and acrid aromatic taste. It exudes, it is said, in warm climates, from cracks and ineisions in the common juniper bush. It is used as a varnish, dissolved in spirits of wine. (Ainslie's Mat, Indica.)

SANDWICH ISLANDS. This secluded, but interesting group, is situated in the midst of the Pacific Ocean, in about the 21st degree of N. lat., and the 157th of W. long. It comprises 8 inhabited and 2 uninhabited islands, of which Owhyhee, where Captain Cook was killed, is the most considerable. They are of volcanic formation, and mountainous, some of the peaks rising, in Owhyhee, to between 13,000 and 14,000 feet in height! The population in 1836 is said to have amounted to above 108,000, of which nearly 40,000 belonged to Owhyhee. The islanders are honourably distinguished among the Polynesian nations, by the advances they have made in civilisation; and particularly by their progress in manufactures, navigation, and commerce. Christianity was introduced by the American missionaries in 1820, and is now the religion of the state; schools have been established, churches have been built, and the forms of religion are at least pretty well observed. European usages have become fashionable; and the costume of the better classes, women as well as men, closely resembles that of the Americans.

The principal port is Honolulu or Honororu, on the S. side of the island of Woahoo, in lat. 21° 18' 3" N., long. 157° 53′ W. Population about 8,500, of whom about 450 are Englishmen, Americans, and other foreigners. The harbour, to which the place owes all its importance, has a narrow entrance, but it is easy of access at all times of the tide to vessels not drawing more than 18 ft. water. The bar at its mouth being narrow and composed of soft coral, it might easily be made accessible even for line-ofbattle ships. We subjoin a

About 14 or 15 vessels belong to the port, of which 3 are the property of the government, 3 of native chiefs, and the remainder of the resident foreigners.

A newspaper in the English language is published in the town, in which we have noticed advertisements of ladies' shoes from Paris, Eau-de-Cologne, ices, &c. ! The sovereignty of these islands was coded, in February 1843, to the British; but the cession was declined by the admiral commanding in chief in the Pacific. - (Geog. Dict. art. Polynesia; Simpson's Sandwich Íslands.)

SAPAN WOOD is obtained from a species of the same tree that yields the Brazil wood (Casalpinia Sapan Lin.). It is a middle sized forest tree, indigenous to Siam, Pegu, the Philippine Islands, &c. It has been employed for dyeing in the greater part of Asia for many centuries. It found its way into Europe some time before the discovery of America; but very little is now imported. Its colouring matter differs but little from that of Brazil wood, but the best sapan wood does not yield more than half the quantity that may be obtained from an equal weight of Brazil wood, and the colour is not quite so bright. (Bancroft on Colours, vol. ii. p. 329.) Its price in the London market varies from 7 to 127, a ton.

SAPPHIRE (Ger. Sapphir; Du. Saffiersteen; Fr. Saphir; It. Zaffiro: Sp. Safiro, Safir; Rus. Jachant; Lat. Sapphirus), a precious stone in very high estimation. Colours blue and red; also gray, white, green, and yellow. It occurs in blunt-edged pieces, in roundish pebbles, and crystallised. Varies from transparent to translucent. Refracts double. After diamond, it is the hardest substance in nature. The blue variety, or sapphire, is harder than the ruby, or red variety. Brittle. Specific gravity

4 to 4.2.

It is found in Bohemia, Saxony, France, &c.; but the red sapphire, or Oriental ruby, is not found in any considerable quantity anywhere except in Ava. Next to diamond, sapphire is the most valuable of the gems. The white and pale blue varieties, by exposure to heat, become snow white, and, when cut, exhibit so high a degree of lustre, that they are used in place of diamond. The most highly prized varieties are the crimson and carmine red; these are the Oriental ruby of the jeweller; the next is sapphire; and last, the yellow or Oriental topaz. The asterias, or star-stone, is a very beautiful variety, in which the colour is generally of a reddish violet, and the form a rhomboid, with truncated apices, which exhibit an opalescent lustre.* (See RUBY.)

