so liable to the performance of Quarantine, unless compelled by Stress of Weather, such Pilot shall forfeit 1001. recoverable as under the Revenue Laws.

By the same Act, that and all former Acts regarding Quarantine, shall extend to all Diseases, which shall at any time be declared infectious by Proclamation, or by Publication in the Gazette, whether such Diseases be denominated the Plague or not.

Regulations respecting Convoys.

By Statute 33 Geo. III. cap. 66. § 8, If the Captain of any Merchant-Ship under Convoy, shall wilfully disobey signals or instructions, or any other lawful command of the Commander of the Convoy, or shall desert the Convoy without leave, he shall be liable to be articled against in the High Court of Admiralty for such disobedience, and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined at the discretion of the Court, in any sum not exceeding 500%. and shall suffer such imprisonment, not exceeding one year, as the said Court shall adjudge.

By the Statute 38 Geo. III. cap. 76, "For the better protection of the Trade of this Kingdom, &c." generally known by the name of the Convoy Act, the Preamble of which recites, that "it will add to the security of Trade, to prevent Ships from sailing without Convoy," it is enacted, That no British Vessel [except such as are not required to be registered; or such

1

such as are licenced by the Admiralty to sail without Convoy; or are proceeding to join Convoy; or such as are bound to any Port in Ireland; or Coasting Vessels; or East-India or Hudson's Bay Ships; and in certain cases (by 39 Gco. III. cap. 32.) Newfoundland Ships] shall in future sail or depart from any Port or Place whatever, unless under the Convoy or Protection of Ships appointed for that purpose.

The Master or Commander of every such Ship or Vessel which shall sail under Convoy shall use his utmost endeavours to continue therewith during the whole of the Voyage, or such part thereof, as such Convoy shall be directed to accompany such Ship or Vessel, and shall not wilfully separate therefrom upon any pretence whatever, without order or leave from the Officer commanding such Convoy.

Any Master or Commander who shall, contrary to the Act, sail without Convoy, or shall afterwards desert or wilfully separate or depart from the same, without leave obtained from the Officer entrusted with the charge thereof, before such Ship or Vessel shall have arrived at the port or place of her destination, or so far on her Voyage as such Convoy shall be directed to accompany and protect her, shall forfeit for every Offence, 1000/.: And in case the whole or any part of the Cargo of such Ship or Vessel shall consist of Naval or Military Stores, he shall forfeit 1500l. But the Court in which any Action or Suit for the Recovery of the Penalty shall

be

1

:

:

be tried, may mitigate the same, so as not to be less than 50%.

The Clause in 33 Geo. III. c. 66. noticed in p. 548, is, by this Convoy Act, ordered to be painted on a board, and fixed in some conspicuous part of every Merchant-Ship, on penalty of 50l.

In case of any Ship's sailing without Convoy all Policies of Insurance made thereon, or on Goods laden therein, by any Person privy to her sailing without Convoy, are declared null and void; and a penalty of 2007. is imposed on Parties to such Insurance, or Brokers, settling or paying any loss thereon,

Previous to clearing out from the Port, the Master or Commander must give Bond at the Customhouse, with one Surety in a penalty equal to the value of the Ship, not to sail without Convoy, nor to depart therefrom; and this extends to Ships clearing out in order to join Convoy.

The Penalties are recoverable by Action in the superior Courts.

Of obtaining Letters of Marque: and the Regulations to be observed in Consequence.

By Statute 33 Geo. II. cap. 66. § 15, All Applications to the Admiralty to obtain Letters of Marque must be made in writing, setting forth the exact description of the Vessel, specifying her Name

and Burthen, Built, number of Guns, to what Place belonging, Owners' Names, and number of the Crew. All these particulars are to be inserted in the Letter of Marque, which is to be produced by the Commander to the Collector, Customer, or Searcher at the Port, from which the Ship shall be first fitted out; who is to examine the Vessel, and grant a Certificate of the Vessel's being of equal or greater force than stated; such Certificate to be deemed a necessary Clearance before the Ship's being permitted to sail: A Penalty of 1000/. is imposed on the Commander sailing without such Certificate, or with a force inferior to that specified in the Letter of Marque: Recoverable in any Court of Record ; and also, not more than one year's imprisonment at the discretion of the Court.

By§ 19 of the same Act, the Letter of Marque shall be forfeited in case of any Offences by the Owners or Commander of the Vessel, against the Revenue Laws.

By § 8 of 37 Geo. III. cap. 109. (for amending the foregoing Act 33 Geo. III. cap. 66.) the Commander of every Letter of Marque is directed to keep a Journal, containing an exact account of his daily Transactions, the capture of Prizes, and disposal thereof, and all information which he can obtain as to the Enemies' Fleets, their Force, Destination, &c. On his arrival at any Port of his Majesty's Dominions, he is to deliver up this Journal to the Chief Officer of the

1

the Customs, and verify the Contents on Oath. This Journal is by the Custom-house Officer to be transmitted to the Admiralty with an account of the Crew, &c. who are to be mustered on board in the Port, by the Tide-Surveyor. A new Certificate is to be granted by the Custom-house Officer of the Ship's being properly manned and armed: A Penalty of 1001. recoverable in any Court of Record, is imposed on the Custom-house Officer giving a false Certificate.

By§ 9 of the same Act, directions are given for the conduct of Commanders on meeting Ships of War, or in the Service of the Revenue; to the Captains of whom they are to produce their Journal, as also to British Consuls at Foreign Ports, who are to act as Custom-house Officers are directed to do in British Ports.

A Penalty of 5001. recoverable in any Court of Record, is impossed on the Commanders of Letters of Marque, neglecting or transgressing any of the fore going Regulations; and on swearing falsely they are liable to the Penalties of Perjury. By any such neglect or transgression the Letters of Marque also become null and void.

It may be proper also in this place to notice the restrictions on ransoming Ships, captured either from or by the Enemy.

By the said Statute 33 Geo. III. cap. 66. § 36, Any Commander of any Privateer, who shall agree

for

1