any collector or comptroller of the customs, upon complaint made by any 3 or more of the crew, to survey and examine, or cause to be surveyed and examined, the provisions, water, and medicines put or supplied on board any ship for the use and consumption of the crew; and if on such survey and examination it shall be found that such provisions, water, or medicines are of a bad quality, or unfit for use, or not appropriate, or there shall not appear to be a sufficient quantity thereof, the surveying officer shall signify the same in writing to the master of the ship; and if such master shall not thereupon provide other fit and proper provisions, water, or medicines in lieu of any which may be signified by the said surveying officer to be of a bad quality, or unfit for use, or not appropriate, or if any such master shall not thereupon procure the requisite quantity of provisions, water, and medicines, or shall use any provisions, water, or medicines which shall have been signified by the surveying officer to be of a bad quality or unfit for use, or not appropriate, he shall in each and every of such cases be guilty of a misdemeanor.$37.

As to Offences committed at Foreign Ports.-All offences against the property or person of any subject of H. M., or of any foreigner, which shall be committed in or at any port or place, either ashore or afloat, out of the dominions of H. M. 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 3 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 punishment 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 expences of the prosecution, as in the case of costs and expences of prosecutions for offences committed within the jurisdiction of the Admiralty of England.— $58.

For the safe Custody and Conveyance of Offenders to England. - Whenever any complaint shall be made to any of H. M.'s consul, or vice-consuls of any such offence or of any offence having been committed at sea 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, 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 H. M., or of any of her subjects, to be there proceeded against according to law; and the costs and charges of imprisoning any such offender, and of conveying him and the witnesses to England, if not conveyed in the ship to which they respectively belong, shall be considered and deemed as part of the costs of the prosecution, or be paid as costs incurred on account of seafaring subjects of the U. K. left in distress in foreign parts; and all depositions taken before any consul or vice-consul abroad, and certified under his official seal to be the depositions, and that they were taken in the presence of the party accused, shall be admitted in evidence in all courts having criminal jurisdiction, and otherwise, in like manner as depositions taken before any justice of the peace in England now are or may be; and the register ticket of every offender shall be delivered up to H. M.'s consul or vice-consul, as the case may be, and be transmitted by him to the registrar of seamen.-$59.

As to the Conveyance of Offenders and Witnesses to England. - It shall be lawful for any consul or viceconsul to order a passage to England for any such offender or offenders under necessary restraint, and also for the witnesses and the master or other person having the charge of any ship or vessel belonging to any subject of H. M. bound for England shall and he is hereby required to receive and afford a passage and subsistence during the voyage to any such offender or offenders and witnesses, not exceeding the rate of 1 offender or 2 witnesses for every 100 tons of his ship's burden, and on his ship's arrival in England the master of any vessel belonging to a subject of H. M. shall take or cause to be taken the offender or offenders before a justice of the peace, who shall deal with the matter as in cases of offences committed upon the high seas; and in case the master or other person having the charge of any ship or vessel belonging to any subject of H, M., when required by the consul or vice-consul to receive and afford a passage to any offender or witness, shall not receive and afford such passage, or shall not take or cause to be taken the offender or offenders before a justice of the peace as aforesaid, every such master shall be liable to a penalty of 501.; and the seaman, if acquitted, shall receive his register ticket again upon due application to the registrar of seamen. - § 60.

As to Ships belonging to British Colonies.-This act shall not extend or apply to any ship registered in or belonging to any British colony having a legislative assembly, or to the crew of any such ship, while such ship shall be within the precincts of such colony; but every ship belonging to any colony or possession of H. M., when proceeding from one part of the U. K. to another, or from the U. K. to the islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, or Man, or from any port in the U. K. to any port or possession of any foreign power or country, or to any colony to which the ship shall not belong, shall be held to come within the provisions of this act; and this act is hereby extended to the same; and the owner, master, and crew, including apprentices, of such ship so trading as aforesaid, shall be and are hereby declared liable to the provisions of this act as fully as the owner, master, and crew of any British registered ship; and this act and the provisions thereof (except so far as the same relate to agreements, register tickets, and having apprentices,) shall also extend and apply to ships belonging to all of H. M.'s colonies and possessions abroad, wherever otherwise proceeding or trading, and to the owners, masters, and crews of such ships, when any such ship shall be beyond the precincts of the colony or possession to which she shall belong; and all certificates and sanctions required by this act to be indorsed on agreements shall, in the case of ships last referred to, be otherwise given in writing where no written agreement exists. -$61.