Mr. Crawfurd gives the following details with respect to the sapphire and ruby mines of Ava: -" The precious stones ascertained to exist in the Burmese territory are chiefly those of the sapphire family,

* Professor Jameson says. in his Mineralogy, that some peculiarly beautiful sapphires are found in the Capelan mountains, in Pegu. But we are not aware that there are any such mountains in any part of the world; and, in point of fact, there are no mountains in Pegu, nor have any precious stones been ever found in it.

and the spinelle ruby. They are found at 2 places, not very distant from each other, called Mogat and Kyatpean, about 5 days' journey from the capital, in an E. S. E. direction. From what I could learn, the gems are not obtained by any regular mining operations, but by digging and washing the gravel in the beds of rivulets or small brooks. All the varieties of the sapphire, as well as the spinelle, are found together, and along with them large quantities of corundum. The varieties ascertained to exist, are the Oriental sapphire; the Oriental ruby, or red stone; the opalescent ruby, or cat's eye ruby; the star ruby; the green; the yellow and the white sapphires; and the Oriental amethyst. The conimon sapphire is by far the most frequent, but, in comparison with the ruby, is very little prized by the Burmese, in which they agree with other nations. I brought home with me several of great size, the largest weighing no less than 3,630 grains, or above 907 carats. The spinelle ruby (zebu-gaong) is not unfrequent in Ava, but is not much valued by the natives. I brought with me to England a perfect specimen, both as to colour and freedom from flaws, weighing 22 carats. The sapphire and ruby mines are considered the property of the king; at least he lays claim to all stones that exceed in value a viss of silver, or 100 ticals. The miners, it appears, endeavour to evade this law by breaking the large stones into fragments. In the royal treasury there are, notwithstanding, many fine stones of both descriptions. The year before our visit, the king received from the mines a ruby weighing 124 grains; and the year preceding that, 8 good ones, but of smaller size. No stranger is permitted to visit the mines; even the Chinese and Mohammedans residing at Ava are carefully excluded." (Journal of an Embassy to the Court of Ava, p. 442.)

SARCOCOLLA, a subviscid, sweetish, and somewhat nauseous gum resin. It is brought from Arabia and Persia in small grains of a pale yellow colour; the whitest, as being the freshest, is preferred. It is but seldom imported. - ( Milburn's Orient. Com.)

SARDINES, OR SARDINIAS (Ger. Sardellen; Fr. Sardines; It. Sardine; Sp. Sardinas), a species of fish of the herring tribe, but smaller. They are taken in considerable quantities on our coasts, and are exceedingly plentiful on the coasts of Algarve in Portugal, Andalusia and Granada in Spain, and along the shores of Italy. The small sardines, caught on the coast of Provence, in France, are esteemed the best. From 1,000 to 1,200 fishing smacks are engaged in catching these fish on the coast of Britany, from June to the middle of October. The French frequently cure them in red brine; and when thus prepared, designate them anchoisées, or anchovied sardines. These are packed in vessels previously employed for holding wine, and exported to the Levant. When perfectly fresh, sardines are accounted excellent fish; but if kept for any time, they entirely lose their flavour, and become quite insipid.

SARDONYX, a precious stone, a variety of chalcedony.

The ancients selected this substance to engrave upon, no doubt, from its possessing two peculiar and necessary qualities, viz. hardness and tenacity, by which it is capable of receiving the finest touch or stroke of the tool without chipping, and showing the art of the engraver to the highest perfection. -(Mawe on Diamonds, 2d ed. p. 121.)

