Legislation on naval discipline
Legislation on naval discipline


Royal NavyPersonnelLegislation on naval discipline 

The Naval Discipline Act, 1866


29° & 30° VICTORIAE, c.109.

CAP. CIX.

An Act to make Provision for the Discipline of the Navy.[10th August 1866.]

WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the Law relating to the Government of the Navy, whereon, under the good Providence of God, the Wealth, Safety, and Strength of the Kingdom chiefly depend:

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, as follows:

PART I.

ARTICLES or WAR.

Public Worship.

1. All Officers in Command of Her Majesty's Ships of War shall cause the Public Worship of Almighty God according to the Liturgy of the Church of England established by Law to be solemnly, orderly, and reverently performed in their respective Ships, and shall take care that Prayers and Preaching, by the Chaplains in Holy Orders of the respective Ships, be performed diligently, and that the Lord's Day be observed according to Law.

Misconduct in the Presence of the Enemy.

2. Every Flag Officer, Captain, Commander or Officer commanding subject to this Act who upon Signal of Battle, or on Sight of a Ship of an Enemy which it may be his Duty to engage, shall not,

(1.)Use his utmost Exertion to bring his Ship into Action;
(2.)Or shall not during such Action, in his own Person and according to his Rank, encourage his inferior Officers and Men to fight courageously;
(3.)Or who shall surrender his Ship to the Enemy when capable of making a successful Defence, or who in Time of Action shall improperly withdraw from the Fight,

shall, if he has acted traitorously, suffer Death; if he has acted from Cowardice shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; and if he has acted from Negligence, or through other Default, he shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with or without Disgrace, or shall suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

3. Every Officer subject to this Act who shall forbear to pursue the Chase of any Enemy, Pirate, or Rebel, beaten or flying, or shall not relieve and assist a known Friend in View to the utmost of his Power, or who shall improperly forsake his Station, shall, if he has therein acted traitorously, suffer Death; if he has acted from Cowardice, suffer Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; if he has acted from Negligence, or through other Default, shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or shall suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

4. When any Action or any Service is commanded, every Person subject to this Act who shall presume to delay or discourage the said Action or Service upon any Pretence whatsoever, or in the Presence or Vicinity of the Enemy shall desert his Post or sleep upon his Watch, shall suffer Death or such other Punishment as is| herein-after mentioned.

5. Every Person subject to this Act, and not being a Commanding Officer, who shall not use his utmost Exertions to carry the Orders of his Superior Officers into execution when ordered to prepare for Action, or during the Action, shall, if he has acted traitorously, suffer Death; if he has acted from Cowardice shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; and if he has acted from Negligence, or through other Default, be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

Communications with the Enemy.

6. All Spies for the Enemy shall be deemed to be Persons subject to this Act, and shall suffer Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

7. Every Person subject to this Act who shall-

(1.)Traitorously hold Correspondence with or shall give Intelligence to the Enemy;
(2.)Or fail to make known to the proper Authorities any Information he may have received from the Enemy;
(3.)Or who shall relieve the Enemy with any Supplies,

shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

8. Every Person subject to this Act who shall, without any Treacherous Intention, hold any improper Communication with the Enemy, shall be dismissed with Disgrace from Her Majesty's Service, or shall suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

Neglect of Duty.

9. Every Person subject to this Act who shall desert his Post or sleep upon his Watch, or negligently perform the Duty imposed on him, shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or shall suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

Mutiny.

10. Where Mutiny is accompanied by Violence, every Person subject to this Act who shall join therein shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; and every Person subject to this Act who shall not use his utmost Exertions to suppress such Mutiny shall, if he has acted traitorously, suffer Death, or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; if he has acted from Cowardice, shall suffer Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; if he has acted from Negligence he shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

11. Where a Mutiny is not accompanied by Violence, the Ringleader or Ringleaders of such Mutiny shall suffer Death, or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; and all other Persons who shall join in such Mutiny, or shall not use their utmost Exertions to suppress the same, shall suffer Imprisonment or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

12. Every Person subject to this Act who shall endeavour to seduce any other Person subject to this Act from his Duty or Allegiance to Her Majesty, or endeavour to incite him to commit any Act of Mutiny, shall suffer Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

13. Every Person not otherwise subject to this Act, who, being on board any Ship of Her Majesty, shall endeavour to seduce from his Duty or Allegiance to Her Majesty any Person subject to this Act, shall so far as respects such Offence be deemed to be a Person subject to this Act, arid shall suffer Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

14. Every Person subject to this Act who shall make or endeavour to make any mutinous Assembly, or shall lead or incite any other Person to join in any mutinous Assembly, or shall utter any Words of Sedition or Mutiny, shall suffer Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

15. Every Person subject to this Act who shall wilfully conceal any traitorous or mutinous Practice or Design, or any traitorous or mutinous Words spoken against Her Majesty, or any Words, Practice, or Design tending to the Hindrance of the Service, shall suffer Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

16. Every Person subject to this Act who shall strike, or with any Weapon attempt to strike, or draw or lift up any Weapon against his superior Officer being in the Execution of his Office, shall be punished with Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; and every Person subject to this Act who shall, otherwise than with a Weapon, attempt to strike or use or attempt to use any Violence against his superior Officer being in the Execution of his Office, shall be punished with Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned; and every person subject to this Act who shall strike or attempt to strike, or draw or lift up any Weapon against, or use or attempt to use any Violence against his superior Officer not being in the Execution of his Office, shall be punished with Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

Insubordination.

17. Every Person subject to this Act who shall wilfully disobey any lawful Command of his superior Officer, or shall use threatening or insulting Language, or behave with Contempt to his superior Officer, shall be punished with Dismissal with Disgrace from Her Majesty's Service, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

18. Every Person subject to this Act who shall quarrel or fight any other Person, whether such other Person be or be not subject to this Act, or shall use reproachful or provoking Speeches or Gestures tending to make any Quarrel or Disturbance, shall suffer Imprisonment or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

Desertion and Absence without Leave.

19. Every Person subject to this Act who shall absent himself from his Ship, or from the Place where his Duty requires him to be, with an Intention of not returning to such Ship or Place, or who shall at any Time and under any Circumstances when absent from his Ship or Place of Duty, do any Act which shows that he has an Intention of not returning to such Ship or Place, shall be deemed to have deserted, and shall be punished accordingly; that is to say,

(1.)If he has deserted to the Enemy he shall be punished with Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned;
(2.)If he has deserted under any other Circumstances, he shall be punished with Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned;

and in every such Case he shall forfeit all Pay, Head Money, Bounty, Salvage, Prize Money, and Allowances that have been earned by him, and all Annuities, Pensions, Gratuities, Medals, and Decorations that may have been granted to him, and also all Clothes and Effects which he may have left on board the Ship or at the Place from which he has deserted, unless the Tribunal by which he is tried, or the Admiralty, shall otherwise direct.

