement of this Act the Governor and Company of the Bank of England shall, .on Requisition in Writing from the Admiralty, cause all Bank Annuities then standing in the Books of the Governor and Company of the Bank of England in the Names of the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital to be transferred to an Account to be called The Account of the Lord High Admiral or Commissioners of the Admiralty for the Time being ex parte Greenwich Hospital, and the same shall belong to the Admiralty on behalf of Her Majesty for the exclusive Benefit of Greenwich Hospital.

33 Payment of Dividends.

The Governor and Company of the Bank of England shall from Time to Time, under the Direction of the Admiralty, place to the Cash Account of Her Majesty's Paymaster General the Dividends for the Time being accrued due in respect of the Bank Annuities held by the Admiralty for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital (inclusive of any such Dividend accrued due but not paid before the Commencement of this Act), and the same shall be carried to the Greenwich Hospital Income Account.

34 Transfer of Cash Balances.

On the Commencement of this Act the Governor and Company of the Bank of England shall transfer any Cash Balance then standing in their Books belonging to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital to the Cash Account of Her Majesty's Paymaster General, who shall carry the same to the Greenwich Hospital Income Account.

35 Transfer of other Personal Property.

All Personal Property not in the foregoing Provisions specified belonging to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital is hereby vested in Her Majesty and Her Successors, for the exclusive Benefit of Greenwich Hospital.

36 Payment of other Income.

All Income not in the foregoing Provisions specified arising from Property held for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital, or otherwise accruing to the Hospital, shall be paid into the Bank of England to the Cash Account of Her Majesty's Paymaster General, who shall carry the same to the Greenwich Hospital Income Account.

37 Not to affect Sect. 2 of 4 & 5 W.4 c.34 as to Charge on Consolidated Fund.

Nothing in this Act shall affect the Provisions of Section Two of the Act of the Session of the Fourth and Fifth Years of the Reign of King William the Fourth (Chapter Thirty-four), " to repeal the " Laws relating to the Contribution out of Merchant Seamen's " Wages towards the Support of the Royal Naval Hospital at " Greenwich, and for supplying other Funds in lieu thereof," whereby there is annually charged upon the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom the Sum of Twenty thousand Pounds, save only that after the Commencement of this Act that Sum shall be carried to the Greenwich Hospital Income Account, instead of being paid to the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital.

38 Conversion of Stock, &c.

The Admiralty may from Time to Time, with a view to the Execution of any of the Purposes of this Act, or to a Change of Investment, convert into Money any Bank Annuities, Stocks, Funds, or Securities for the Time being held by them for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital, and all such Money shall be paid into the Bank of England to the Cash Account of Her Majesty's Paymaster General, who shall carry the same to the Greenwich Hospital Capital Account.

39 Transfers between Capital and Income Accounts.

Her Majesty's Paymaster General shall from Time to Time, under the Direction of the Admiralty, carry over such Sums as Circumstances require from the Greenwich Hospital Income Account to the Greenwich Hospital Capital Account, and vice versa.

40 Change of Investment and Purchase of Lands.

The Admiralty may from Time to Time lay out or invest any Cash standing to the Greenwich Hospital Capital Account in the Purchase of any Bank Annuities, or in or on any Stocks, Funds, or Securities the Principal or Interest whereof is charged on or payable, by way of Guarantee or otherwise, out of the Revenues of the United Kingdom or of India, or on Mortgage of Freehold Lands in the United Kingdom, or, with the Approval in each Instance of the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, in or on any other Stocks, Funds, or Securities, or, with the like Approval, in the Purchase of Lands.

41 27 & 28 Vict. c.57 to apply to this Act.

The Provisions of The Admiralty Lands and Works Act, 1864, shall apply to and for the Purposes of every such Purchase of Lands.

42 Vesting of Lands purchased.

Lands so purchased shall be assured to the Admiralty, and the same shall go and be held in the same Manner, and with, under, and according to the same Powers, Restrictions, and Provisions, as the Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act.

43 Devises, &c. for Hospital.

Any Person may, notwithstanding any Statute passed or to be passed restraining Alienation in Mortmain or Dispositions for Charitable Uses, by Deed or Testamentary Writing, grant, give, or appoint any Property for any Estate or Interest for which he is empowered to dispose thereof, to be held for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital; and the same (according to the Nature and Quality of such Property) shall accordingly be held as the Lands vested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act are held, or as Personal Property by this Act vested in Her Majesty and Her Successors, for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital, is held.