SARSAPARILLA (Ger. Sarsaparille; Fr. Salsepareille; It. Salsapariglia; Sp. Zarzaparilla), the root of the Smilax Sarsaparilla, a plant growing in South America and the West Indies. It is imported in bales. It is known in the London market by the names of Lisbon, Honduras, and Vera Cruz, but it is also brought from Jamaica. The Lisbon root, which is the produce of Brazil, has a reddish or dark brown cuticle, is internally farinaceous, and more free from fibre than the other kinds: the Honduras has a dirty brown, and sometimes whitish, cuticle; it is more fibrous, and has more ligneous matter, than the Lisbon and Vera Cruz. It is in long slender twigs, covered with a wrinkled brown cuticle, and has a small woody heart. The Jamaica differs from the others, in having a deep red cuticle of a close texture; and the red colour partially diffused through the ligneous part. The root is inodorous, and has a mucilaginous, very slightly bitter taste: the bark is the only useful part of the plant; the ligneous part being tasteless, inert, woody fibre. — (Thomson's Dispensatory.) The duty of 6d. per lb., with which it was then charged, produced, in 1840, 3,573., showing that 142,920 Ibs. had been entered for consumption. In 1842 the duty was reduced to 1d. per lb. SASSAFRAS (Ger. and Fr. Sassafras; It. Sassafrasso; Sp. Sassafras,) a species of laurel (Laurus Sassafras Lin.), a native of the southern parts of North America, Cochin-China, and several of the Indian islands. Sassafras wood, root, and bark have a fragrant odour, and a sweetish aromatic taste. The wood is of a brownish white colour; and the bark ferruginous within, spongy, and divisible into layers. Their sensible qualities and virtues depend on an essential oil, which may be obtained separate by distilling the chips or the bark with water. It is very fragrant, hot, and penetrating to the taste, of a pale yellow colour, and heavier than water. It is used only in the materia medica. Very little is imported. (Thomson's Dispensatory.)

SAUNDERS (RED) (Arab. Sundal-ahmer; Hind. Ruckut-chundum), the wood of a lofty tree (Pterocarpus santalinus) indigenous to various parts of India, Ceylon, Timor, &c. The wood is brought to Europe in billets, which are very heavy and sink in water. It is extremely hard, of a fine grain, and a bright garnet red colour, which brightens on exposure to the air. It is employed to dye lasting reddish brown colours on wool. It yields its colouring matter to ether and alcohol, but not to water. quantity imported is but inconsiderable. The price in bond varies at this moment (November, 1843) from 61. to 7. a ton. (Thomson's Dispensatory; Bancroft on Colours, vol. ii. p. 236.)

The

SCAMMONY (Ger Skammonien; Fr. Scammonée; It. Scammonea; Sp. Escamonea),

a gum-resin, the produce of a species of convolvulus, or creeper plant, which grows abundantly in Syria. When an incision is made into the roots, they yield a milky juice, which being kept, grows hard, and is the scammony of the shops. It is imported from Aleppo in what are called drums, weighing from 75 to 125 lbs. each; and from Smyrna in cakes like wax, packed in chests. The former is light and friable, and is considered the best; that from Smyrna is more compact and ponderous, less friable, and fuller of impurities. It has a peculiar heavy odour, not unlike that of old cheese; and a bitterish, slightly acrid taste. The colour is blackish or bluish grey, changing to dirty white, or lathering when the surface is rubbed with a wet finger. Its specific gravity is 1-235. It is very liable to be adulterated; and when of a dark colour, heavy, and splintery, it ought to be rejected. It is used only in medicine. -(Thomson's Dispensatory.) The duty on scammony, which was formerly as high as 68. 4d. per lb., was reduced in 1832 to 2s. 6d., and in 1842 to 6d.

SCULPTURES, figures cut in stone, metal, or other solid substance, representing or describing some real or imaginary object. The art of the sculptor, or statuary, was carried to the highest pitch of excellence in ancient Greece. Fortunately, several of the works of the Grecian sculptors have been preserved; and serve at once to stimulate and direct the genius of modern artists.

Models, are casts or representations of sculptures.