20. Every Person subject to this Act who shall endeavour to seduce any other Person subject to this Act to desert shall suffer Imprisonment or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

21. Every Officer in Command of any Ship of Her Majesty who shall receive or entertain any Deserter from Her Majesty's Military or Naval Forces, after discovering him to be a Deserter, and shall not with all convenient Speed, in the Case of a Deserter from Her Majesty's Naval Forces, give Notice to the Commanding Officer of the Ship to which such Deserter belongs, or, if such Ship is at a Distance, to the Secretary of the Admiralty or to the Commander-in-Chief, or, in case of a Deserter from Her Majesty's| Military Forces, give Notice to the Secretary of War, or the Commanding Officer of the Regiment to which such Deserter belongs, the Officer so offending shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service or shall suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

22. If any Person subject to this Act (without being guilty of Desertion) improperly leaves his Ship or Place of Duty, he shall be liable to Imprisonment or to such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned, and to such other Punishment by Forfeiture of Wages or of other Benefits as the Admiralty from Time to Time by Regulations prescribe.

23. Every Person subject to this Act who (without being guilty of Desertion or of improperly leaving his Ship or Place of Duty) shall be absent without Leave shall be liable to Imprisonment for any Period not exceeding Ten Weeks, with or without Hard Labour, or such other Punishment as the Circumstances of the Case may require, and to such other Punishment by Forfeiture of Wages or of other Benefits as the Admiralty from Time to Time by Regulations is prescribe.

24. If any Person subject to this Act is absent without Leave for a Period of One Month (whether he is guilty of Desertion or of improperly leaving his Ship or Place of Duty or not), but is not apprehended and tried for his Offence, he shall be liable to Forfeiture of Wages and other Benefits as the Admiralty from Time to Time by Regulations prescribe, and the Admiralty, or, on a Foreign Station, the Commander-in-Chief, may by an Order containing a Statement of the Absence without Leave direct that the Clothes and Effects (if any) left by him on board Ship or at his Place of Duty be forfeited, and the same may be sold, and the Proceeds of the Sale shal1 be disposed of as the Admiralty or the Commander-in-Chief (as the Case may be) may direct; and every Order under this Provision for Forfeiture or Sale shall be conclusive as to the Fact of the Absence without Leave as therein stated of the Person therein named; but in any Case the Admiralty may, if it seems fit, on sufficient Cause being shown at any Time after Forfeiture and before Sale, remit the Forfeiture, or after Sale pay or dispose of the Proceeds of the Sale or any Part thereof to or for the Use of the Person to whom the Clothes or Effects belonged, or his Representatives.

25. If any Person not subject to this Act assists or procures any Person subject to this Act to desert or improperly absent him-self from his Duty, or conceals, employs, or continues to employ any Person subject to this Act, who is a Deserter or improperly absent from his Duty, knowing him to be a Deserter or so improperly absent, he shall for every such Offence of Assistance, Procurement, Concealment, Employment, or Continuance of Employment; be liable, on summary Conviction thereof before a Justice or Justices, or before any Person or Persons or Court exercising like Authority in any Part of Her Majesty's Dominions, to a Penalty not exceeding Thirty Pounds; and, notwithstanding anything in any Act relating to Municipal Corporations, or to the Metropolitan Police, or in any other Act, every such Penalty shall be applied as the Admiralty direct.

26. If any Person not subject to this Act by Words or otherwise persuades any Person subject to this Act to desert or improperly absent himself from his Duty, he shall for every such Offence be liable, on summary Conviction thereof before a Justice or Justices, or before any Person or Persons or Court exercising like Authority in any Part of Her Majesty's Dominions, to a Penalty not exceeding Twenty Pounds; and, notwithstanding anything in any Act relating to Municipal Corporations, or to the Metropolitan Police, or in any other Act, every such Penalty shall be applied as the Admiralty direct.

Miscellaneous Offences.

27. Every Person subject to this Act who shall be guilty of any profane Oath, Cursing, Execration, Drunkenness, Uncleanness, or other scandalous Action in derogation of God's Honour and Corruption of good Manners, shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

28. Every Officer subject to this Act who shall be guilty of Cruelty, or of any scandalous or fraudulent Conduct, shall be dismissed with Disgrace from Her Majesty's Service; and every Officer subject to this Act who shall be guilty of any other Conduct unbecoming the Character of an Officer shall be dismissed, with or without Disgrace, from Her Majesty's Service.

29. Every Person subject to this Act who shall either designedly. or negligently or by any Default lose, strand, or hazard, or suffer to be lost, stranded, or hazarded, any Ship of Her Majesty or in Her Majesty's Service, shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

30. The Officers of all Ships of Her Majesty appointed for the Convoy and Protection of any Ships or Vessels shall diligently perform their Duty without Delay according to their Instructions in that Behalf; and every Officer who shall fail in his Duty in this respect, and shall not defend the Ships and Goods under his Convoy, without Deviation to any other Objects, or shall refuse to fight in their Defence if they are assailed, or shall cowardly abandon and expose the Ships in his Convoy to Hazard, or shall demand or exact any Money or other Reward from any Merchant or Master for convoying any Ships or Vessels intrusted to his Care, or shall misuse the Masters or Mariners thereof, shall make such Reparation in Damages to the Merchants, Owners, and others as the Court of Admiralty may adjudge, and also shall be punished criminally according to the Nature of his Offence, by Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

31. Every Master or other Officer in Command of any Merchant or other Vessel under the Convoy of any Ship of Her Majesty shall obey the Commanding Officer thereof in all Matters relating to the Navigation or Security of the Convoy, and shall take such Precautious for avoiding the Enemy as may be directed by such Commanding Officer; and if he shall fail to obey such Directions, such Commanding Officer may compel Obedience by Force of Arms, without being liable for any Loss of Life or of Property that may result from his using such Force.

32. Every Officer in Command of any of Her Majesty's Ships who shall receive on board or permit to be received on board such Ship any Goods or Merchandises whatsoever, other than for the sole Use of the Ship, except Gold, Silver, or Jewels, and except Goods and Merchandise belonging to any Merchant, or on board any Ship which may be shipwrecked or in imminent Danger either on the High Seas or in some Port, Creek, or Harbour, for the Purpose of preserving them for their proper Owners, or except such Goods or Merchandise as he may at any Time be ordered to take or receive on board by Order of the Admiralty or his Superior Officer, shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

33. Every Person subject to this Act who shall wastefully expend, embezzle, or fraudulently buy, sell, or receive any Ammunition, Provisions, or other Public Stores, and every Person subject to this Act, who shall knowingly permit any such wasteful Expenditure, Embezzlement, Sale, or Receipt, shall suffer Imprisonment or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

34. Every Person subject to this Act who shall unlawfully set fire to any Dockyard, Victualling Yard, or Steam Factory Yard, Arsenal, Magazine, Building, Stores, or to any Ship, Vessel, Hoy, Barge, Boat, or other Craft, or Furniture thereunto belonging, not being the Property of an Enemy, Pirate, or Rebel, shall suffer Death or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned

35. Every Person subject to this Act who shall knowingly make or sign a false Muster or Record or other official Document, or who shall command, counsel, or procure the making or signing thereof, or who shall aid or abet any other Person in the making or signing thereof, shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

36. Every Person subject to this Act who shall wilfully do any Act, or wilfully disobey any Orders, whether in Hospital or else-where, with Intent to produce or to aggravate any Disease or Infirmity, or to delay his Cure, or who shall feign any Disease, Infirmity, or Inability to perform his Duty, shall suffer Imprisonment or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

37. Every Person subject to this Act who shall have any Cause of Complaint, either of the Unwholesomeness of the Victuals or upon any other just Ground, shall quietly make the same known to his Superior, or Captain, or Commander-in-Chief, and the said Superior, Captain, or Commander-in-Chief shall, as far as he is able, cause the same to be presently remedied; and no Person subject to this Act upon any Pretence whatever shall attempt to stir up any Disturbance, upon pain of such Punishment as a Court-martial may think fit to inflict, according to the Degree of Offence.