Recovery of Penalties -All penalties and forfeitures imposed by this act, and for the recovery whereof no specific mode is hereinbefore provided, shall and may be recovered, with costs, either in any of H. M.'s courts of record at Westminster, Edinburgh, or Dublin, or in the colonies or territories under the government of the East India Company, at the suit of H. M.'s law officers respectively, or at the suit of any person, by information and summary proceeding before any justice or justices of the peace in and for any part of H.M.'s dominions, or the territories under the government of the East India Company, where or near to the place where the offence shall be committed or the offender shall be; and if proceedings for the recovery of any forfeiture or penalty imposed by this act, or for the recovery of any debt due to H. M., be commenced in any of H. M.'s courts, the court in which such proceedings shall be instituted is hereby authorized to issue a commission or commissions in or out of H.M.'s dominions for the examination of witnesses, and the depositions taken thereunder shall be used and admitted in evidence; and in case of a summary conviction under this act, and the sum imposed as a penalty by the justice or justices shall not be paid, either immediately after the conviction or within such period as the justice or justices shall at the time of the conviction appoint, it shall be lawful for the convicting justice or justices to commit the offender to the common gaol or house of correction, there to be imprisoned only, or to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour, according to the discretion of the justice or justices, for any term not exceeding 6 calendar months, the commitment to be determinable upon payment of the amount and costs; and all penalties and forfeitures mentioned in this act, for which no specific application is hereinbefore provided, shall, when recovered, be paid and applied in manner following; (that is to say.) so much thereof as the court or the convicting justice or justices shall determine, but not exceeding one moiety, shall be paid to the informer or person upon whose discovery or information the same shall be

recovered, and the residue shall be paid to the Seamen's Hospital Society: provided always, that it shall be lawful for the court, before which, or the justice or justices before whom, any proceedings shall be instituted for the recovery of any pecuniary penalty imposed by this act, to mitigate or reduce such penalty as to such court or justices respectively shall appear just and reasonable; but no such penalty shall be reduced to less than one-third of its original amount; and it shall be lawful, in the discretion of the said court, or of the said justice or justices hearing the complaint, to order such costs against the informing or complaining party failing to prove the charge as the said court or justice or justices may deem fit, and such costs shall be recoverable in the same manner as penalties under this act, and be paid as such court or justice or justices shall direct: provided also, that all proceedings so to be instituted shall be commenced within 2 years next after the commission of the offence, if the same shall have been committed at or beyond the Cape of Good Hope or Cape Horn, or within 1 year if committed else. where, or within 2 calendar months after the return of the offender and the complaining party to the U. K. § 62.

Definition of the Terms "Master," “ Seaman,” “ Ship,” and “ Owner."-To avoid doubts in the construction of this act, be it enacted, that every person having the charge or command of any ship belonging to any subject of H. M. shall, within the meaning and for the purposes of this act, be deemed and taken to be the master of such ship; and that every person (apprentices excepted) who shall be employed or engaged to serve in any capacity on board the same shall be deemed and taken to be a seaman, within the meaning and for the purposes of this act; and that the term "ship" shall be taken and understood to comprehend every description of vessel navigating on any sea or channel, or waters outside the mouths of rivers, and also every vessel passing beyond the precincts of a port; and that the term "owner" shall be taken and understood to comprehend all the several persons, if more than one, to whom the ship shall belong. § 63.

As to Relief to Persons from Asia and Africa becoming distressed in the United Kingdom. — If any person, being a Malay, Lascar, or native of the territories under the government of the East India Company, or if any Asiatic or African seaman, having been brought to the U. K. on board any ship, shall be found or be in the U. K. in distress for want of food, clothing, or other necessaries, it shall and may be lawful for the commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral of the U. K., at their discretion, to supply necessary and reasonable relief to every such person and seaman, and to maintain him until he shall be sent on board some ship for the purpose of being conveyed to or near to the port from which he was shipped, and also to pay, defray, and advance the money necessary to procure every such person and seaman a proper and sufficient passage to such port; and all such sum or sums of money as shall be paid and advanced by or by order of the said commissioners for or on account of such relief, maintenance, and passage, shall be and become a debt due to H. M., and be recoverable as such, with full costs of suit, in the courts of law either in H. M.'s dominions or in the territories under the government of the Fast India Company, from the owner and master, or either of them, of the ship on board whereof such person or seaman shall have been brought from Asia or Africa; but nothing herein contained shall repeal or annul any other act or acts now in force for the relief and conveyance home of any Asiatic or Áfrican person or seaman. — -§ 64.

