§ Treasury Chambers, Nov. 30, 1812.
§ My lords; the Chancellor of the Exchequer having laid before the Lords Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury, your lordship's letter of 21st inst. stating, "that 313 under the impressions which your lordships entertain of the encreased sacrifices to which the country will, in all probability, be called by the pressure upon its resources, in a moment of unexampled ex-pence and difficulty, your lordships are anxious to express, through him, your desires and intention of contributing your voluntary aid to the expences of the war, and therefore requesting him, as the regular official channel of communication from the Exchequer to this Board, to signify to this Board your lordships intention of paying, in aid of the general services of the year, and in quarterly payments, one third of the net profits arising from the salary and fees of your respective tellerships of the Exchequer, and that your lordships propose and intend to continue this voluntary contribution for and during the present war, and to commence it from and after the present quarter ending 5th of January next;" I have it in command, from my lords, to express to your lordships, the high sense which they entertain of your public spirited and patriotic intention, of contributing one third of the net profits of the salary and fees of your respective tellerships of the Exchequer, in aid of the general services of the year; and I am commanded by my lords, to transmit herewith, a copy of the 218th section of the Act of the 43d of the King, cap. 122, directing the mode of receipt and application of voluntary contributions for the purpose of carrying on the war; and to request your lordships will be pleased to give directions, that your said voluntary contributions may be paid into the Bank of England from time to time, conformably to the provisions of the said Act. I am, my lords, &c.
§ GEO. HARRISON.
§ (Enclosure.)
§ "And whereas his Majesty's subjects, residing out of Great Britain, and others, may be desirous of voluntarily contributing towards the purposes of this Act; be it further enacted, that it shall be lawful for any person or persons, body corporate or politic, and at any time or times during the continuance of this Act, to pay or cause to be paid to the said governor or company, or to their cashier or cashiers, or other person or persons to be authorised by them, any sum or sums of money, as and for a voluntary contribution, for the purpose of carrying on the war; and in such case, to require a certificate or cer- 314 tificates for the same, acknowledging the payment of such voluntary contribution; which sums to be paid as aforesaid, for which such certificates shall be required, shall be deemed and take: to be voluntary contributions of such persons, body politic or corporate respectively, towards effecting the purposes of this Act, and shall be applied as the other monies paid into the Bank of England by virtue of this Act may be applied."