38. All the Papers, Charter-parties, Bills of Lading, Passports, and other Writings whatsoever that shall be taken, seized, or found aboard any Ship or Ships which shall be taken as Prize shall be duly preserved, and the Commanding Officer of the Ship which shall take such Prize shall send the Originals entire and without Fraud to the Court of Admiralty, or such other Court or Commissioners as shall be authorized to determine whether such Prize be lawful Capture, there to be viewed, made use of, and proceeded upon according to Law, upon pain that every Person offending herein shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, or shall suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned, and in addition thereto shall forfeit and lose his Share of the Capture.

39. No Person subject to this Act shall take out of any Prize Ship seized for Prize any Money, Plate, or Goods, unless it shall be necessary for the better securing thereof, or for the necessary Use and Service of any of Her Majesty's Ships and Vessels of War, before the same be adjudged lawful Prize in some Admiralty Court; but the full and entire Account of the whole without Embezzlement shall be brought in, and Judgment passed entirely upon the whole, without Fraud, upon pain that every Person offending herein shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned, and in addition thereto forfeit and lose his Share of the Capture.

40. If any Ship or Vessel shall be taken as Prize, none of the Officers, Mariners, or other Persons on board her shall be stripped of their Clothes, or in any sort pillaged, beaten, or evil intreated, upon pain that the Person or Persons so offending shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

41. If the Commanding Officer of any of Her Majesty's Ships does any of the following Things, namely, (1) By Collusion with the Enemy takes as Prize any Vessel, Goods, or Thing; (2.) Unlawfully agrees with any Person for the ransoming of any Vessel, Goods, or Thing taken as Prize; or (3) In pursuance of any unlawful Agreement for ransoming or otherwise by Collusion actually quits or restores any Vessel, Goods, or Thing taken as Prize;

he shall be liable to Dismissal from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or to such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

42. If any Person subject to this Act breaks Bulk on board any Vessel taken as Prize, or detained in the Exercise of any Belligerent Right, or under any Act relating to Piracy or to the Slave Trade or to the Customs, with Intent to embezzle anything therein or belonging thereto, he shall be liable to Dismissal from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or to such other Punishment as herein-after mentioned, and in addition thereto to forfeit and lose his Share of the Capture.

43. Every Person subject to this Act who shall be guilty of any Act, Disorder, or Neglect to the Prejudice of good Order and Naval Discipline, not herein-before specified, shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, with Disgrace, or suffer such other Punishment as is[herein-after mentioned.

44. Any Person subject to this Act committing any Offence against this Act, such Offence not being punishable with Death or Penal Servitude, shall, save where this Act expressly otherwise provides, be proceeded against and punished according to the Laws and Customs in such Cases used at Sea.

Offences punishable by ordinary Law.

45. Every Person subject to this Act who shall be guilty of Murder shall suffer Death:
If he shall be guilty of Manslaughter he shall suffer Penal Servitude, or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned:
If he shall be guilty of Sodomy with Man or Beast he shall suffer Penal Servitude:
If he shall be guilty of an indecent Assault he shall suffer Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned:
If he shall be guilty of Robbery or Theft he shall suffer Penal Servitude or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned:
If he shall be guilty of any other Criminal Offence which if committed in England would be punishable by the Law of England he shall, whether the Offence be or be not committed in England, be punished either in pursuance of the First Part of this Act as for an Act to the Prejudice of good Order and Naval Discipline not otherwise specified, or the Offender shall be subject to the same Punishment as might for the Time being be awarded by any ordinary Criminal Tribunal competent to try the Offender if the Offence had been committed in England.

46. For all Offences specified or referred to in this Act, if committed by any Person subject thereto in any Harbour, Haven or Creek, or on any Lake or River, whether in or out of the United Kingdom, or anywhere within the Jurisdiction of the Admiralty, or at any Place on Shore out of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or in any of Her Majesty's Dockyards, Yictualling Yards, Steam Factory Yards, or on any Gun Wharf, or in any Arsenal, Barrack, or Hospital belonging to Her Majesty, whether in or out of the said United Kingdom, the Offender may be tried and punished under this Act; and for all Offences herein-before specified under the Headings "Misconduct in the Presence of the Enemy," "Communications with the Enemy," "Neglect of Duty," "Mutiny," "Insubordination," "Desertion and Absence without Leave," or "Miscellaneous Offences," if committed by any Person subject to this Act at any Place on Shore, whether in or out of the said United Kingdom, the Offender may be tried and punished under this Act.

PART II.

GENERAL PROVISIONS.

47. Where the Amount of Punishment for any Offence under this Act depends upon the Intent with which it has been committed, and any Prisoner is charged with having committed such Offence with an Intent involving a greater Degree of Punishment, a Court-martial may find that the Offence was committed with an Intent involving a less Degree of Punishment, and award such Punishment accordingly.

48. Where any Prisoner shall be charged with Murder, a Court-Martial may find him guilty of Manslaughter, or of a Common Assault; where he shall be charged with Sodomy, a Court-martial may find him guilty of an indecent Assault; where he shall be charged with Theft, a Court-martial may find him Guilty of an Attempt to thieve, or of Embezzlement, or of wrongful Appropriation of Property belonging to another; and generally where any Prisoner shall be charged with any Offence under this Act he may, upon Failure of Proof of the Commission of the greater Offence, be found guilty of another Offence of the same Class involving a less Degree of Punishment, but not of any Offence involving a greater Degree of Punishment.

49. All armed Rebels, armed Mutineers, and Pirates shall be deemed to be Enemies within the Meaning of this Act.

50. Every Officer in Command of a Fleet or Squadron of Her Majesty's Ships, or of One of Her Majesty's Ships, or the Senior Officer present at a Port, may, by Warrant under his Hand, authorise any Person to arrest any Offender subject to this Act for any Offence against this Act mentioned in such Warrant; and any such Warrant may include the Names of more Persons than One in respect of several Offences of the same Nature; and any Person named in any such Warrant may forthwith, on his Apprehension, if the Warrant so directs, be taken on board the Ship to which he belongs, or some other of Her Majesty's Ships; and any Person so authorized may use Force, if necessary, for the Purpose of effecting such Apprehension, towards any Person subject to this Act.

51. Every Person subject to this Act who shall not use his utmost Endeavours to detect, apprehend, and bring to Punishment all Offenders against this Act, and shall not assist the Officers appointed for that Purpose, shall suffer Imprisonment or such other Punishment as is herein-after mentioned.

PART III.

REGULATIONS AS TO PUNISHMENTS.