SEAMEN (CORPORATION FOR RELIEF of). During the reign of George II. an establishment attached to Greenwich Hospital was erected by the 20 Geo. 2. c. 38. “for the relief and support of disabled seamen, and the widows and children of such as shall be killed, slain, or drowned in the merchant service." To provide a fund for this charitable institution, every person serving in any merchant ship, or other private ship or vessel, belonging to any of his Majesty's subjects in England, (except apprentices under the age of 18, persons employed in boats upon the coasts in taking fish which are brought fresh on shore, or in boats within rivers, or upon boats on the coasts, and pilots (except persons employed in the service of the East India Company, and who were not entitled to the benefit of this institution, being provided for by a fund established by the Company),) paid sixpence per month, which was deducted out of his wages by the master, and paid over to the persons appointed under the authority of the act at the port to which the ship belonged, before she was allowed to clear inwards. For the management and distribution of this fund, a corporation was created, composed chiefly of eminent merchants, with power to purchase lands and erect an hospital, and to provide for seamen rendered incapable of service by sickness, wounds, or other accidental misfortunes, and decrepit and worn out by age, either by receiving them into the hospital, or by pensions: and also to relieve the widows and children of seamen killed or drowned in the merchant service, provided the children are not of the age of 14 years; or if of that age and upwards are incapable of getting a livelihood by reason of lameness, blindness, or other infirmity, and are proper objects of charity; and to make reasonable allowances to those who shall lose an eye or a limb, or be otherwise hurt or maimed, in fighting, defending or working their ships, or doing any other duty in their service, in proportion to their hurt; so far forth as the income and revenues of the charity will extend for these purposes. But no person is to be provided for as a worn-out seaman, who has not been employed in the merchant service five years and paid the contribution. And in providing for this class, a preference is given to such as have served longest and contributed

most.

In order to ascertain the times of service and payment of the contribution, the master was obliged to keep a muster-roll of the persons employed in the ship, and had before her departure to deliver a duplicate to the collector or receiver of duties for the seamen's hospital at the port; and, during the voyage, to enter the time and place of discharge, quitting, and desertion, and of receiving other persons on board, and of any hurt, damage, Leath, or drowning, of which he had also to deliver a duplicate at his return, under the penalty of 20%, to the truth whereof he might be examined upon oath by the collector. And in case any person employed on board any ship or vessel should, in doing his duty on shore or on board, break an arm or a leg, or be otherwise hurt or maimed, he was to be properly relieved until sufficiently recovered to be sent to the place to which the ship belonged.

But, notwithstanding the praiseworthy principle on which this establishment was founded, it was not found to be productive of the benefits, in a practical point of view, that had been anticipated. Perhaps this is to be in part explained by the circumstance of its being attached to Greenwich Hospital, which is peculiarly intended as a retreat for the worn-out and disabled seamen belonging to the Royal Navy. But, however this may be, it appears from accounts laid before parliament, that in 1829, when the merchant seamen paid an annual contribution of 26,1374. to the hospital, there was not one of them within its walls, except such as had also served on board line-of-battle ships! The system was, in consequence, much complained of by the seamen and others interested in the merchant service; and it is obvious that these complaints were not unfounded, and that the seamen reaped no advantage from the institution at all equivalent to the sacrifice they made for its support.

To obviate this state of things, a new system was introduced in 1835, when it was ordered, by the act 4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 34., that the contribution of 6d. per month by seamen in the merchant service to Greenwich Hospital should cease from the 1st of January, 1835; and that 20,000l. a year should be advanced from the consolidated fund to the Hospital to make good the deficiency caused by the cessation of such contribution.