The act 54 Geo. 3. c. 56. vests the property of sculptures, models, copies, and casts in the proprietor for 14 years; provided he cause his name, with the date, to be put on them before they are published; with the same term in addition, if he should be living at the end of the first period. In actions for piracy, double costs to be given. The act 6 Geo. 4. c. 107. prohibits the importation, on pain of forfeiture, of any sculptures, models, casts, &c. first made in the U. Kingdom.

SEAL (Lat. Sigillum), a stone, piece of metal, or other solid substance, generally round or elliptical, on which is engraved the arms, crest, name, device, &c. of some state, prince, public body, or private individual. It is employed as a stamp to make an impression on sealing wax, thereby authenticating public acts, deeds, &c., or to close letters or packets. Seals were very early invented, and much learning has been employed in tracing their history, and explaining the figures upon them. See particularly the work of Hopkinck, De Sigillorum Prisco et Novo Jure, 4to, 1642.) are now very generally used.

They

The best are usually formed of precious stones, on which the crest or the initials of the person's name are engraved, set in gold. But immense numbers are formed of stained glass, and set in gilt copper. They are manufactured at London, Birmingham, &c., and are extensively exported.

SEAL FISHERY. The seal, an amphibious animal, of which there are many varieties, is found in vast numbers in the seas round Spitzbergen, and on the coasts of Labrador and Newfoundland. As it frequents the British shores, it is well known, and has been repeatedly described. Seals are principally hunted for their oil and skins. When taken in the spring of the year, when they are fattest, a full grown seal will yield from 8 to 12 gallons of oil, and a small one from 4 to 5 gallons. The oil, when extracted before putrefaction has commenced, is beautifully transparent, free from smell, and not unpleasant in its taste. The skin, when tanned, is extensively employed in the making of shoes; and when dressed with the hair on, serves for the covering of trunks, &c. For an account of the imports of seal-skins, see art. SKINS.

"To the Esquimaux the seal is of as much importance as bread to a European. Its flesh forms their most usual food; the fat is partly dressed for eating, and partly consumed in their lamps; the liver, when fried, is esteemed, even among sailors, as an agreeable dish. The skin, which the Esquimaux dress by processes peculiar to themselves, is made waterproof. With the hair off, it is used as coverings, instead of planks, for their boats, and as outer garments for themselves; shielded with which, they can invert themselves and canoes in the water, without getting their bodies wet. It serves also for coverings for their tents, and for various other purposes. The jackets and trowsers made of seal-skin by the Esquimaux are in great request among the whale fishers for preserving them from oil and wet."- (Scoresby's Arctic Regions, vol. i. p. 510.)

Seals in fine weather prefer the ice to the water, and vast herds of them are frequently found lying on the field ice; the places where they are met with being thence called "seal meadows." The seal hunters endeavour to surprise them while sleeping, and to intercept their retreat to the water. They attack them with muskets and bludgeons, but principally the latter, they being easily despatched by a blow on

the nose.

The seal fishery has long been prosecuted to a considerable extent in the northern seas by ships from the Elbe and the Weser; but very few ships have been sent out for sealing only from England, though occasionally some of the whale ships have taken large quantities of seals. Latterly, however, the seal fishery has been prosecuted on a large scale, and with extraordinary success, by vessels of from 60 to 120 tons each, having crews of from 16 to 30 men, fitted out from the ports of Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, &c. The business is attended with a good deal of risk, and instances frequently occur of the vessels being crushed to pieces by the collision of the fields of ice. We borrow the following details from Mr. Bliss's tract on the Trade, Statistics, &c. of Canada and our North American Possessions.