52. The following Punishments may be inflicted in Her Majesty's Navy:

(1.)Death:
(2.)Penal Servitude:
(3.)Dismissal with Disgrace from Her Majesty's Service:
(4.)Imprisonment or Corporal Punishment;
(5.)Dismissal from Her Majesty's Service:
(6.)Forfeiture of Seniority as an Officer for a specified Time, or otherwise:
(7.)Dismissal from the Ship to which the Offender belongs:
(8.)Severe Reprimand, or Reprimand:
(9.)Disrating a Subordinate or Petty Officer:
(10.)Forfeiture of Pay, Head Money, Bounty, Salvage, Prize Money, and Allowances earned by, and of all Annuities, Pensions, Gratuities, Medals, and Decorations granted to the Offender, or of any One or more of the above Particulars; also, in the Case of Desertion, of all Clothes and Effects left by the Deserter on board the Ship to which he belongs:
(11.)Such minor Punishments as are now inflicted according to the Custom of the Navy, or may from Time to Time be allowed by the Admiralty:

And each of the above Punishments shall be deemed to be inferior in Degree to every Punishment preceding it in the above Scale.

53. The following Regulations are hereby made with respect to the Infliction of Punishments in Her Majesty's Navy:

(1.)The Admiralty may, except in case of Sentence of Death, which shall only be remitted by Her Majesty, suspend, annul, or modify any Sentence passed on any Person subject to this Act, or substitute a Punishment inferior in Degree for the Punishment involved in any such Sentence, or remit the whole or any Portion of the Punishment involved in any such Sentence, or remit the whole or any Portion of any Punishment into which the Punishment involved in any such Sentence has been commuted, and any Sentence so modified shall (subject to the Provisions of this Act) be valid, and shall be carried into Execution, as if it had been originally passed, with such Modification, by the Court-martial; but so that the Punishment involved in any Sentence be not increased by any such Modification:
(2.)Judgment of Death shall not be passed on any Prisoner unless Four at least of the Officers present at the Court-martial, where the Number does not exceed Five, and in other Cases a Majority of not less than Two Thirds of the Officers present, concur in the Sentence:
(3.)Except in case of Mutiny the Punishment of Death shall not be inflicted on any Prisoner until the Sentence has been confirmed by the Admiralty or by the Commander-in-Chief on a Foreign Station:
(4.)The Punishment of Penal Servitude may be inflicted for the Term of Life, or for any other Term of not less than Five Years:
(5.)The Punishment of Penal Servitude shall in all Cases involve Dismissal with Disgrace from Her Majesty's Service:
(6.)A Sentence of Dismissal with Disgrace shall involve in all Cases a Forfeiture of all Pay, Head Money, Bounty, Salvage, Prize Money, and Allowances that have been earned by, and of all Annuities, Pensions, Gratuities, Medals, and Decorations that may have been granted to the Offender, and an Incapacity to serve Her Majesty again in any Military, Naval, or Civil Service, and may also in all Cases be accompanied by a Sentence of Imprisonment:
(7.)The Punishment of Imprisonment may be inflicted for any Term not exceeding Two Years:
(8.)A Sentence of Imprisonment may be accompanied with a Direction that the Prisoner shall be kept in Solitary Confinement for any Period of such Term, not exceeding Fourteen Days at any One Time, and not exceeding Eighty-four Days in any One Year, with Intervals between the Periods of Solitary Confinement of not less Duration than the Periods of Solitary Confinement; and when the Imprisonment awarded exceeds Eighty-four Days, the Solitary Confinement shall not exceed Seven Days in any Twenty-eight Days of the whole Imprisonment awarded with Intervals between the Periods of Solitary Confinement of not less Duration than such Periods:
(9.)A Sentence of Imprisonment may also be accompanied with a Direction that the Prisoner shall be kept to Hard Labour for all or any Part of the Term of Imprisonment, and Corporal Punishment may be awarded in addition to any Sentence of Imprisonment, whether such Imprisonment is or is not to be accompanied with Solitary Confinement and Hard Labour, or either of them:
(10.)The Punishment of Imprisonment, whether on board Ship or on Shore, shall involve disrating in case of a Petty Officer and Reduction to the Ranks in case of a Noncommissioned Officer of Marines, and shall in all Cases be accompanied by Stoppage of Pay or Wages during the Term of Imprisonment:
(11.)In any Case of Corporal Punishment not more than Forty-eight Lashes shall be inflicted: No Officer shall be subject to Corporal Punishment: No Petty or Non-commissioned Officer shall be subject to Corporal Punishment, except in case of Mutiny:

All other Punishments authorized by this Act may be inflicted in the Manner heretofore in use in the Navy.

54. No Person, unless he be an Offender who has avoided Apprehension or fled from Justice, shall be tried or punished in pursuance of this Act for any Offence committed by him unless such Trial shall take place within Three Years from the Commission of such Offence, or within One Year after the Return of such Offender to the United Kingdom, where he has been absent from the United Kingdom during such Period of Three Years.

55. Subject to the foregoing Regulations, where any Punishment is specified by this Act as the Penalty for any Offence, and it is further declared that another Punishment may be awarded in respect of the same Offence, the Expression "other Punishment" shall be deemed to comprise any One or more of the Punishments inferior in Degree to the specified Punishment, according to the Scale herein-before mentioned; but Corporal Punishment shall be deemed equal in Degree to Imprisonment, and may in all Cases, subject to the foregoing Regulations, be inflicted as a Substitute for or in addition to Imprisonment.

56. Any Offence triable under this Act may be tried and punished by Court-martial; and any Offence triable under this Act, not committed by an Officer (except in the Cases by this Act expressly provided for), and not hereby made Capital, may, under such Regulations as the Admiralty may from Time to Time issue, be summarily tried and punished by the Officer in Command of the Ship to which such Offender belongs, subject to the following Restrictions; (that is to say,)

(1.)The Commanding Officer shall not have Power to award the Punishment of Penal Servitude:
(2.)The Commanding Officer shall not have Power to sentence a Deserter to Imprisonment for a longer Period than Three Calendar Months, or to sentence any other Offender to 'Imprisonment for a longer Period than Six Weeks, or to award Solitary Confinement for more than Ten Days at a Time, with Intervals of not less than Seven Days between Two successive Periods of Solitary Confinement:
(3)Except in case of Mutiny, no Man shall be sentenced by the Commanding Officer to Corporal Punishment until his Offence has been inquired into by One or more Officers appointed by such Commanding Officer, and his or their Opinion as to the Guilt or Innocence of the Prisoner reported to such Commanding Officer, and the Commanding Officer shall thereupon act as according to his Judgment may seem right.

57. With respect to the Authorities by whom certain Punishments may be imposed, the following Provisions shall take effect; namely,

(1.)With respect to any subordinate Officer, the Punishment of Forfeiture of Time or Seniority may be imposed as follows; namely, by the Admiralty for any Time not exceeding Twelve Months, by the Commander-in-Chief on a Foreign Station for any Time not exceeding Six Months, or by the Commanding Officer for any Time not exceeding Three Months:
(2)With respect to any subordinate Officer, the Commander-in-Chief on a Foreign Station shall have Power to impose the Punishments numbered (7.), (8.). and (9) in the Scale herein-before contained.

PART IV.

COURTS-MARTIAL.

Constitution of Courts-martial.