New Establishment for Support of Merchant Seamen, &c.— And to provide still more effectually for the relief and support of maimed and disabled merchant seamen, and of the widows, &c. of those killed or drowned in the merchant service, the act 4 & 5 Will. 4. c. 52. was passed. This act repeals the 20 Geo. 2. c. 38., except in so far as it relates to the establishment of the corporation of the president and governors for the relief of maimed, &c. merchant seamen, and of the widows and children of seamen killed or drowned in the merchant service; and it also repeals as much of the act 37 Geo. 3. c. 73. as relates to the wages of seamen dying while employed in ships trading to the West Indies. Having thus cleared the way for a new system, it

goes on to enact as follows:

President and Governors empowered to relieve disabled Seamen, &c.— The said president and governors and their successors are authorised to provide, in their hospital, for such seamen as are rendered incapable of service by sickness, wounds, or other accidental misfortunes, and those who shall become decrepit or worn out by age, or to allow them certain pensions, or otherwise, as the president and governors deem meet and most for the advantage of the said charity; and also to relieve the widows and children of such seamen as shall be killed, slain, or drowned in the said service; and also to relieve the widows and children of seamen dying after having contributed during a term of 21 years to the funds of this corporation, provided such children are not of the age of 14 years, or if of that age or upwards, not capable of getting a livelihood by reason of lameness, blindness, or other infirmities, and are proper objects of charity; and also to relieve the widows and children (such children being proper objects of charity) of such seamen as at the time of their death shall have been receiving or been entitled to pensions, under and by virtue of this act, from the fund hereby to be created, as decrepit or worn-out seamen: provided that no widow shall be entitled to any benefit under this act, who shall not have been the wife of such seaman or pensioner before he became entitled to relief under its provisions: provided nevertheless, that Do seaman shall be entitled to any provision or benefit of this act, on account of any hurt or damage received on board any ship or vessel, unless he produce, or cause to be produced, a certificate of the said hurt or damage from the master, mate, boatswain, and surgeon, or so many of them as were in the vessel to which he belonged at the time of his receiving such hurt or damage, or of the master and 2 of the seamen, if there be no other officer, or in case the master shall die, or be killed or drowned, then of the person who shall take upon him the care of the ship or vessel, and 2 of the seamen on board the same, under their hands and seals, thereby signifying how and in what manner such seaman received such hurt or damage, whether in fighting, defending, working, loading, or unloading the said ship or vessel, where and when he entered, and how long he had served on board the same; and the parties so signing and sealing such certificate are hereby required to make oath to the truth thereof before some justice of the peace, if given in Great Britain or Ireland, or the chief officer of the customs of the port or place where there is no justice of the peace, or before the British consul or resident in any foreign country where such certificate is executed (who are respectively authorised and required to administer the same without fee or reward); and in case of sickness, whereby such seaman shall be rendered incapable of service, a certificate, signed, sealed, and authenticated in like manner, signifying that he was healthy when he entered on board such ship or vessel, and that such sickness was contracted on board the same, or on shore in doing his duty in the service of the ship, and not otherwise, and expressing the time and place he entered on board such ship or vessel, and how long he had served therein; and that no widow, child, or children of any seaman killed, slain, or drowned in the said service, shall be relieved or entitled to any allowance by virtue of this act unless she or they, or some person on her or their behalf, shall produce a certificate, signed, sealed, and authenticated in like manner, signifying how and in what manner such seaman lost his life in the service of the said ship or vessel, the time and place he entered on board, and how long he had served therein; and that no widow, child, or children of any seaman in the said service shall be entitled to any relief by virtue of this act, unless she or they shall produce, or cause to be produced, a certificate under the hands and seals of the minister and churchwardens and overseers of the poor of the parish, township, or place, or any 2 of them, or under the hands and seals of the minister and overseers of the poor of the parish, township, or place, or any 2 of them, where there are no churchwardens, or if in Scotland, by the minister and elders, or if in Ireland, by a justice of the peace for the parish, township, or place where such widow, &c. shall at the time reside; and if such widow, &c. are some of the people called Quakers, then by any 2 reputable persons of that persuasion of the parish, township, or place where such widow, &c. have a legal settlement, or do inhabit and reside, to be attested by 2 or inore credible witnesses, that such widow was the lawful wife and real widow, and that such child or children was or were the lawful child or children of such deceased seaman as aforesaid, and that such child or children is or are under the age of 14 years, or if of that age or upwards, not capable of getting a livelihood by reason of lameness, blindness, or other infirmities, and is or are proper objects of charity; and that no seaman shall be provided for by a pension or otherwise, as decrepit or worn out, unless he have served in the merchant service for the space of 5 years, and have during that time paid the monthly duty out of his wages, imposed by the act 20 Geo. 2. c. 38., or by this act required to be henceforward paid and deducted, as the case may happen, for the uses and purposes herein provided. — § 2.

