A BILL FOR W Substituting Declarations for Oaths. HEREAS there are in various Places of the United King- Preamble. dom of Great Britain and Ireland certain Persons who from conscientious Scruples object or refuse to take an Oath or make an Affidavit in any Court of Justice and other Places, or in any 5 Proceedings in such Courts: And whereas it is just and expedient that the solemn Declaration of each such Person should be allowed in all Cases where an Oath is or shall be required, and in lieu of such Oath: Be it therefore enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and 10 Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and 15 conscien by the Authority of the same, That every Person who shall from Every Perconscientious Scruples object to the taking of an Oath shall be son who from permitted to make his or her solemn Declaration, instead of taking tious Seruan Oath in all Places, in all Proceedings, and for all Pur- ples objects to the taking poses whatsoever where an Oath is or shall be required, either of an Oath by the Common Law, or by any Act of Parliament already made or to be allowed hereafter to be made, or otherwise howsoever, which said Declaration lemn Declashall be of the same Effect as if he or she had taken an Oath in the ration. usual Form; and if any such Person making such solemn Declaration 20 shall be lawfully convicted wilfully, falsely, and corruptly to have to take a so tion of false Declaration declared any Matter or Thing which if the same had been made on Oath in the usual Form would have amounted to wilful and corrupt On Convic- Perjury, he or she shall incur the same Penalties and Forfeitures as by the Laws and Statutes of these Realms are or may be enacted against Persons convicted of wilful and corrupt Perjury, any Law, Statute, or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding: Provided always, that every uch Declaration shall be in the Words following; (that is to say,) to be subject to the Penalty of Perjury. If the same be made in open Court, A.B., having a conscientious Scruple to the taking of an Oath, do solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare, That the Evidence I will 'give [here describe the Court or Proceedings requiring such Evidence] shall be the Truth, the whole Truth, and nothing but the 'Truth'. I Or if the same shall be in Writing, 5 10 A. B., having a conscientious Scruple to the taking of an Oath, do 15 solemnly, sincerely, and truly declare as follows; (that is to say,) [here set forth the Evidence].' ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES. Preamble. The Lands Clauses Consolidation Act, 1845, incorporated; 1. Powers for constructing the Tunnel between Devonport and Keyham As to Deviation of Tunnel; 4. As to Compensation for Tunnel; 5. Power for Admiralty to purchase Lands in First Schedule to Act, After Purchase of Fee Simple of Leasehold Parts of Devonport Yard the same shall be always used for One of Her Majesty's Dockyards; 8. A Piece of Ground described in Second Schedule to be always kept as a Footway; 9. Errors and Omissions in Schedules may be corrected by Two Justices; 10. Powers for compulsory Purchase of Lands limited to Three Years; 11. Powers to apply to Lands already agreed to be purchased; 12. All the Lands purchased or taken by Admiralty to vest in them for the Public Service; 13. Admiralty may sell or let such Lands; 14. As to Payment of any Money produced by any such Sale; 15. |