58. The following Regulations are hereby made with respect to Courts-martial:

(1.)A Court-martial shall consist of not less than Five nor more than Nine Officers:
(2.)No Officer shall be qualified to sit as a Member of any Court-martial held in pursuance of this Act unless he be a Flag Officer, Captain, Commander, or Lieutenant of Her Majesty's Navy on Full Pay:
(3.)A Court-martial shall not be held unless at least Three of Her Majesty's Ships, not being Tenders, and commanded by Captains, Commanders, or Lieutenants of Her Majesty's Navy on Full Pay, are together at the Time when such Court-martial is held:
(4.)No Officer shall sit on a Court-martial who is under Twenty-one Years of Age:
(5.)No Court-martial for the Trial of a Flag Officer shall he duly constituted unless the President is a Flag Officer, and the other Officers composing the Court are of the Rank of Captain, or of higher Rank:
(6.)No Court-martial for the Trial of a Captain in Her Majesty's Navy shall be duly constituted unless the President is a Captain or of higher Rank, and the other Officers com-posing the Court are Commanders or Officers of higher Rank:
(7.)No Court-martial for the Trial of any Person below the Rank of Captain in Her Majesty's Navy shall he duly constituted, unless the President is a Captain or of higher Rank, nor unless in addition to the President there are Two other Members of the Court of the Rank of Commander or of higher Rank:
(8.)The Prosecutor shall not sit on any Court-martial for the Trial of a Prisoner whom he prosecutes:
(9.)The Admiralty shall have Power to order Courts-martial to be held for the Trial of Offences under this Act, and to grant Commissions to any Officer of Her Majesty's Navy on Full Pay authorizing him to order Courts-martial to be held for the Trial of such Offences:
(10.)An Officer holding a Commission from the Admiralty to order Courts-martial shall not be empowered to do so if there is present at the Place where such Court-martial is to be held any Officer superior in Rank to himself, on Full Pay and in command of One or more of Her Majesty's Ships or Vessels, although such last-mentioned Officer may not hold a Commission to order Courts-martial; and in such a Case such last mentioned Officer may order a Court-martial, although he does not hold any Commission for the Purpose:
(11.)If any Officer holding a Commission from the Admiralty to order Courts-martial, having the Command of a Fleet or Squadron, and being in Foreign Parts, die, be recalled, leave his Station, or be removed from his Command, the Officer upon whom the Command of the Fleet or Squadron devolves, and so from Time to Time the Officer who shall have the Command of the Fleet or Squadron, shall, without any Commission from the Admiralty, have the same Power to order Courts-martial as the first-mentioned Officer was invested with:
(12)If any Officer holding a Commission from the Admiralty to order Courts-martial, and having the Command of any Fleet or Squadron of Her Majesty's Ships in Foreign Parts shall detach any Part of such Fleet or Squadron, or separate himself from any Part of such Fleet or Squadron, he may, by Commission under his Hand, empower, in the first-mentioned Case, the Commanding Officer of the Squadron or Detachment ordered on such separate Service, and in case of his Death or ceasing so to command, the Officer to whom the Command of such separate Squadron or Detachment shall belong, and in the secondly-mentioned Case the Senior Officer of Her Majesty's Ships on the Division of the Station from which he is absent, to order Courts-martial during the Time of such separate Service, or during his Absence from that Division of the Station (as the Case may be), and every such Authority shall continue in force until revoked, or until the Officer holding it returns to the United Kingdom or until he comes into the Presence of a Superior Officer, empowered to order Courts-martial in the same Squadron, Detachment, or Division of a Station, but so that such Authority shall revive on the Officer holding it ceasing to be in the Presence of such a Superior Officer, and so from Time to Time as often as the Case so requires:
(13.)The Officer ordering a Court-martial shall not sit thereon:
(14.)The President of every Court-martial shall be named by the Authority ordering the same, or by any Officer empowered by such Authority to name the President:
(15.)No Commander or Lieutenant shall be required to sit as a Member of any Court-martial when Four Officers of a higher Rank and junior to the President can be assembled at the Place where the Court-martial is to be holden (but the Regularity or Validity of any Court-martial or of the Proceedings thereof shall not be affected by any Commander or Lieutenant being required to sit, or sitting, thereon, under any Circumstances); and when any Commander or Lieutenant sits on any Court-martial the Members of it shall not exceed Five in Number:
(16.)Subject to the foregoing Regulations, whenever a Court-martial shall be held, the Officer appointed to preside thereat shall summon all the Officers next in Seniority to himself present at the Place where the Court-martial shall be held to sit thereon, until the Number of Nine, or such Number, not less than Five, as is attainable, is complete; subject to this Proviso, that the Admirals and Captains, being Superintendents of Her Majesty's Dockyards, shall not be summoned to sit on Courts-martial unless specially directed to do so by Orders from the Admiralty.

Proceedings of Courts-martial.

59. A Court-martial under this Act shall be held on board One of Her Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War.

60. A Court-martial held in pursuance of this Act shall sit from Day to Day, with the Exception of Sundays, until Sentence is given, unless prevented from so doing by Stress of Weather or unavoidable Accident, and its Proceedings shall not be delayed by the Absence of any Member, so that not less than Four are present; and no Member shall absent himself unless compelled so to do by Sickness or other just Cause, to be approved of by the other Members of the Court; and if any Member of a Court-martial shall absent himself therefrom, in contravention of this Section, he shall be dismissed from Her Majesty's Service, or shall suffer such other Punishment as may be awarded by a Court-martial.

61. In the Absence of the Judge Advocate of the Fleet or his Deputy, and in default of any Appointment in this Behalf by the Admiralty, or by the Commander-in-Chief of any Fleet or Squadron, the Officer who is to be the President of the Court-martial shall appoint a Person to officiate as Deputy Judge Advocate at the Trial; and the Judge Advocate of the Fleet for the Time being, or his Deputy, or the Person officiating as Deputy Judge Advocate, at any Trial shall administer an Oath to every Witness appearing at the Trial.

62. As soon as the Court is assembled, the Names of the Officers composing the Court shall be read over to the Prisoner, who shall be asked if he objects to being tried by any Member of the Court; if the Prisoner shall object to any Member, the Objection shall be decided by the Court; if the Objection shall be allowed, the Place of the Member objected to shall be filled up by the Officer next in Seniority who is not on the Court-martial, subject to the Regulations herein-before contained.

The Prisoner may then raise any other Objection which he desires to make respecting the Constitution of the Court-martial, and the Objection shall then be decided by the Court, which Decision shall be final, and the Constitution of the Court-martial shall not be afterwards impeached, and it shall be deemed to have been in all respects duly constituted.

63. Before the Court shall proceed to try the Prisoner, the Judge Advocate of the Fleet, or his Deputy, or the Person officiating as deputy Judge Advocate of the Fleet, shall administer to every Member of the Court the following Oath; that is to say,

I ___________ do swear, That I will duly administer Justice according to Law, without Partiality, Favour, or Affection; and I do further swear, that I will not on any Account, at any Time whatsoever, disclose or discover the Vote or Opinion of any particular Member of this Court-martial, unless thereunto required in due Course of Law. So help me GOD.'

64. As soon as the said Oath shall be administered to the Members of the Court-martial, the President shall administer to the

Judge Advocate of the Fleet, or his Deputy, or the Person officiating as Deputy Judge Advocate, the following Oath:

'I____ do swear, That I will not upon any Account, at any Time whatsoever, disclose or discover the Vote or Opinion of any particular Member of the Court-martial, unless thereunto required in due Course of Law. So help me GOD.'