Forgery of Certificate. - Forged certificates to be null and void; and those knowingly using them to be liable to the punishment of an incorrigible rogue. 3.

Courts. The president and 5 assistants to make a court, who are to meet weekly. The court may apply the monies of the corporation, and appoint the officers and their salaries, and do all other matters and things necessary. § 4.

All Masters and Ŏwners of Merchant Ships or Vessels, &c. to pay 2s. per Month. For effecting the ends and purposes aforesaid, every master of any merchant ship or vessel belonging to any British subject, and every owner, being a British subject, navigating or working his own ship or vessel, whether the said ship or vessel be employed on the high sea, or coasts of Great Britain or Ireland, or in any port, bay, or creek of the same, shall, from and after the 31st of December, 1834, pay 2s. per month, and proportionably for a lesser time, during the time he or they shall be employed in such merchant ship or vessel, for the uses and purposes aforesaid: provided always, that such masters or owners, or their widows, and children under 14 years of age, or being objects of charity as aforesaid, shall be entitled to a proportionate increase of the pension or allowance by this act provided, according to the difference between the amount of the monthly duty paid by other seamen, mariners, and pilots, in case such master or owner shall have paid the 2s. per month for a period of 5 years or 60 months before any application to the said president and governors for relief under this act; but in case any such master or owner be killed or drowned, or become decrepit, maimed, or disabled, before he or they shall have paid such increased rate of 2s. per month for the full period of 5 years or 60 months as aforesaid, then such masters or owners, or their widows and children, shall be entitled to such smaller pension or allowance as the said president and governors, or the trustees to be appointed, shall think fit. — § 5.

All Seamen, or other Persons serving on board such Ship or Vessel, &c., to pay 18. per Month.- Every seaman or other person whatsoever who shall serve or be employed in any merchant ship, or other private ship or vessel, belonging to any British subject, whether employed on the high sea, or coasts of Great Britain or Ireland, or in any port, bay, or creek of the same, and every pilot employed on board any such ship or vessel, shall, from and after the 31st day of December, 1834, pay 18. per month, and proportionably for a lesser time, during the time he or they shall be employed in or belong to the said ship or vessel, for the uses and purposes aforesaid: provided that this act shall not be construed to extend to any person employed in taking fish in any boat upon any of the coasts of Great Britain or Ireland, or the islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, nor to any person employed in boats or vessels that trade only from place to place within any river of Great Britain or Ireland. - § 5.

Masters of Ships to keep in their Hands \s. per Month out of Seamen's Pay. — The master, owner, or commander of every such merchant or private ship or vessel is hereby required to deduct out of the wages, shares, or other profits payable to seamen or other persons employed on board such ship or vessel (other than those hereby excepted), the said monthly duty, and shall pay the same, together with the amount of the duty owing from himself, to such officer or officers as shall be lawfully appointed at any of the out-ports for collecting the said duty of 1s. per month, if such seamen or other persons be entitled to any such wages, shares, or profits. — § 7.

Appointments of Receivers. President and governors, with the concurrence of commissioners of customs, to appoint such persons to receive the monthly duties at the out-ports as they may think fit, making them a reasonable allowance for their trouble, which is not, however, in any case, to exceed 5 per cent. on the gross sum collected. — § 8.

Muster Roll. Every master is to keep a true and faithful muster roll of the crew of his ship, specify. ing in writing the name of every one of the crew, including apprentices, with the various particulars as to the place of each person's birth, the place and time of his entry to the ship, the place and time of his discharge from or leaving the same, and if he be discharged or left, with the other particulars specified in the subjoined formula, in the event of his being hurt, killed, &c. : —

Port of

of the

A List and Account of the Crew (including the Master and Apprentices) of the Ship whereof is the Master, at the Period of her Departure from the Port of in the United Kingdom, and on her Return to the Port of Kingdom, and also of those who have joined the Ship at any Time during

the

Voyage.

in the United

Duplicates of this account are to be delivered to the collectors of the duties at the port where the vessel discharges; and any master or commander neglecting to keep such muster roll, and neglecting or refusing to deliver it to the collectors of the duties, shall forfeit for every such offence the sum of 51. The collectors are to transmit to the president and governors the duplicates received from such vessels as do not belong to the port of discharge; and the latter are to transmit them to the same. Collectors neglecting to transmit such duplicates incur a penalty of 51. - §9.

