Public Libraries and Museums (Ireland). Object of the Meeting shall be given by affixing the same on or near the Door of every Church and Chapel within the Borough or Town, and also by advertising the same in One or more of the Newspapers published or circulated within the Borough or Town Seven Days at least before the Day appointed for the Meeting; and if at such Meeting Two Thirds of such Persons as aforesaid then present shall determine that this Act ought to be adopted for the Borough or Town, the same shall thenceforth take effect and come into operation in such Borough or Town, as the Case may be, and shall be carried into execution, in accordance with the Laws for the Time being in force relating to the Municipal Corporation of such Borough, or relating to such Town. into execution to be paid out of the Fund of the Borough or Town. V. The Expenses incurred in calling and holding the Meeting, Expenses of whether this Act shall be adopted or not, and the Expenses of carrying Act carrying this Act into execution in such Borough, shall be paid out of the Borough Fund, and in such Town out of the Town Fund; and the Council or Board of Municipal Commissioners, or Town Commissioners, may levy as Part of the Borough Rate or Town Rate, as the Case may be, or by a separate Rate to be assessed and recovered in like Manner as the Borough Rate or Town Rate, all Monies from Time to Time necessary for defraying such Expenses; and distinct Accounts shall be kept of the Receipts, Payments, and Liabilities of the Council with reference to the Execution of this Act. sent to Lord Lieutenant,&c.; to be deposited, and open to Inspection. VI. Such Accounts shall be audited in the same Way as all Accounts to be other Accounts of such Borough or Town respectively are audited, audited, and and the said Council or Board or Town Commissioners shall, within One Month after the same shall have been audited, transmit to the Lord Lieutenant or other Chief Governor or Governors of Ireland for the Time being a true and correct Copy of such Accounts; and shall also within the Time aforesaid cause a Copy of such Accounts to be deposited in the Office of the Clerk; and the said Accounts shall be open to the Inspection of all Householders of such Borough or Town respectively, and Copies thereof shall be delivered to any such Householder applying for the same, upon Payment of a reasonable Charge for the same, to be fixed by the Council or Board or Town Commissioners, as the Case may be. VII. The Town Commissioners of every Town adopting this Incorporation of Act shall for the Purposes thereof be a Body Corporate, with Commissioners perpetual Succession, by the Name of "The Commissioners for of Towns for Public Libraries and Museums for the Town of Purposes of this Act. "in the County of ," and by that Name may sue and be sued, and hold and dispose of Lands, and use a Common Seal. VIII. The Amount of the Rate to be levied in any Borough or Town in any One Year for the Purposes of this Act shall not exceed the Sum of One Penny in the Pound, and in any such Borough shall be assessed, raised, collected, and levied in the same Manner as the Borough Rate, and in any such Town shall be assessed, raised, collected, and levied in the same Manner as the Town Rate. IX. The Rate not to exceed One Penny in the Pound, &c. Lands, &c. may be appropriated, purchased, or rented for the Purposes of this Act. Provisions of 8 & 9 Vict. c. 18. incorporated. Lands, &c. may be sold or exchanged. General Man. vested in Coun- missioners. In whom Property of Lib vested. Public Libraries and Museums (Ireland). IX. The Council or Board of any Borough and the Town Commissioners of any Town respectively may from Time to Time, with the Approval of Her Majesty's Treasury, appropriate for the Purposes of this Act any Lands vested, as the Case may be, in a Borough in the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, and in a Town in the Town Commissioners, and may also, with such Approval, purchase or rent any Lands or any suitable Buildings, and the Council or Board and Town Commissioners respectively may, upon any Lands so appropriated, purchased, or rented respectively, erect any Buildings suitable for Public Libraries or Museums or Schools of Science and Art, or both, and may apply, take down, alter, and extend any Buildings for such Purposes, and rebuild, repair, and improve the same respectively, and fit up, furnish, and supply the same respectively with all requisite Furniture, Fittings, and Conveniences. X. "The Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845," shall be incorporated with this Act; but the Council or Board, and Commissioners respectively shall not purchase or take any Lands otherwise than by Agreement. XI. The Council or Board and Commissioners aforesaid respectively may, with the like Approval as is required for the Purchase of Lands, sell any Lands vested in the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, or Board, or Town Commissioners respectively, for the Purposes of this Act, or exchange the same for any Lands better adapted for the Purposes; and the Monies to arise from such Sale, or to be received for Equality of Exchange, or a sufficient Part thereof, shall be applied