65. The Admiralty may from Time to Time frame General Orders for altering and regulating (subject to the Provisions of this Act) the Procedure and Practice of Courts-martial under this Act; and any such General Orders shall have full Effect if and when approved by Her Majesty in Council, on a Report of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, but not sooner or otherwise; and every Order in Council made under this Section shall be laid before both Houses of Parliament.

66. Every Person, Civil, Naval, and Military, who may be required to give Evidence before a Court-martial, shall be summoned by Writing under the Hand of One of the Secretaries of the Admiralty, or by the Deputy Judge Advocate, or the Person appointed to officiate as Deputy Judge Advocate at the Trial; and all Persons so summoned and attending as Witnesses before any Court-martial shall, during their necessary Attendance in or on such Court, and in going to and returning from the same, be privileged from Arrest, and shall, if unduly arrested, be discharged by the Court out of which the Writ or Process issued by which such Witness was arrested, or if such Court be not sitting, then by any Judge of the Superior Courts of Westminster or Dublin, or the Court of Session in Scotland, or of the Courts of Law in the East or West Indies, or elsewhere, according as the Case shall require, upon its being made to appear to such Court or Judge, by any Affidavit in a summary Way, that such Witness was arrested in going to or returning from or attending upon such Court-martial; and all Witnesses so duly summoned as aforesaid who make default in attending on such Courts, or attending refuse to be sworn or make Affirmation, or being sworn or having made Affirmation refuse to give Evidence, or to answer all such Questions as the Court may legally demand of them, or prevaricate in giving their Evidence, shall upon Certificate thereof under the Hand of the President of such Court-martial, be liable to be attached in the Court of Queen's Bench in London or Dublin, or the Court of Session, or Sheriff Depute or Stewarts Depute, or their respective Substitutes, within their several Shires and Stewartries in Scotland, or Courts of Law in the East or West Indies, or in any of Her Majesty's Colonies, Garrisons, or Dominions in Europe or elsewhere, respectively, upon Complaint made, in like Manner as if such Witness after having been duly summoned and subpoenaed had neglected to attend on trial in any Proceeding in the Court in which such Complaint is made, or had refused to be sworn, or on being sworn had refused to give Evidence, or to answer all such Questions as the Court may legally demand, or had prevaricated in giving Evidence, or, if the Court-martial shall think fit, in case any such Person belong to Her Majesty's Navy, being called upon to give Evidence at any Court-martial, shall refuse or neglect to attend to give his Evidence upon Oath or Affirmation, or shall prevaricate in his Evidence, or behave with Contempt to the Court, such Court-martial may punish every such Offender by Imprisonment not longer than Three Months in case of such Refusal, Neglect, or Prevarication, nor longer than One Month in the Case of such Contempt; and every Person not subject to this Act who may be so summoned to attend shall be allowed and paid his reasonable Expenses for such Attendance, under the Authority of the Admiralty, or of the President of the Court-martial on a foreign Station.

67. Every Person who, upon any Examination upon Oath or upon Affirmation before any Court-martial held in pursuance of this Act, shall wilfully and corruptly give false Evidence, shall be deemed guilty of wilful and corrupt Perjury; and every such Offence, wheresoever committed, shall be triable and punishable in England; and where any such Offence committed out of England is tried in England, all Statutes and Laws applicable to Cases of Perjury shall apply to the Case.

68. Where it shall appear upon the Trial by Court-martial of any Person charged with an Offence that such Person is insane, the Court shall find specially the Fact of his Insanity, and shall order such| Person to be kept in strict Custody in such Place and in such Manner as the Court shall deem fit until the Directions of the Admiralty thereupon are known, and it shall be lawful for the Lords of the Admiralty to give Orders for the safe Custody of such Person during Her Majesty's Pleasure in such Place and in such Manner as they shall think fit.

69. Every Judge Advocate, or Deputy Judge Advocate, or Person officiating as Deputy Judge Advocate, shall transmit with as much Expedition as may be the original Proceedings, or a complete and authenticated Copy thereof, and the original Sentence of every Court-martial attended by him, to the Commander-in-Chief or senior Officer, who shall transmit them to the Secretary of the Admiralty for the Time being, and any Person tried by a Court-martial shall be entitled, on Demand, to a Copy of such Proceedings and Sentence at any Time not sooner than Six Months after the Trial if the same takes place in the Mediterranean, Three Months if at any other Naval Station within Europe, and Twelve Months if elsewhere, (upon Payment for the same at the Rate of Fourpence per Folio of Seventy-two Words,) but no such Demand shall be allowed after the Space of Three Years from the Date of the final Decision of such Court.

PART V.

PENAL SERVITUDE AND PRISONS.

Penal Servitude.

70. Whenever any Sentence of Death shall be commuted for Penal Servitude, or whenever Sentence of Penal Servitude shall be passed upon any Offender by any Court-martial, and such Sentence, or any Part thereof, is intended to be carried into effect, the Admiralty shall cause the same to be notified in Writing to any Justice of the Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, or Baron of the Exchequer, and thereupon such Justice or Baron shall make an Order for the Penal Servitude of such Offender upon the Terms and for the Time specified in such Notification, and shall do all such other Acts consequent upon such Notification, as any such Justice or Baron is or may be authorized to make or do by any Statute or Statutes in force at the Time of making any such Order in relation to Penal Servitude of Offenders sentenced by Courts of Criminal Jurisdiction to Penal Servitude; and such Order and other Acts to be so made and done as aforesaid shall be obeyed and executed by such Person in whose Custody such Offender may at that Time be, and by all other Persons whom it may concern, and shall be as effectual and have all the same Consequences as any Order made under the Authority of any Statute relating to Penal Servitude with respect to any Offender in such Statute mentioned; and every Sheriff, Gaoler, Keeper, Governor, or Superintendent whom it may concern, and all Constables and other Persons, shall be bound to obey the aforesaid Order and Orders, and be assistant in the Execution thereof, and be liable to the same Punishment for Disobedience to or for interrupting the Execution of such Order as they would be if the same had been made under the Authority of any such Statute; and every Person so ordered to be kept in Penal Servitude shall be subject to all the Penalties and Provisions made by Law, and in force for the Time being, concerning Persons under Sentence of Penal Servitude, or receiving Her Majesty's Pardon on Condition of Penal Servitude; and from the Time when such Order of Penal Servitude is made, every Law in force touching the Escape of Felons, or their afterwards returning or being at large without Leave, shall apply to such Offender, and to all Persons aiding, abetting, contriving, or assisting in any Escape or intended Escape, of the returning without Leave of any such Offender; and the Judge or Baron who makes an Order for Penal Servitude as afore-said shall direct the Notification of the Admiralty, and his own Order made thereupon, to be filed and kept of Record in the Office of the Clerk of the Crown of the Court of Queen's Bench, and the said Clerk shall have a Fee of Two Shillings and Sixpence only for filing the same, and shall, on Application, deliver a Certificate in Writing (not taking more than Two Shillings and Sixpence for the same) to such Offender, or to any Person applying in his or the Admiralty's Behalf, showing the Christian and Surname of such Offender, his Offence, the Place where the Court was held before which he was convicted, the Sentence, and the Conditions on which the Order of Penal Servitude was made, and such Certificate shall be sufficient Proof of the Conviction and of the Sentence of such Offender, and also of the Terms on which such Order for his Penal Servitude was made, in any Court and in any Proceeding wherein it may be necessary to inquire into the same.