Masters to deduct Penalties from Wages. The master of every ship coming within the provisions of this act shall deduct out of the wages of the seamen thereof the amount of all forfeitures incurred by any such seamen, and every master is hereby required truly to enter the same in a book to be kept by him for that purpose, which shall be signed by the master and the person next in command, both of them certifying that it contains all the forfeitures which have been incurred by the seamen of the ship during the voyage, to the truth whereof the master shall make oath when required before the officer of the president and governors in London, or before their collectors at the out-ports; and the said book, or a true copy thereof, signed and certified as aforesaid, shall, within I calendar month after the ship's return from her voyage, be delivered to the said officer by the master, together with extracts from the log-book of the entries therein of the causes of the several forfeitures; and every master who shall refuse or neglect to deliver such account shall forfeit and pay the sum of 201. — § 10.

Examination of Masters, &c. - Collectors may summon masters of vessels, and examine them upon oath as to the truth of the muster rolls; masters refusing to appear or to answer, to forfeit 107. — § 1Î. Regulations as to Government Ships. Secretaries, &c. of public government officers to give in a list of ships and vessels employed in their service, and of the seamen or other persons employed in such ships or vessels; and the treasurer, &c. of such offices are to pay no wages or freight to any master, &c. until he produce an acquittance signed by receiver of duties. 12.

Payment of Duties. The said monthly duties are to be paid at the port where the ship or vessel unloads her cargo, before she be cleared inwards; and all officers are interdicted from granting any cockets, transire, &c., or permitting any vessel to go out of any port, unless it appear by the acquittances of the collectors of the said duties that they are not more than 3 months in arrear of the same; every officer acting contrary to this regulation to forfeit 107. But masters or owners may agree with the trustees and collectors for half-yearly payments. - § 13.

Prevention of Delay. To prevent unnecessary delay, it is enacted, that if masters fail to produce proper acquittance or certificate of agreement, tidewaiters to be continued on board at their expense.— 14.

Penalties by this act recoverable before a magistrate. — § 15.

Appointment of Trustees, &c. - From and after the 1st day of October, 1834, it shall be lawful for the owners, masters, and commanders employed on board ships and vessels belonging to any of the out-ports to assemble and meet at any time and place within the same that shall be appointed by any 5 or more of them, by giving 10 days' previous notice, to be fixed at the custom-house, wharf, quay, or other public place: and such persons, or the greater part of them, being so assembled, are authorised from time to time to nominate and appoint, by an instrument in writing under their hands and seals, 15 persons to be trustees for such out-port, for receiving, collecting, and applying the said duties, which trustees shall continue to act until the 26th day of December, 1835, and until new trustees are nominated and confirmed; and that within 10 days after the 26th day of December in each succeeding year, the owners, masters, &c. at such out-ports shall have power to meet and choose 15 persons to be trustees for the year ensuing, by an instrument in writing under their hands and seals, or the majority of them so assembled, having given previous notice in the manner before directed; which said respective trustees shall continue from time to time until new trustees are nominated, &c. as aforesaid; and the said instrument shall be sent, free of expense, to the president and assistants or committees of the said corporation, who are required to confirm the same under the common seal of the corporation, without fee or reward, within 15 days after the receipt thereof; which trustees when so confirmed (and whereof five shall be a quorum) shall have the same powers and authorities to make by-laws, and to revoke or alter the same, and to receive and apply any sums of money which shall be contributed, devised, or bequeathed by any well-disposed persons for the purpose aforesaid, and to appoint receivers and other officers, and to collect, receive, pay, and apply the said duties of 28. per month and Is. per month so to be allowed and paid by the seamen or other persons serving on board any ship or vessel belonging to such persons, at such out-ports, according to such rules, orders, and regulations as are or shall be established by virtue and in pursuance of this act, or have been established and continued under the provisions of the act 20 Geo. 2. c. 38., so far as the same are not inconsistent with or repealed or varied by the provisions of this act; and the said receivers and other officers shall have the same powers and authorities as the other receivers and officers appointed in pursuance of this act, and shall be liable to the same penalties and forfeitures: provided always, that if the instrument of trust be not sent to the president and assistant or committees within 60 days after every appointment of trustees, the trust thereby created shall be considered void, and the trustees appointed under it as discharged from the same; and that the president and governors shall have power to appoint a receiver or receivers for the port or place from which such instrument of trust has not been sent, for collecting the forementioned duties and allowances payable at such port or place aforesaid; and the said president and governors shall have power to demand from the outgoing trustees of such port or place an account in writing of the former management of such void trust, and also to demand payment from such trustees of any balance which may at the time of such default be in their hands, who are hereby required to pay the same to such receiver appointed as aforesaid, together with the books of account and other books belonging to such trustees relative to such trust. § 16. Appointments on Default. These are not to be revocable within 5 years. — § 17.

