THE Acts for Annuities are Four, whereby two con­siderable Supplies for the War have been granted upon one Fund. The two first Acts raised a Million as speedily as could be imagined, the two last for 618000l. have not yet raised that Sum: The Reasons will be en­deavoured to be observed by this Paper, and the Remora's will be attempted to be removed with regard to, and also preservation of His Majesty's Interest and Prerogative, with the Honour and Methods of Parliament; and also the publick and private Pro­perty of very many Subjects.

Which, with Submission to better Judgments, the first rub or difficulty that seems to be in the way for hindring the raising the last Sum, is a Clause in the first Act, Fol. 221. which says, That no Contributers to the Million shall advance any further Sum upon the Terms or Advantages. This Clause may be said to be Superceded or Repeal'd by the two last Acts, which yet is only consequenti­ally; for neither of the two last Acts take notice of that Clause expresly.

Secondly, Both the first Acts for the Million seem to take especial Care that His Majesty shall not raise any Sum upon that Fund exceeding the Million; and there seems to be a labour to pre­vent the King's disposal of any Sum that shall rise upon this Fund, in case it shall raise in any Year or Years, any Sum or Sums over [Page 2]and above the Security or Compensation for the Million. And if it shall happen to raise more, it is called a Surplus, which has a Ba [...] over it not agreeable with the Title of a Gift, and may be f [...]rther taken notice of hereafter.

The Third Observation of these Acts is, that in case the Sum shall full short of what is intended to be raised, then there is allowed a borrowing Clause, which is but 5 l. per Cent which being less than the King allows in other Cases, and by other Acts, is the reason why the Sum of 618000l. intended for the War, is not raised by borrowing, though the Fund should come up to the full expectation, and a Surplusage, which is fear'd by many; and therefore unwilling to venture the Purchasing the remaining years after the Life they have already. But that Jealousie may be removed if we get over this last Observation: which is,

Fourthly, That none of the Four Acts take particular notice of Nominees dying, which will make the most material part of this Discourse.

In the first place some are of Opinion, that all such Annuities by the first Acts as cease by the Death of the Nominee or Nominees, shall come within the Acceptation of a Surplusage, and that they are the King's and his Heirs; which, with submission to better Judgments, I cannot comprehend by these Acts to be a Surplusage; but rather a Gift of Providence than a Gift of the Parliament: But whether it be determined a Surplusage or not, the Limitation lessens the Grant, and appears to be a clipping the Wings of the Gift, if not of the Prerogative.

But to stick close to the business of these Acts for Supplies to the War; at present the 618000l. cannot be raised by these last Acts, be­cause none of them take notice directly of the Nominees deceased, which ought to be in being, as a foundation for a Sale of further Term or Years: And it is natural to conclude, that had the Parliament taken notice of Nominees deceasing, they would have set more Years than Five for the Purchases; and yet on the other hand it would have sounded harsh to Debate or Vote the Sale of what was faln to the King; yet that waved, the King is supposed to have a greater Sum for the War than is really raised. It is confessed the Crown may have the Sum in Reversion, if the Fund answers expectation: But that does not keep up the Met [...]ds of Parhament for raising the express Sum to carry on the War, unless the King borrows upon it, which at 5 per Cent. he is not like to do for the Reasons above.

Moreover it is the Discourse of many Nominees in being, that the Fund falls short of satisfying the Survivorships and Nominees in being at 14 l. per Ann. (which is another Discouragement of purchasing the Years over) and therefore hope and expect, that what shall fall by Deaths shall be employed to their satisfa [...]ions; which being allow'd, the King has neither the Five Years [...] p [...]esent for the War, [...]cor­ding to the Intent of the Acts, no [...] [...] the Fund to borrow upon; the consequence whereof will ad [...] o [...] a longer Discourse than I shall presume upon

My business at present being only to take off Jealousies, and clear the Mistakes that seemingly appear: Which to do effectually, I must first be assisted by a Me [...] out of my Compass, that is, The Examination of the Accounts as the A [...]ts appoint; for those will de­monstrate what the Fund affor [...]s, and also the number of the No­minees dead; whereby will appear the defect of the Sum expressed and rely'd upon, and then the Ways and Means to supply the defici­ency will be the easier undertaken. To which I shall humbly offer this further.