71. When any Sentence of Death shall have been commuted for Penal Servitude, or when any Person subject to this Act shall have been condemned to Penal Servitude, it shall be lawful for the Admiralty, or any Commander-in-Chief on any Foreign Station, or the Commanding Officer of the Ship to which such Person belongs or has belonged, to cause him to be detained and conveyed to any One of Her Majesty's Ships, or any Gaol or Prison, there to remain in safe Custody until he is removed therefrom by the Order of the Admiralty or any such Commander-in-Chief or other due Authority, or under an Order for his Penal Servitude, to be made by some Justice of the Queen's Bench or Common Pleas or Baron of the Exchequer as aforesaid, and a Certificate of his Sentence (such Certificate to be signed by the Secretary of the Admiralty, or by any such Commander-in-Chief, or such Commanding Officer) shall be a sufficient Authority to the Commanding Officer of the Ship to which he may be sent, or to the Governor, Keeper, or Superintendent of the Gaol or Prison, to receive and detain him.

72. In case any such Offender shall be conveyed to any Prison not being a Naval Prison appointed by virtue of this Act, an Allowance such as the Admiralty shall from Time to Time direct shall be made to the Governor, Keeper, or Superintendent of the Gaol or Prison for the Subsistence of such Offender during his Detention therein, and such Allowance shall be paid by Order of the Admiralty upon Production by the said Governor, Keeper, or Superintendent of a Declaration, to be made by him before One of Her Majesty's Justices of the Peace of such County, of the Number of Days during which the Offender has been so detained and subsisted in such Gaol or Prison.

73. Whenever Sentence shall be passed by a Court-martial on an Offender already under Sentence either of Imprisonment or of Penal Servitude, passed upon him by a Court-martial for a former Offence, the Court may award Sentence of Imprisonment or Penal Servitude for the Offence for which he is under Trial to commence at the Expiration of the Imprisonment or Penal Servitude to which he has been previously sentenced, although the aggregate. of the Terms of Imprisonment or Penal Servitude may exceed the Term for which either of those Punishments could be otherwise awarded.

Prisons.

74. Every Term of Penal Servitude or of Imprisonment in pursuance of this Act shall be reckoned as commencing on the Day on which the Sentence was awarded, and the Place of Imprisonment, whether the Imprisonment was awarded as an original or as a commuted Punishment, shall be such Place as may be appointed by the Court or the Commanding Officer awarding the Punishment or which may from Time to Time be appointed by the Admiralty, or by the Commander-in-Chief or senior Officer present on any Foreign Station, and may be One of the Naval Prisons appointed under this Act, or any Common Gaol, House of Correction, or Military Prison within Her Majesty's Dominions.

75. Whenever it is deemed expedient it shall be lawful for the Admiralty or any such Commander-in-Chief; by any Order in Writing from Time to Time to change the Place of Confinement of any Offender imprisoned or sentenced to be imprisoned or detained in persuance of this Act, and the Gaoler or other Person having the Custody of such Offender shall immediately on the Receipt of such Order remove such Offender to the Gaol, Prison, or House of Correction mentioned in the said Order, or shall deliver him over to Naval Custody for the Purpose of the Offender being removed to such Prison; and every Gaoler or Keeper of such last-mentioned Prison, Gaol, or House of Correction shall, upon, being furnished with a Copy of such Order of Removal, attested by the Secretary of the Admiralty for the Time being, receive into his Custody and shall confine pursuant to such Sentence or Order every such Offender.

76. The Gaoler or other Person removing any Offender in pursuance of such Order shall be allowed for the Charges of such Removal a Sum not exceeding One Shilling a Mile, and when any Offender is not confined in a Naval Prison the Gaoler or other Person in whose Custody any such Offender may be shall receive such an Allowance as the Admiralty shall from Time to Time direct for every Day that such Offender is in his Custody, to be applied towards his Subsistence, and such Sum shall be paid to the said Gaoler or other Person under the Authority of the Admiralty, upon the Application in Writing made to the Secretary of the Admiralty by any Justice for the County or Place in which such Gaol, Prison, or House of Correction shall be situate, with a Copy of the Sentence or Order under which the Prisoner is confined.

77. From and after the passing of this Act, Section One of the Act of the Forty-fourth Year of the Reign of King George the Third (Chapter Thirteen), "to prevent the Desertion and Escape of Petty Officers, Seamen, and others from His Majesty's Service by Means or under Colour of any Civil or Criminal Process," shall be read and have effect as if the Words "One Shilling" were substituted for the Words "Two Shillings;" and any such Sheriff, Gaoler, or other Officer as therein mentioned shall, if required, deliver such Petty Officer, Seaman, or other Person as therein mentioned to any Person authorized to receive him, instead of conducting and conveying him as therein provided.

78. Whenever any Prisoner is undergoing Imprisonment in pursuance of this Act, it shall be lawful, for the Admiralty, or any Commander-in-Chief on any Foreign Station, or where an Offender has been imprisoned by Order of his Commanding Officer, for such Commanding Officer or the Admiralty, or any such Commander in-Chief, to give an Order in Writing directing that the Prisoner be discharged; and it shall also be lawful for the Admiralty, or any such Commander in-Chief, and any Officer commanding any of Her Majesty's Ships, by Order in Writing, to direct that any such Prisoner be delivered over to Naval Custody for the Purpose of being brought before a Court-martial, either as a Witness, or for Trial or otherwise, and such Prisoner shall accordingly, on the Production of any such Order, be discharged, or be delivered over to such Custody.

79. The Time during which any Prisoner under Sentence of Imprisonment is detained in Naval Custody shall be reckoned as Imprisonment under his Sentence for whatever Purpose such Detention takes place; and the Governor, Gaoler, Keeper, or Superintendent who shall deliver over any such Prisoner shall again receive him from Naval Custody, so that he may undergo the Remainder of his Punishment.

80. If any Person imprisoned by virtue of this Act shall become insane, and a Certificate to that Effect shall be given by Two Physicians or Surgeons, the Admiralty shall, by Warrant, direct the Removal of such Person to such Lunatic Asylum or other proper Receptacle for Insane Persons in the United Kingdom as they may judge proper for the unexpired Term of his Imprisonment; and if any such Person shall in the same Manner be certified to be again of sound Mind, the Admiralty may issue a Warrant for his being removed to such Prison or Place of Confinement as may be deemed expedient, to undergo the Remainder of his Punishment, and every Gaoler or Keeper of any Prison, Gaol, or House of Correction shall receive him accordingly.

81. The Admiralty may set apart any Buildings or Vessels, or any Parts thereof, as Naval Prisons, and any Buildings or Vessels, or Parts of Buildings or Vessels, so set apart shall be deemed to be Naval Prisons within the Meaning of this Act, and all Powers and Authorities with respect to County Gaols or Houses of Correction which now are or which may hereafter be vested in any of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries of State shall, with respect to all such Naval Prisons, belong to the Admiralty; and it shall be lawful for the Admiralty from Time to Time to make, alter, and repeal Regulations for the Government and Superintendence of any such Naval Prison, and of the Officers and Servants thereof, and of Offenders confined therein, and from Time to Time to appoint Inspectors and all other necessary Officers and Servants for any such Naval Prison, and, as Occasion may arise, to remove the Inspectors, Officers, or Servants of any such Naval Prison; and the senior Officer at any Port or Place or on any Station where there may be any such Naval Prison, or such senior Officer and such other Person and Persons as the Admiralty may from Time to Time appoint, shall be a Visitor or Visitors of such. Prison; and every Inspector, Visitor, or Officer having the Charge or Command of any such Naval Prison respectively shall, subject to such Rules and Regulations as may from Time to Time be made as aforesaid, have and exercise, in respect of such Prison, and of the Officers and Servants thereof, and of the Prisoners confined therein, all the Powers and Authorities as well in respect of administering Oaths as otherwise which any Inspector, Visiting Justice, or Governor of a County Gaol or House of Correction may respectively exercise as such.