44 Sale of Advowsons to be arranged similar to those contained in 26 & 27 Vict. c.120.

The Admiralty shall sell and convey the Advowsons of and Rights of Presentation to the Benefices and Perpetual Curacies belonging to Greenwich Hospital, discharged from the Provisions of any Act of Parliament relative thereto other than this Act, and subject and according to the Provisions of a Scheme to be prepared by the Admiralty with the Advice and Assistance of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, and to be approved by Her Majesty in Council, the Arrangements made by such Scheme to be as nearly as Circumstances admit similar to the Arrangements contained in The Lord Chancellor's Augmentation Act (1863), subject to the following Provisions :

(1) One Moiety of the Purchase Money received on any such Sale shall be applied to the Creation and Maintenance of a Fund for the Benefit of Retired Naval Chaplains, the Mode of Creation and Maintenance of the Fund and the Application thereof to be from Time to Time determined by Order in Council:

(2) The other Moiety of the Purchase Money shall be applied to the Augmentation of the Income of any of the said Benefices and Perpetual Curacies in manner prescribed by any such Scheme :

The Draft of any such Scheme shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament One Month at least before the Scheme is submitted for the Approval of Her Majesty in Council.

45 Marked Stores to be deemed Naval Stores as in 27 & 28 Vict. c.91.

The following Mark may be applied in or on Stores used or intended to be used for the Purposes of Greenwich Hospital, to denote Her Majesty's Property in Stores so marked, namely,—an Anchor, surmounted with a Naval Crown, with Two Flags over the Crown, and the Letter G on one Side, and the Letter H on the other Side; and Stores used or intended to be used as aforesaid shall be deemed Naval Stores within the Meaning of The Naval and Victualling Stores Act, 1864, and that Act shall apply thereto as if the Mark in the present Section described were described in the Schedule to that Act; and that Act shall apply to all Stores so marked before the Commencement of this Act becoming by virtue of this Act the Property of Her Majesty.

46 Comptroller of Hospital Estate.

There shall be an Officer styled The Comptroller of the Greenwich, Hospital Estate, who shall be appointed by the Admiralty on behalf of Her Majesty, and shall hold Office during the Pleasure of the Admiralty, and shall have the general Superintendence, under the Direction of the Admiralty, of the Lands and other Property held for the Benefit of the Hospital.

Accounts, &c

47 Audit of Accounts of Property.

The Accountant General of the Navy shall annually prepare and submit to the Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts-Accounts of the Receipt and Expenditure of the Capital and of the Income derived from the Lands and Property held for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital; and the Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts shall audit the same as nearly as may be in like Manner as they audit the Accounts rendered by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues ; and in relation to such Audit the Admiralty and the Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts shall respectively have the like Powers, as nearly as may be, as the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury and the Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts respectively have in relation to the Audit of the Accounts rendered by the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Woods, Forests, and Land Revenues.

48 Audit of Money voted.

The Accounts of all Money provided by Parliament for any of the Purposes of this Act shall be audited and allowed in the same Manner as the Accounts of Money granted and expended for Naval Services.

49 Accounts to be laid before Parliament.

The Admiralty shall lay all the several Accounts so audited, with the Report thereon of the Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts, before both Houses of Parliament within Fourteen Days after the Completion of the Audit for each Tear, if Parliament is then sitting, and if not, then within Fourteen Days after the nest meeting' of Parliament.

50 Certificate of Amount expended.

The Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts shall, as soon as may be after the Completion of the Audit for each Tear of Money provided by Parliament for any of the Purposes of this Act, furnish to the Admiralty a Certificate of the Amount expended in that Tear out of Money so provided.