"There is another department of the colonial fishery which has originated within no distant period, and is now of great extent and importance. The large fields of ice which, in the months of March and April, drift southward from the Polar seas, are accompanied by many herds of seals; these are found sleeping in what are called the seal meadows of the ice, and are there attacked and slaughtered in vast numbers. For this purpose the fishers of Newfoundland, from which island these voyages are principally made, without waiting till the return of spring shall have opened their harbours, saw channels through the ice for their vessels, and set sail in quest of those drifting fields, through the openings of which they work a passage, attended with great difficulties and dangers, till they encounter their prey on the seal

meadows. This hold and hazardous enterprise seems well compensated by its success. The number of seals thus taken is almost incredible, and is greatly on the increase."-(p 70.) There were captured by the Newfoundland fishermen, in 1838, 375,361 seals; in 1839, 437,501. Large quantities are also taken by the Nova Scotia and Labrador fishermen.

See also M'Gregor's British America, 21. edit. vol. i. p. 197. &c. There is a good account of the seal in Laing's Voyage to Spitzbergen. For the price of seal oil, see OIL.

SEALING WAX (Ger. Siegellack; Fr. Cire d'Espagne, Cire à cacheter; It. Cera Lacca, Cera di Spagna; Sp. Lacre; Rus. Surgutsch), the wax used for sealing letters, legal instruments, &c. It is a composition of gum lac, melted and incorporated with resin, and afterwards coloured with some pigment, as vermilion, verditer, ivory black, &c.

SEAMEN, the individuals engaged in navigating ships, barges, &c, upon the high seas. Those employed for this purpose upon rivers, lakes, or canals, are denominated

watermen.

A British Seaman must be a natural born subject of her Majesty; or be naturalised by act of parliament; or made a denizen by letters of denization; or have become a British subject by the conquest or cession of some newly acquired territory; or (being a foreigner) have served on board her Majesty's ships of war, in time of war, for the space of 3 years.-(3 & 4 Will. 4. c. 54. s. 16.) But her Majesty may, by proclamation during war, declare that foreigners who have served two years in the royal navy, during such war, shall be deemed British seamen.-(s. 17.)

Various regulations have been enacted with respect to the hiring of seamen, their conduct while on board, and the payment of their wages. These regulations differ in different countries; but, in all, they have been intended to obviate the disputes that might otherwise arise between the master and seamen in regard to the terms of the contract between them, to secure due obedience to the master's orders, and to interest the seamen in the completion of the voyage, by making their earnings depend on its successful termination.

The more important particulars in the law of England in regard to seamen will, we believe, be found in the following article. In the first place it is necessary to inquire by whom they may be hired.

1. Who may hire Seamen. -Seamen have long been subjected to imposition from the fraudulent practices of persons offering to find them employment, by falsely representing themselves as agents for, or as having an interest in certain ships, and engaging or pretending to engage seamen to serve therein. In the view of obviating such practices in future, a statute was passed in 1845, the 8 & 9 Victoria, c. 116., which enacts, in substance, that from and after the 1st day of November that year no person except the owner, part owner, master or person in charge of a merchant ship, or the ship's husband, will be at liberty to hire, engage, supply, or provide seamen to be entered on board merchant ships, without a licence first obtained from the Lords of the Committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council appointed for the management of trade and plantations. Application for such licences must be made by letter addressed to “The Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade, Whitehall, London." The clauses in the statute are as follows:

Board of Trade may license Persons. The Board of Trade are empowered to license such persons as they may deem to be requisite and fit, and who may be desirous to take out such licences, to hire, engage, supply, or provide seamen to be entered on board merchant ships; and every such licence shall be granted for such period, upon such terms, and upon such security being given, and shall be revocable upon such conditions, as the Board may at any time or times appoint.-I.

Manner of granting and revoking Licence. Every such licence shall be granted, and every revocation thereof shall be made, by minute or resolution of the Board, and a copy of any such minute or resolution, certified and signed by one of the secretaries or assistant secretaries of said Board, shall be received as evidence of such licence or revocation, without further proof thereof. - § 2.

