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Inquiry and Report of Building and Improvements necessary.
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XVIII. That if by reason of the Inability of any Ecclesiastical Person having no sufficient House of Residence, or having a Residence requiring substantial and permanent Improvement, to advance the necessary Sums of Money for building or improving such House of Residence on his See, Benefice, or Preferment, or for any other sufficient Reason, it shall appear proper and expedient so to do, it shall be lawful for the Person or Persons hereby empowered in that Behalf to grant a Certificate of Charge in respect of the building or improving of any such Residence to grant a Commission to Two or more fit and proper Persons, One of whom shall be an Architect, directing them to inquire whether there is a fit House of Residence within the said See, Benefice, or Preferment, and what are the net annual Profits of the same, and whether a fit House of Residence can be provided on the Demesne, Mensal, or Glebe Lands belonging to the said See, Benefice, or Preferment, or to view and examine the existing Buildings or Improvements, and inquire and report whether the same are in need of any and what permanent or substantial Repairs, Additions, Alterations, or Improvements; and such Commissioners shall be sworn truly and faithfully to inquire and report upon the Matters so referred to them, in the same Manner, and shall have the like Powers and Authorities to examine Witnesses, as the Commissioners of Valuation of Buildings pursuant to Memorial, and shall, if necessary, have the Assistance of One or more Builders or Tradesmen, to be nominated by the Person or Persons issuing the said Commission, and shall annex to their Report a Certificate of the actual State and Condition of the Buildings, if any, and of the Value of the Timber and other Materials, if any, thereupon, fit to be employed in building or repairing the said House of Residence, or to be sold, and a Plan or Estimate of the Work fit and proper to be done for building or improving such House of Residence, with all necessary and convenient Offices, to be signed by such Builder or Tradesman; and thereupon such Person or Persons receiving said Report shall cause to be transmitted to the Ecclesiastical Person holding such See, Benefice, or Preferment a Copy of the said Report, Estimate, and Plan, and shall hear and determine such Objections as may be had, preferred, and taken to the said Report or any Part thereof, in Writing, within Two Calendar Months from the Transmission of the said Report, and shall confirm, alter, or amend the same as he or they shall think fit; and thereupon such Report, so amended or confirmed, shall be entered at large in the Registry of the Diocese.
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