51 Repayment of Money expended to Consolidated Fund.

In every Tear, as soon as may be after the Receipt by the Admiralty of such Certificate from the Commissioners for auditing the Public Accounts, Her Majesty's Paymaster General shall under the Direction of the Admiralty pay from the Greenwich Hospital Income Account into the Receipt of Her Majesty's Exchequer a Sum, to be carried to and to form Part of the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, equal to the Amount certified by such Certificate to have been expended in the Tear to which the Certificate relates, together with a Sum equal to Fifteen Pounds per Head on the Number of Men by which the average Number of the Inmates of Greenwich Hospital during that Year falls short of One thousand four hundred; but with respect to the First Half Year after the Commencement of this Act a proportionate Part only of such last-mentioned Sum for that Half Year shall be paid.

Miscellaneous

52 Actions by Admiralty.

The Admiralty may institute or defend any Action or Suit relative to any Lands contracted to be purchased or taken by the Admiralty for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital, and may institute any Action of Ejectment or other Action or any Suit for recovering Possession of any Lands vested in or purchased or taken by the Admiralty for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital, and may distrain or sue for any Arrears of Rent due to the Admiralty in respect thereof, and may institute any Action or Suit in respect of any Trespass or Encroachment committed thereon or Damage done thereto, or any other Action or Suit in respect thereof, and may defend any Action or Suit in respect thereof; and in every such Action or Suit the Admiralty may be styled " The Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom," or " The Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom," (as the Case requires,) without more; and any such Action or Suit shall not be, affected by any Change in the Admiralty; and in any such Action or Suit the Admiralty shall be liable and entitled to pay or receive Costs according to the ordinary Law and Practice relative to Costs.

53 Saving Eights of Crown.

Nothing in this Act shall take away or abridge in any Action or Suit the legal Eights, Privileges, and Prerogatives of Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, but in all Actions and Suits instituted by or against the Admiralty in relation to Lands held for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital, and in all Proceedings and Matters connected therewith, the Admiralty may exercise and enjoy all such Eights, Privileges, and Prerogatives as are for the Time being exercised and enjoyed in any Action or Suit in any Court of Law or Equity by Her Majesty, Her Heirs or Successors, as if the Crown were actually a Party to such Action or Suit.

54 Power to sue by Information, &c.

Notwithstanding anything in this Act, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, to proceed by Information in the Court of Exchequer, or by any other Crown Process, legal or equitable, in any Case in which it would have been competent for Her Majesty, Her Heirs or Successors, so to proceed if no Provisions respecting Procedure had been inserted in this Act.

55 Transfer of Contracts, &c.

All Debts and Obligations incurred, all Contracts entered into, and all Matters and Things engaged to be done by, with, or for the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital shall be deemed to hare been incurred, entered into, or engaged to be done by, with, or for the Admiralty on behalf of Her Majesty; and all such Debts, Obligations, Contracts, Matters, and Things shall be enforceable by or against the Admiralty on behalf of Her Majesty to the same Extent as the same would, if this Act had not passed, hare been enforceable by or against the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital.

56 Continuance of Actions, &c.

All Actions, Suits, and other legal Proceedings commenced, or which, if this Act had not been passed, might hare been commenced, by or against the Commissioners of Greenwich Hospital, may be continued or instituted by or against the Admiralty on behalf of Her Majesty.

57 Powers may be exercised by Two Lords.

All Powers, Authorities, and Duties by this Act conferred and imposed on the Admiralty may be exercised and performed by any Two of the Commissioners of the Admiralty.

58 Style of Admiralty in Deeds, &c.

In all Deeds, Powers of Attorney, and Instruments relating to any Lands, Stocks, funds, Securities, Property, or Thing Tested in, or standing in the Names of, or under the Control of the Admiralty for the Benefit of Greenwich Hospital, or whereto the Admiralty in relation to Greenwich Hospital are Parties, the Admiralty may be styled " The Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom " or " The Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom," (as the Case may require,) without the Name or Names of him or them or any of them being expressed.

59 Protection of Admiralty.

The Admiralty shall not, by reason of anything done or omitted to be done in the Execution or intended Execution of this Act, or in relation to any Lands rested in the Admiralty by virtue of this Act or purchased by the Admiralty under this Act, be liable collectively or individually to any Fine, Penalty, or Forfeiture, or to Execution of any Process against Person or Property.

60 Publication &c. of Orders in Council.

Every Order in Council under this Act shall be published in the London Gazette, and shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament within One Month after the making thereof if Parliament is then sitting, and if not, then within One Month after the next meeting of Parliament.