Lord Chancellor's Pension Act 1832

1832 CHAPTER 111

An Act to abolish certain Sinecure Offices connected with the Court of Chancery, and to make Provision for the Lord High Chancellor on his Retirement from Office.

[15th August 1382]

WHEREAS it is expedient that the Offices herein-after mentioned should be abolished as soon as Provision can be made for the due Performance of the Duties thereunto belonging :

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,

Certain Offices abolished.

That the Offices of Keeper or Clerk of His Majesty's Hanaper, the Patentee of the Subpoena Office, the Registrar of Affidavits, the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, the Clerk of the Patents, the Clerk of the Custodies of Lunatics and Idiots, the Prothonotary of the Court of Chancery, the Chaff Wax, the Sealer, the Clerk of the Presentations, the Clerk of Inrollments in Bankruptcy, the Clerk of Dispensations and Faculties, and the Patentee for the Execution of the Laws and Statutes concerning Bankrupts, shill utterly cease and determine from and after the Twentieth Day of August One thousand eight hundred and thirty-three.

II Offices not to determine until Removal of Persons appointed before 1st June.

Provided nevertheless, and it is hereby further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That nothing in this Act contained shall be construed to determine any of the aforesaid Offices now holden, in Possession or Reversion, by any Person appointed thereto on or before the First Day of June last, until the Decease or Resignation of such Person.

III Annuity of 5,000l. to Lord Chancellor on Resignation of Office

And whereas by reason of the Abolition of the said Offices the Lord High Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal for the Time being will be deprived of the Patronage and Gift of the said Offices, which does of Right belong to and has been exercised by him ; and it is therefore just and equitable that more ample Provision should be made for the Lord High Chancellor or Lord Keeper of the Great Seal on his Retirement from Office ; be it therefore enacted, That it shall be lawful for His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, by any Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, to give and grant, unto any Person executing the Office of Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain for the Time being, or the Office of Keeper of the Great Seal of Great Britain, an Annuity or yearly Sum of Money not exceeding Five thousand Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain, to commence and take effect immediately from and after the Period whenever the Person to whom such Annuity or yearly Sum of Money shall be granted shall resign the said Office of Lord Chancellor, or the Office of Keeper of the Great Seal of Great Britain, or be removed from the same respectively, and to continue from thenceforth for and during the natural Life of the Person to whom the same shall be granted as aforesaid ; and such Annuity or yearly Rent or Sum shall be issued and payable out of and be charged and chargeable upon the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, after paying, or reserving sufficient to pay, all such Sum or Sums of Money as have been directed under any former Act or Acts to be paid out of the same and the said Annuity or yearly Rent or Sum shall from Time to Time be paid and payable quarterly, free and clear of all Taxes and Deductions whatsoever, at the Four usual Days of Payment in the Year, that is to say, the Fifth Day of January, the Fifth Day of April, the Fifth Day of July, and the Tenth Day of October, in each Year, by even and equal Portions, the first Payment to be made on such of the said Days as shall next happen after such Resignation as aforesaid of the said Office: Provided always, that it shall be lawful for His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, in and by the said Letters Patent, if He or They shall think fit, to limit the Duration and Payment of any such Annuity to be granted to any Person executing' the said Office of Lord High Chancellor, or the Office of Keeper of the Great Seal of Great Britain, or any Part of such Annuity, to such Periods of Time during the natural Life of such Person in which he shall not execute the said Office of Lord High Chancellor, or the Keeper of the Great Seal of Great Britain, or any other Office of Profit under His Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, so as such Annuity to be granted as aforesaid, together with the Salary and Profits of such other Office, shall together not exceed in the whole the Sum of Five thousand Pounds; any thing contained in any Act or Acts to the contrary hereof in anywise notwithstanding.