No Person not duly licensed or interested in the Ship to be concerned in procuring Seamen to be ontered. No person not licensed as aforesaid, or not being the owner, part owner, master, or person charge of a merchant ship, or the ship's husband, shall hire, engage, supply, or provide a seaman to be entered on board any merchant ship; and no person, whether licensed or not, other than the owner, part owner, master, or person in charge of a merchant ship, or the ship's husband, shall demand or obtain the register ticket of any seaman for the purpose or under the pretence of engaging him on board of any merchant ship. - §3.

No Person interested in the Ship shall knowingly receive Seamen hired contrary hereto. No owner, part owner, master, or person in charge of any merchant ship, or ship's husband, shall knowingly receive or accept to be entered on board the said ship any seaman who has been hired, engaged, supplied, or provided to be entered on board thereof contrary to the provisions of this act. §4.

Penalty on every Person guilty of any of the Offences above described. - Every person guilty of any of the offences above described shall forfeit and pay for each and every seaman hired, engaged, supplied, or provided to be entered on board, and for every register ticket demanded or obtained contrary to the provisions of this act, or for every seaman knowingly received or accepted to be entered on board contrary to the provisions of this act, any sum of money not exceeding 201. upon conviction thereof for each offence, although several seamen may be included in the same contract, or several tickets may be obtained, or several seamen may be received or permitted to remain at the same time. - § 5.

Unlicensed Persons not to be employed for the Purpose of engaging Seamen. — It shall be unlawful for any person to employ any unlicensed person or persons for the purpose of engaging or providing seamen to be entered on board merchant ships; and any licensed person knowingly employing any unlicensed person for the purposes aforesaid shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding 204., and, in addition thereto, shall forfeit and lose his licence. - § 6.

No Advance Note or Wages to be given or paid to any Seaman until after the Ship's Articles have been duly signed. The owner, part owner, master, or person in charge of any merchant ship, or ship's hus

band, shall not pay or advance, nor give any note in writing or otherwise in the nature of and purporting to be an advance note for any part of the wages of any seamen hired, engaged, supplied, or provided to be entered on board the said ship, until six hours after the ship's articles have been duly signed by the said seaman on board the said ship, and by the master or owner of the said ship, and then only to the said Seaman himself, unless such wages or advance of wages be paid in money, in which case the payment thereof may be made to the said seaman himself at any period most convenient after the signing of the said ship's articles as aforesaid; and all payments of wages contrary to the provisions of this act shall be and are hereby declared to be null and void, and the amount thereof shall be recoverable by the said seaman as if they had not been paid or advanced. - § 7.

Penalty for receiving Remuneration for hiring Seamen, &c. — If any person shall demand or receive from any seaman, or from any person other than the owner, part owner, master, or person in charge of a merchant ship, or the ship's husband, requiring seamen, any remuneration whatever, either directly or indirectly, for and on account of the hiring, supplying, or providing any such seaman, he shall forfeit for every such offence a sum not exceeding 5/. - § 8.

Persons not to be admitted on board Merchant Vessels before their Arrival in Dock, &c. - It shall not be lawful for any person (other than any officer or person in H. M.'s service) to go and be on board any merchant vessel arriving or about to arrive at the place of her destination before or previous to her actual arrival in deck, or at the quay or place of her discharge, without the permission and consent of the master or person in charge of the said vessel; and if any person (other than as aforesaid) shall go and be on board any such vessel before or previous to her actual arrival in dock, or at the quay or place of her discharge, without the permission and consent of the said master or person in charge of the said vessel, he shall for every such offence forfeit and pay a sum of money not exceeding 207; and for the better securing the person of such offender the master or person in charge of the said vessel is hereby authorized and empowered to take any person so offending as aforesaid into custody, and to deliver him up forthwith to any constable or peace officer, to be by him taken before a justice or justices, to be dealt with according to the provisions of this act. § 9.