in or towards the Purchase of other Lands better adapted for such Purposes. XII. The general Management, Regulation, and Control of such Libraries and Museums or Schools of Science and Art shall be, as to any Borough, vested in and exercised by the Council or Board, and as to any Town, in and by the Town Commissioners, or such Committee as they respectively may from Time to Time appoint, who may from Time to Time purchase and provide the necessary Fuel, Lighting, and other similar Matters, Books, Newspapers, Maps, and Specimens of Art and Science, for the Use of the Library or Museum, and cause the same to be bound or repaired, when necessary, and appoint salaried Officers and Servants, and dismiss the same, and make Rules and Regulations for the Safety and Use of the Libraries and Museums or Schools of Science and Art, and for the Admission of Visitors. XIII. The Lands and Buildings so to be appropriated, purchased, or rented as aforesaid, and all other Real and Personal rary, &c. to be Property whatever presented to or purchased for any Library or Museum or School of Science and Art established under this Act, shall be vested, in the Case of a Borough, in the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, and in the Case of a Town in the Town Commissioners. In case First Meeting decide not to adopt Act. XIV. If any Meeting called as herein-before provided to consider as to the Adoption of this Act for any Borough or Town shall determine against such Adoption no Meeting for a similar Purpose Public Libraries and Museums (Ireland.) Purpose shall be held for the Space of One Year at least from the XV. The Admission to all Libraries and Museums established Museums to be under this Act shall be open to the Public free of all Charge. free. XVI. Upon the coming into operation of this Act in any This Act to be Borough it shall, as regards such Borough, be incorporated with incorporated the said Act of the Third and Fourth Victoria, Chapter One hun- with Local Acts dred and eight, and upon the coming into operation of this Act in any Town it shall, as regards such Town, be incorporated with the Act or Acts in force therein relating to the Powers and Duties of the Town Commissioners. in force in Borough or Town. CA P. XLI. An Act for abolishing the Jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical W WHEREAS the Jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts in Suits for Defamation has ceased to be the Means of en'forcing the Spiritual Discipline of the Church, and has become grievous and oppressive to the Subjects of this Realm: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen'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, as follows: Jurisdiction of Ecclesiastical for Defamation abolished. Persons in Cus tody for DefaOrder of Ecclesiastical Courts to be discharged, but such Order not to be mation under I. From and after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful for any Ecclesiastical Court in England or Wales to entertain or adjudicate upon any Suit for or Cause of Defamation, any Statute, Law, Canon, Custom, or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding. II. In the Case of every Person committed to Gaol before the passing of this Act under any Writ De contumace capiendo, issued in consequence of any Proceedings before any Ecclesiastical Court, in any Cause or Suit for Defamation of Character, the Judge of the Ecclesiastical Court before whom such Proceedings shall have been had shall make an Order upon the Officer in whose Custody such Person is for discharging such Person out of Custody, and such Officer shall, on the Receipt of such Order, forthwith discharge such Person; and it shall not be necessary for such Person to take any Oath of future Obedience to his or her Ordinary: Imprisonment Provided always, that such Order shall not be made unless the suffered. Costs lawfully incurred in any such Suit shall have been previously paid into the Registry of such Ecclesiastical Court, or unless the Person against whom such Costs shall have been decreed shall have already suffered Imprisonment for One Month in consequence of Nonpayment thereof. made until Costs are paid. or One Month's 18 & 19 VICT. K С А Р. 6 G. 4. c. 87. Oaths may be administered by and other Bri Ambassadors tish Ministers abroad. Affidavits taken in the United Kingdom. Administration of Oaths Abroad. CA P. XLII. An Act to enable British Diplomatic and Consular Agents abroad to administer Oaths and do Notarial Acts. [2d July 1855.] THEREAS by an Act of the Sixth Year of King George the Fourth, Chapter Eighty-seven, Powers are given to 'British Consuls General and Consuls to administer Oaths and do • Notarial Acts in the Foreign Places to which they are appointed; and it is expedient that the like Powers should be given to 'Ambassadors and other Diplomatic Agents and to Vice-Consuls ' and Consular Agents abroad:' Be it enacted by the Queen'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, as follows: I. From and after the passing of this Act, it shall and may be lawful for every British Ambassador, Envoy, Minister, Chargé d'Affaires, or Secretary of Embassy or of Legation exercising his Functions in any Foreign Country, and for