and of the Churchyards and Burying Places to be bought: And to limit the distinct Parishes: And to inform themselves of the Value of the Houses and Lands, as they shall think necessary to be purchased for Churchyards and Ministers Houses. And shall before the 24th of December 1711, certify the Queen in Writing under their Hands and Seals, such things as shall appear to them, and present a Duplicate of such Report to each House of Parliament.

An hundred Chalder of Coals every Year brought into the Port of London for the Use of Chelsea Hospital, shall not be charged with this Duty.

The next Year, viz. 1712, 10 Annæ Reg. another Act was made in relation to the Fifty New Churches; intitled, An Act for Enlarging the Time given to the Commisioners appointed by her Majesty, pursuant to an Act for granting her Majesty several Duties on Coals, for building Fifty New Churches, and other Purposes therein mentioned: And also for granting the said Commissioners further Powers for better effecting the same. By vertue whereof, the Time, limited by the Queen's Letters Patents mentioned, 9 April, being expired, was enlarged; and the Commissioners, or any Five of them, empowered to meet as often as they shall have Occasion, and perform every thing in the former Act, and in this Act required, for building the said Churches, until they have compleated the same.

These Commissioners to purchase Lands, as they shall think proper, for the Churches, Burying Places and Ministers Houses.

The Commissioners may take up Money at 6 per Cent. upon the Credit of the several Duties on Coals, for the carrying on of the said Work. And the Money so lent shall not be taxed.

Five of the Commissioners may, by a Parchment Writing under their Hands and Seals, to be enrolled in Chancery, ascertain the Bounds, and set to each new Church and Churchyard, and also the Districts to each Parish, that shall be appointed for every new Church. And after the Enrolment of such Writing, and Consecration of the Church, such Districts shall be taken to be a distinct Parish: Except touching Church Rates, Relief of the Poor, and Rates for the High Ways, as in the same after was provided. And the Inhabitants within the Districts shall be Parishioners thereof; and be subject to all Taxes, Rates for the Poor, cleansing of the Streets, and other Duties, as the Inhabitants of the Parish from whence such new Parish was taken, are chargeable.

A Rector to be in every new Church; and a perpetual Succession of Rectors in them. And where there is now a Morning Preacher in any Chapel, which shall be converted into a Parish Church, and who shall have officiated there for one Month next before the Consecration thereof, such Preacher shall be the first Rector of the new Church, without Admission, Institution, or Induction. And in every other new Church, the Rector to be appointed by the Queen. And he and his Successors are hereby incorporated; and shall be called the Rector of such new Church, by the Name which shall be given to it in the Act of Consecration. And the Freehold of the new Church shall be in him, and in his Successors.

And he and they may purchase and take Lands, not exceeding the clear yearly Value of 200l. for each Church.

Five or more of the Commissioners may enquire and inform themselves of the Right of Patronage, &c. of any Church, from which any Part shall be taken aforesaid: And treat with the Person who hath the Right, for the more effectual dividing of such Parish, and the Tithes, and other Dues thereunto belonging; and apportion- ing the same, to take Place and Effect after the next Avoidance; and for settling the Right of Patronage for ever in each new Church or Chapel, made Parochial: To which Part so divided it shall be annexed.

And all such Agreement to be made for such Division (to be with the Assent of the Ordinary) and for settling the Right of Patronage by a Writing in Parchment under the Hands and Seals of Five or more of the Commissioners, and of the Parties having a Right to such Patronage, and enrolled in Chancery, shall be from henceforth binding.

Until such Settlement can be made of the Right of Patronage, the Crown shall present upon any Avoidance.

The first and all succeeding Rectors of every new Church (except the present Preacher of a Chapel) shall be presented, instituted, collated and inducted, as other Rectors are.

Some of these Churches now in building are, One in the Strand near finished, another in Spittal Fields near Bricklane, another at Limehouse, another near Ratcliff Highway. And some old Churches by vertue of this Act pulled down, and rebuilt and enlarged; as St. Mary Woolnoth in London, that at Greenwich, and that at Deptford.

A Petition was presented to the Parliament sitting January 1717, by some of the Parish of St. Giles in the Fields, that the said Parish Church, which is old and ruinous, may be one of the Fifty Churches so appointed to be built. Which was granted.

The Commissioners for building the Fifty new Churches did about the Month of January, Ann. 1717, purchase of the Ironmongers Company a Parcel of Ground in Oldstreet for 1000l. in order to erect a Church there; and were contracting for Materials to lay the Foundation; which is to be begun in the Spring, the Scite being already marked out.

There is also a Piece of Ground in St. Paul's Shadwel, allotted for one of these Churches.

I end this Chapter with an Account of another Charitable Society, erected for those of the Scottish Nation here in London, reduced to Poverty and Need. The well disposed wealthier sort, Natives of those Northern Parts of Great Britain, have by their Diligence and voluntary Contributions, raised a considerable Estate of yearly Income for that good Purpose. It is called, The Scots Corporation at London, founded by King Charles II. Anno 1664. The Occasion this. A Person, Native of Scotland, about the Year 1664, in a Fit of Sickness, and in a Danger of Death, resolved to communicate Part of what he had gotten by his honest Pains and Industry, to the Poor of his Country, whom he found to be numerous, and many of them under great Streights. But his Charity having a farther Prospect, than for a present Supply to such indigent Persons, consulted with some proper Persons about laying a Method of a standing Stock for such Objects of Charity for future time. The Effect of this was, that Letters Patents were gotten for the erecting of a Corporation of Scots in London; whereby they might have the Privileges of a permanent and authorized Society. This they obtained by the Interest of the Earl of Lauderdale, then Secretary of State for Scotland.

The Patent took Place the third of September 1665. This Patent recited a former Patent dated the 30th of June, 17 Car. II. allowing an Hospital to be erected within Westminster, or the Liberties thereof, to be called The Scots Hospital of King Charles II. To be governed by eight honest Men, Natives of Scotland, and Inhabitants of London and Westminster, or Liberties thereof. Out of which eight, one is yearly to be chosen the Thurs-