Penalty for soliciting Sailors to become Lodgers, &c.-If any person shall, on board any merchant ship, within 24 hours of her arrival at any port as aforesaid, solicit any seaman to become a lodger at the house of any person not so licensed as aforesaid, and letting lodgings for hire, or shall take from and out of such ship any chest, bedding, or other effects of any seaman, except under the personal direction of such seaman, and without having the permission of the master or person in charge of such ship, he shall be liable to forfeit and pay for every such offence the sum of 51.-10.

Penalty for receiving Remuneration for Board of Sailors for longer Period than is due, &c.-If any person shall demand and receive of and from any seaman payment in respect of his board or lodging in the house of such person for a longer period than such seaman shall have actually resided and boarded therein, or shall receive or take into his possession or under his control any moneys, documents, or effects of any seaman, and shall not return the same or pay the value thereof when required so to do by such seaman, after deducting therefrom what shall be justly due and owing in respect of the board and lodging of such seaman, he shall forfeit and pay a sum not exceeding 104, over and above the amount or value of such moneys, documents, or effects, after such deductions as aforesaid, which shall be adjudged to be forthwith paid to such seaman under the conviction by the justices before whom such offence shall be heard and determined. § 11.

The following clauses relate to the recovery and application of penalties.

2. Conditions under which Seamen are to be engaged. In 1835 an act was passed (5 & 6 W. 4. c. 19.) of much importance to seamen, and to persons connected with navigation. It was intituled "An Act for amending and consolidating the Laws relating to Merchant Seamen, and for forming and maintaining a Register of all the Men engaged in that Service." It laid down the various forms and regulations to be observed in hiring, paying, and discharging seamen; established an office for their registry; and prescribed the mode in which lists of crews were to be transmitted to the registrar. It also regulated the number of apprentices to be taken on board ship; the conditions under which seamen may, in certain cases, be left in foreign parts; with a variety of other interesting particulars. It farther went on to repeal the act 2 & 3 Ann. c. 6. for the increase of seamen, &c.; the act 2 Geo. 2. c. 36. for the better regulation, &c. of seamen in the merchant service; the act 2 G. 3. c. 31. for perpetuating the lastmentioned act, &c.; the act 31 G. 3. c. 39. for the better regulation, &c. of seamen in the coasting trade of the kingdom; the act 45 G. 3. c. 81. for amending the last-mentioned act; the act 37 G. 3. c. 73. for preventing the desertion of seamen from British merchant ships in the West Indies; the act 58 G. 3. c. 38. to extend and render more effectual the regulations for the relief of seafaring men and boys, &c., subjects of the U. K., in foreign parts; the act 4 G. 4. c. 25. for regulating the number of apprentices to be taken on board British merchant vessels, &c.; and the act 3 & 4 W. 4. c. 88. for continuing the 59 G. 3. c. 58. for facilitating the recovery of the wages of seamen in the merchant service.

This act, however, was itself repealed in 1844, except in so far as relates to the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of the office for the registry of merchant seamen, by the 7 & 8 Victoria, c. 112, which came into operation on the 1st of January, 1845; but all offences committed, and penalties and forfeitures incurred previously to the said 1st of January, 1845, were made punishable and recoverable as if the act 5 & 6 W. 4. c. 19. bad not been repealed.

As any infraction of the provisions of the new act incurs in most cases heavy penalties, it should be carefully studied and attended to by masters and men. After declaring that the prosperity, strength, and safety of the U. K. greatly depend on a large, constant, and ready supply of seamen; and that it is, therefore, expedient to afford them all due encouragement and protection, it proceeds to enact

No Seaman to be taken to Sea without a written Agreement, and without a Register Ticket being obtained from such Seaman. — It shall not be lawful for any master of any ship, of whatever tonnage or description, belonging to any subject of H. M., proceeding to parts beyond the seas, or of any British registered ship of the burden of 80 tons or upwards employed in any of the fisheries of the U. K., or in proceeding coastwise, or otherwise, from one part of the U. K. to another, to carry to sea any seaman as one of his crew or complement (apprentices excepted), unless the master of such ship shall have first