every British ViceConsul, Acting Consul, Pro-Consul, or Consular Agent (as well as every Consul General or Consul) exercising his Functions in any Foreign Place, whenever he shall be thereto required, and whenever he shall see necessary, to administer in such Foreign Country or Place any Oath or to take any Affidavit or Affirmation from any Person whomsoever, and also to do and perform in such Foreign Country or Place all and every Notarial Acts or Act which any Notary Public could or might be required and is by Law empowered to do within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland; and every such Oath, Affidavit, or Affirmation, and every such Notarial Act, administered, sworn, affirmed, had, or done by or before such Ambassador, Envoy, Minister, Chargé d'Affaires, Secretary of Embassy or of Legation, Vice-Consul, Acting Consul, Pro-Consul, or Consular Agent, shall be as good, valid, and effectual, and shall be of like Force and Effect, to all Intents and Purposes, as if such Oath, Affidavit, or Affirmation, or Notarial Act, respectively, had been administered, sworn, affirmed, had, or done before any Justice of the Peace or Notary Public in any Part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain or Ireland, or before any other legal or competent Authority of the like Nature. II. Affidavits and Affirmations so taken as aforesaid under the before Ambas- said Act of King George the Fourth or this Act shall and may be sadors, &c. received, read, and made use of in and before any Court of Law or abroad may be used in Courts Equity, or other Judicature whatever in any Part of the United Kingdom, and the Judges and Officers thereof, in or in relation to any Action, Suit, Cause, Matter, or Proceeding in or before any such Court or Judicature, in like Manner, and shall be of the same Force and Effect, as Affidavits and Affirmations taken in or before such Court or Judicature, or by any Person duly commissioned or authorized by such Court or Judicature to take such Affidavits or Affirmations, and shall be filed and dealt with accordingly. III. Any Administration of Oaths Abroad. Infants Marriage. without Proof III. Any Document purporting to have affixed, impressed, or Documents to subscribed thereon or thereto the Seal and Signature of any British be Evidence Ambassador, Envoy, Minister, Chargé d'Affaires, Secretary of Embassy or of Legation, Consul General, Consul, Vice-Consul, nature of AmActing Consul, Pro-Consul, or Consular Agent, in testimony of bassador or any such Oath, Affidavit, Affirmation, or Act having been admi- other official nistered, sworn, affirmed, had, or done by or before him, shall be Person. admitted in Evidence, without Proof of any such Seal and Signature being the Seal and Signature of the Person whose Seal and Signature the same purport to be, or of the official Character of such Person. IV. Any Person knowingly and wilfully making any false Oath, Affidavit, or Affirmation before any Person having Authority to administer such Oath or take such Affidavit or Affirmation under the said Act of King George the Fourth or this Act, shall be deemed guilty of Perjury, and such Offender may be charged, proceeded against, tried, and dealt with in any County or Place in the United Kingdom in the same Manner in all respects as if the Offence had been committed in such County or Place. Persons swearing or affirming falsely guilty of Perjury, V. If any Person shall forge any such Seal or Signature as afore- Persons forging said, or shall tender in Evidence any such Document as aforesaid Seal or Signa-" with a false or counterfeit Seal or Signature thereto, knowing the ture guilty of same to be false or counterfeit, he shall be guilty of Felony, and Felony. shall upon Conviction be liable to Penal Servitude for the Term of Four Years, or to be imprisoned, with or without Hard Labour, for any Term not exceeding Three Years nor less than One Year; and whenever any such Document has been admitted in Evidence by virtue of this Act, the Court or the Person who has admitted the same may, at the Request of any Party against whom the same is so admitted in Evidence, direct that the same shall be impounded and be kept in the Custody of some Officer of the Court or other proper Person for such Period, and subject to such Conditions, as to the said Court or Person shall seem meet; and every Person charged with committing any Felony under this Act may be dealt with, indicted, tried, and, if convicted, sentenced, and his Offence may be laid and charged to have been committed, in the County, District, or Place in which he may be apprehended or be in Custody; and every Accessory before or after the Fact to any uch Offence may be dealt with, indicted, tried, and, if convicted, sentenced, and his Offence laid and charged to have been committed, in any County, District, or Place in which the principal Offender may be tried. CA P. XLIII. An Act to enable Infants, with the Approbation of the Court WHEREAS great Inconveniences and Disadvantages arise in consequence of Persons who marry during Minority being incapable of making binding Settlements of their Property:' For Remedy whereof be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent K 2 Majesty, |