Former Trustees.Trustees previously appointed at the several out-ports to be subject to the provisions of this act § 18.

Trustees in Bristol. — The corporation of the Merchants Venturers of Bristol are appointed trustees for the duties, &c. received there; and empowered to hold lands, &c. for the purpose of this act.-19. Hull Trustees. The guild of the Trinity-house of Kingston-upon-Hull are appointed trustees for the duties, &c. received there.-20.

Greenock and Glasgow, &c. The ports of Glasgow, Greenock, and Port Glasgow, &c. to be deemed one united port, and masters of ships belonging thereto to elect trustees for collecting duties, &c.— $21.

Transmission of Accounts. - Trustees of out-ports to transmit accounts of the yearly receipts and expenditure to president and governors. - § 22.

Transmission of Muster Rolls.-Collectors appointed by trustees or corporations aforesaid are exempted from sending duplicate of muster rolls to the president and assistants.-23.

Sections 24. and 25. enact that no seaman shall be entitled to the benefit of this act unless he pays the duty; and that those seamen who have served longest shall be first provided for.

Maimed Seamen to be provided for at the port where the accident happens. - 26.

Disabled Seamen having served and paid 5 years, to be provided for where they have contributed most. -$27.

Seamen shipwrecked, or made Prisoners by the Enemy, may be relieved. — § 28.

Where regular Certificates cannot be obtained, others may be admitted. In all cases where the certificates directed to be produced by this act for the purpose of entitling parties to relief and support cannot be obtained, such other certificates as shall be satisfactory to the president and governors or trustees respectively shall be received and allowed, so as to entitle the party producing the same to the pensions or other relief provided by this act. § 29.

Wages of deceased Seamen to be paid to the Trustees. All sums of money due for wages to any seaman, mariner, or other person engaged on board any British merchant ship in any port or ports in Great Britain and Ireland, who shall have died on board during the voyage, shall, within 3 months after the arrival of such ship in any port of Great Britain and Ireland, be paid to the trustees of the said port appointed in pursuance of this act, or to the receiver or collector or other authorised agent of the said president and governors, where there are no such trustees, to and for the use of the executors or administrators of the seaman or other person so dying; and in case no claim shall be made on the said trustees by such executors or administrators on account of such wages, within 1 year after the same have been paid over, then the said trustees shall remit the same to the collector or receiver or other their authorised agent of the president and governors at the port of London, in such manner and times as the said president, &c. shall direct, to and for the use of the executors or administrators of the seaman or other person so dying; and in case no claim shall be made on the said president, &c. by the executors, &c. of such seaman on account of such wages within 1 year after the same shall have been first paid over to their collector, then it shall be lawful for them to direct such wages to be paid over (but without interest for the same) to the widow, or if there be no widow claiming, then to the lawful issue respectively, or such persons as by virtue of the statutes of distribution of intestates' effects shall be entitled to the same; and if any master or commander of any merchant ship neglect or refuse to pay over to the said trustees, or the receiver or collector at the port aforesaid, all such sums of money within the time before limited, he shall forfeit for every such offence double the amount of the sums of money due to any seaman or other person for wages.-30.

Wages, if not demanded in 3 Years by representatives, to go to the use of the president and governors, or the trustees of the respective ports.-31.

Payment to Seamen's Hospital in London.- President and governors to pay 5 per cent. out of duties received by them from seamen in the port of London to the Seamen's Hospital Society in that port. -$32, Deductions from Gross Amount. It shall be lawful for the receiver or collector or other authorised agent of the president and governors at the port of London, and he is hereby authorised, to deduct and receive from the gross amount of such sums of money as shall be derived from the unclaimed wages of deceased seamen, received by him in respect of such wages, 5 per cent. in satisfaction of all expenses and trouble he may be put to in the receipt, collection, or transmission thereof.