139 X. MERCANTILE MARINE. 7 and 8 VIC. cap. 112.] To amend and consolidate the laws 7 relating to merchant seamen, and for keeping a register of sea men. BRIT. [5th Sept. 1844.] & 8 VIC. British stat. cap. 112. 1844. fences, &c., at foreign ports. 7 and 8 Vic. c. 112, sec. 58.] All offences against the property As to of or person of any subject of her majesty, or of any foreigner, committed which shall be committed in or at any port or place, either ashore or afloat, out of the dominions of her majesty, by the master and crew, (including apprentices,) or any or either of them, belonging to any ship subject to any of the provisions of this act, or who, within three months before the committal of the offence, shall have been the master thereof, or shall have formed part of any such crew, shall be, and they are hereby declared to be offences of the same nature respectively, and to be liable to the same punishments respectively, as if they had been committed on the high seas and other places within the jurisdiction of the admiralty of England, and shall be inquired of, heard, tried, and determined, and adjudged in the same manner as if such offences had been committed within such jurisdiction; and when any trial for such offences, or for any misdemeanor against the provisions of this act shall take place before any justices or judges of oyer and terminer and gaol delivery, it shall be lawful for the court to order and direct the payment of the costs and expenses of the prosecution as in the case of costs and expenses of prosecutions for offences committed within the jurisdiction of the admiralty of England. custody and of offenders 59. Whenever any complaint shall be made to any of her For the safe majesty's consuls or vice-consuls, of any such offence, or of any conveyance offence having been committed at sea by the master and crew, to England. (including apprentices,) or any or either of them belonging to any ship subject to any of the provisions of this act, it shall be lawful for any such consul or vice-consul, to inquire into the case, upon oath, and, at his discretion, to cause any offender to be placed under all necessary restraint, so far as it may be in his power, so that he may be sent and conveyed in safe custody to England, as soon as practicable, in any vessel of her majesty, or of |