3^4- C. 25. Anno tricefimo fecundo Georgii II. A. D. 1758. Claufe in Aft 19 Geo. z c. 34. For firmer Laio! con- ifrr.lng Seamtn refer t» 2 R. 2. /. I. C. 4' 5 El. c. 5. y & i py. 3. C. 21. 8 £f 9 ^. 3. <•. 23. g & ofy. 3. f. 41. 2 y^n/i. c 6. 4 &f 5 Ann. C. 19. 10 ^;;n. c. 17. 1 Gm. I. f. 25. 8 Geo. 1. c. 24. 1 Geo. 2.y?. 2. f. 9. J Geo. 2. r. 14. 2 G"«. 2. f. 7 vSf 36. 6 Gfo. 2. f. 25. 8 Geo. 2. f. 29. 11 Geo. 2.C, 30 13 Geo. 2, 14 Ge5. 2. 17 GfO. z 3, 46? 17. 38. f. 34. 2. f. 31. 2. e. 38. 1. f. 51. 2. <. 47- 2. c. 16. So much of the recited Claufe, as dire(f<s the iS Geo, 20 Geo, 2Z G^o 24 Geo. 28 CfO CAP. XXV. An A(5l to explain and amend an A6b made in the twenty-ninth Year of his prefent Ma- jefty's Reign, intituled, Jn AB for the Encouragement of Seamen., and the more fpeedy and effe^ual Manning his Majefifs Navy and for the better Prevention of Piracies and Robberies by Crews of private Ships of War. Preamble. * WJ H E R E A S repeated Complaints have of late been made of divers outragious A<£ts of Piracy i W and Pvobbery, committed on board great Numbers of Ships, more particularly by the 1 Crews of fmall Ships, VelTels or Boats, being or pretending to be Englijh Privateers : And whereas it is of the utmoft Importance to the Honour of this Nation, to detedt and bring to Juftice Per- fons who (in Violation of the Laws of Nations in general, and of this Kingdom in particular) have been, or fhall be guilty of fuch Piracies and Robberies : And whereas by a Claufe in an Adt : of Parliament pafled in the twenty-ninth Year of the Reign of his prefent Majefty, intituled, Jn ■ ASi for the Encouragement of Seamen., and the more fpeedy and effeSiual Manning his Majejly's Navy., It is amongft other Things, enadled, That the Lord High Admiral of Great Britain., or the Com- miflioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain for the Time being, or any three or more of them, or any Perfon or Perfons by him or them impowered and appointed, fhall, at the Requeft of any Owner or Owners of any Ship or Veflel, giving fuch Bail and Security as have been ufually taken upon granting Commiflions or Letters of Marque (except only for the Payment of the Tenths of the Value of Prizes which fliall be taken, to the Lord High Admiral, or Commiflioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral for the Time being) caufe to be if- fued forth, in the ufual Manner, one or more Commiffion or Commiffions to any Perfon or Perfons whom fuch Owner or Owners fhall nominate to be Commander, or in cafe of Death, fucceffively Commanders of fuch Ship or Veflel, for the attacking, furprizing, feizing and taking, by and with fuch Ship or Veflel, or with the Crew thereof, any Place or Fortrefs upon the Land, or any Ship or Veflel, Goods, Ammunition, Arms, Stores of War or Aderchandize, belonging to, or pofl'eflcd by any of his Majefl:y's Enemies, in any Sea, Creek, Haven or River: And whereas it is appre- hended that moft of the A<5ls of Piracy and Robbery complained of aforefaid, have arifen from the Obligation on the faid Lord High Admiral, or the faid Commiffioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral, at fuchRequefl: as aforefaid, to grant fuch Commiffions to the Commanders of all Ships or Velfels, of what Burthen foever, without Diftindlion ;' To Remedy which Inconve- niency. Be it enadtcd by the King's mofl Excellent Majefty, by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this prefent Parliament afTembled, and by the Authority of the fame. That from and after the firft Day of June in the Year of our Lord one thoufand feven hundred and fifty-nine, fo much of the faid recited Claufe in the above-mentioned A-cl of Parliament, paflTed in the twenty-ninth Year of the Reign of his prefent Majefty, as directs Aomirahy, lipon Appli- the Lord High Admiral of Great Britain^ or the Commiflioners for executing the Office of Lord caticn and Security given, High Admiral of Great Britain for the Time being, or any three or more of them, or any Perfon or to grant Commiffions to perfons by him or them impowered and appointed, at the Requeft of any Owner or Ov/ners of any Pdvatteis repealed. gj^jp ^^ VeiTcl giving fuch Bail and Security as therein is mentioned, to caufe to be iflued forth, in the ufual Manner, one or more Commiffion or Commiflions to any Perfon or Perfons whom fuch Owner or Owners fhall nominate to be Commander, or, in cafe of Death, fucceffively Comman- ders of fuch Ship or Vel.el, for the Purpofes in the faid recited Claufe mentioned, fliall be, and the fame is hereby declared and enafted to be abfolutely repealed and made void. ■ Itvto rjntCom- ^^- ^^'^ ^^ ^^ further enacEled by the Authority aforefaid. That the Lord High Admiral o£ mi^orfs, upon'^clvicrs,' Grr^/ ^ry/fl/«, cr the Commiflioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of G;y^^ 5r/- irc giving fuch Bail ani tain for the Time being, or any three or more of them, or any Perfon or Perfons by him or them Security as is herem jmpowered and appointed, fhall from and after the faid firft Day of jfune one thoufand feven hun- aftci-meationed. jj^^j ^^^ fifty-nine, at the Requeft of any Owner or Owners of any Ship or Veflel, giving fuch Bail ' and Security as is herein after mentioned and exprelTcd, caufe to be ilTucd forth one or more Comr miffion or Commiffions to any Perfon or Perfons whom fuch Owner or Owners fhall nominr.te to be Commander, or in cafe of Death, fucceffively Commanders of fuch Ship or Veflel, for the attack- ing, furprizing, I'tizing and taking, by and with fuch Ship or VefTel, or with the Crew thereof,, any Place or Fortrefs upon the Land, or any Ship or Veflel, Cjoods, Ammunition, Arms, Stores of War or Merchandize, belonging to, or pofl'efled by any of his Majefly's Enemies, upon the Prizes to belong folely Land, or in any Sea, Creek, Haven or River; and that fuch Ship or Ships, Veflel or Veflels, or to, ard be divided among gpy Qoods, Ammunition, Arms, Stores of AVar, and Merchandizes whatfocvcr, with all their Fur-
- ?irbe'l%«dleiwccn'^'^"^*^» Tackle and Apparel, fo to be taken, by or with fuch private Owner or Owners Ship or
'hem- **^'" '*"" Veflel, according to fuch laft-mejuioned Commiflion or Commiflions (being firft adjudged lawful ' Prize in any of his Majefty's Courts of Admiralty) fliall wholly and entirely belong to, and be di- vided between and among, the Owner and Owners of fuch Ship or Veflel, and the feveral Perfons which fliall be on board the fame, and be aiding and affifling to the taking thereof, in fuch Shares and Proportions as fhall be agreed on with the Owner or Owners of fuch Ship or V^eflel as fhall be the Captor thereof, their Agents or FacStors, as the proper Goods ajid Chattels of (uch Owner or Owners,, and the Perfons that fhall bv* iutitled thereto by virtue of fuch Agreements among thcm- felves^