In case the Fund shall fall short for raising the 618000l. accor­ding to the Intention of the Acts, then the Parliament will see the Difficulties the King has been under, and consequently for their Honour will find a Supply.

In case the Fund answers the Intention, by Publishing the same all Jealousies are taken off from the Nominees in being, and those that have not purchased the Term over, ought to declare whether they will purchase or not; for many may be willing to purchase that are not willing to break the civil Methods, that is, to purchase over another Man's head. It is confessed the two last Acts have given time for Persons in possession to come in, and after the limitation, free­dom to others; but the Reasons above have caused a slackness.

And moreover some living have been fearful that if the Fund shall hold up to the expectation, many Nominees being dead, the Re­version unpurchased, the Parliament ta [...]ing notice thereof, may in the end of a Session wanting a little Sum, [...] f [...]rth [...]r Charge upon it, which will continue a [...] [...]bject, and take off all prospect of Advantage to the King

Therefore taking all the Premis [...] together they raise a deter­mination that it's requisite or necess [...] [...] the [...]o [...]r Acts b [...] re­viewed, and if what ha [...] been obse [...]ved [...] true, then a Fifth may ensue, which may bring all to Accom [...]ati [...]n; for which e­very Paragraph hitherto is but as so many [...] Wheels or Move­ments [Page 4]in Clock-work, wanting the most material part or principal Spring to set all agoing rightly, according to my undertaking in the beginning.

Which when I explain, if the Reader, be not Courteous, he will suddenly conclude all this is but as a Windmil puft about with Self-Interest: I will confess there is something of that in the bottom, and I hope I may be pardon'd if I say I see few move in the World that have not something tending that way, and if I should stand as a mark at Charing-Cross to be flung at by any one that comes that way, without some Selfishness I might come off without a Broken Head. And if my Endeavours for the preservation of the Laws esta­blished, the undertakings and sufferings for preventing Arbitrary Power and Popery, without Designs in those points for Self-Interest were as well known, as these Acts are of concern, perhaps I should not be deeply censured for putting my self into a publick concern for some recompence; which I hope the Reader will allow to be modest; for I do refer my self to the King and Parliament to give me what pro­portion or scantling of time they shall think fit, if I live to the en­joyment of what I aim at, after the Government has moved accor­ding to its own steps, for I ask no profit till the King and his People have reaped their hoped for Satisfaction; in case they allow or ap­prove the Hinge all this former discourse hangs upon, which in con­clusion is thus:

That his Majesty nominate a Nominee or Nominees to supply the pla­ces of those dead as a Foundation to Purchase upon, at five Years, that is paying Seventy Pounds into the Exchequer for each Fourteen Pound per Annum, and so proportionably for greater Sums; for which his Majesty to allow so many years for Principal and Interest, and al­so to me as Conduit Pipe or Nominee such time as his Majesty with the Parliament shall think fit: during which time Tallies to be given, and Payments equivalent with the original Purchasers according to the methods of the Acts. And after the Expiration of the time limited, to revert to the King and Crown clear and not chargeable by Parlia­ment; nor to be disposed of so as to lessen the security of others in case the Fund shall fall short; Nor shall any allowances be made to any per­son whatsoever, till the Seventy Pounds and so upwards be first paid into the Exchequer for a Tally or Tallies; which with submission to Persons of better Experience in Affairs, comprehends the In­tentions of all the Acts with Honour and Interest to all in general and particular. In which if I mistake I ask pardon, and shall for the future endeavour to spend the short time I have left in absolute Obscurity.