82. If any Person shall convey or cause to be conveyed into any such Naval Prison any Arms, Tools, or Instruments, or any Mask or other Disguise, to facilitate the Escape of any Prisoner, or by any Means whatever shall aid any Prisoner to escape or in an Attempt to escape from such Prison, whether an Escape be actually made or not, such Person shall be deemed guilty of Felony, and upon being convicted thereof shall be imprisoned, with or without Hard Labour, for any Term not exceeding Two Years, or suffer Penal Servitude for any Term not exceeding Fourteen Years; and if any Person shall bring or attempt to bring into such Prison, in contravention of the Rules, any spirituous or fermented Liquor, he shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Twenty Pounds and not less than Ten Pounds; and if any Person shall bring into such Prison, or to or for any Prisoner, without the Knowledge of the Officer having Charge or Command thereof, any Money, Clothing, Provisions, Tobacco, Letters, Papers, or other Articles not allowed by the Rules of the Prison to be in the Possession of a Prisoner, or shall throw into the said Prison any such Articles, or by Desire of any Prisoner, without the Sanction of the said Officer, shall carry out of the Prison any of the Articles aforesaid, he shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Five Pounds; and if any Person shall interrupt any Officer of such Prison in the Execution of his Duty, or shall aid or excite any Person to assault, resist, or interrupt any such Officer, he shall for every such Offence be liable to a Penalty not exceeding Five Pounds, or if the Offender be a Prisoner, he shall, upon Conviction thereof before Two Justices of the Peace, or not less than Three of the Visitors of the Prison, be liable to be sentenced for every such Offence to be imprisoned, either with or without Hard Labour, and with or without Solitary Confinement, for any Time not exceeding Six Calendar Months, in addition to so much of the Time for which he was originally sentenced as may be then unexpired, and every Penalty which may be incurred under this Section shall be recoverable in a summary Manner; and such two Justices or Three Visitors are hereby authorized to issue Warrants of Distress and Sale of the Offender's Goods, and every such Penalty shall be applied as the Admiralty shall direct, any Law, Statute, Charter, or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

83. Every Governor, Gaoler, and Keeper of any Prison, Gaol, or House of Correction, and every Officer having the Charge or Command of any Place, Ship, or Vessel for Imprisonment, who shall, without lawful Excuse, refuse or neglect to receive or confine, remove, discharge, or deliver up any Offender against the Provisions of this Act, or any of them, shall incur for every such Refusal or Neglect a Penalty not exceeding One hundred Pounds to be recovered in a summary Manner before Two Justices of the Peace; and such Two Justices are hereby authorized to issue Warrants of Distress and Sale of the Offender's Goods, and every such Penalty shall be applied as the Admiralty shall direct, any Law, Statute, Charter, or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

PART VI.

SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS.

84. This Act may be cited for all Purposes as The Naval Discipline Act, 1866.

85. Except as otherwise provided, this Act shall be in force within the United Kingdom; and as regards The United Kingdom the Enactments described in the Schedule to this Act shall be repealed from and after One Calendar Month from the passing hereof; and as regards elsewhere this Act shall be in force, and said Enactments shall be repealed, from and after Six Calendar Months from the passing hereof.

86. In the Construction of this Act, unless there be something in the Context or Subject Matter repugnant to or inconsistent with such Construction,

"Admiralty," or "the Lords of the Admiralty," shall mean the Lord High Admiral for the Time being of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and when there shall be no such Lord High Admiral in Office, any Two or more of the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom:

"Officer" shall mean an Officer belonging to One of Her Majesty's Ships, and shall include a subordinate and a Warrant Officer, but shall not extend to Petty and Non-commissioned Officers:

When the Words "Superior Officer" are used in this Act they shall be held to include all Officers, including Petty and Noncommissioned Officers.

87. Every Person in or belonging to Her Majesty's Navy, and borne on the Books of any One of Her Majesty's Ships in Commission, shall be subject to this Act; and all other Persons hereby made liable thereto shall be triable and punishable under the Provisions of this Act.

88. Her Majesty's Land Forces, when embarked on board any of Her Majesty's Ships, shall be subject to the Provisions of this Act to such Extent and under such Regulations as Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, by any Order or Orders in Council, shall at any Time or Times direct.

89. All other Persons ordered to be received or being Passengers on board any of Her Majesty's Ships shall be deemed to be Persons subject to this Act, under such Regulations as the Admiralty may from Time to Time direct.

90. With respect to hired Vessels in Her Majesty's Service in Time of War, being either armed or under the Command of an Officer in Her Majesty's Naval Service, the following Provisions shall take effect if in any Case the Admiralty think fit so to direct, and where such Direction is given the same shall be specified in the Ship's Articles:

(1.)Every Person borne on the Books of any such hired Vessel shall be subject to this Act:
(2.)Any Offence committed by any such Person, shall be tried and punished as the like Offence might be tried and punished if committed by any Person in or belonging to Her Majesty's Navy, and borne on the Books of any of Her Majesty's Ships in Commission:
(3.)Every such Offender who is to be tried by Court-martial shall be placed under all necessary Restraint until he can be tried by Court-martial:
(4.)On Application made to the Lords of the Admiralty, or to the Commander-in-Chief, or senior Officer of any of Her Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War abroad authorized to assemble and hold Courts-martial, the Lords of the Admiralty, Commander-in-Chief, or senior Officer (as the Case may be) shall assemble and hold a Court-martial for the Trial of the Offender:
(5.)The Officer commanding every such hired Vessel shall have the same Power in respect of all other Persons borne on the Books thereof, or for the Time being on board the same, as the Officer commanding One of Her Majesty's Ships has for the Time being in respect of the Officers and Crew thereof or other Persons on board the same:
(6).The Naval Commander-in-Chief and senior Naval Officer in Her Majesty's Service shall have the same Powers over the Officers and Crew of every such hired Vessel as they have for the Time being over the Officers and Crew of any of Her Majesty's Ships.

91. When any One of Her Majesty's Ships shall be wrecked or lost or destroyed, or taken by the Enemy, such Ship shall, for the Purposes of this Act, be deemed to remain in Commission until her Crew shall be regularly removed into some other of Her Majesty's Ships of War, or until a Court-martial shall have been held, pursuant to the Custom of the Navy in such Cases, to inquire into the Cause of the Wreck, Loss, Destruction, or Capture of the said Ship.

92. When no specific Charge shall be made against any Officer or Seaman or other Person in the Fleet for or in respect or in con-sequence of such Wreck, Loss, Destruction, or Capture, it shall be lawful to try all the Officers and Crew or all the surviving Officers and Crew of any such Ship, together, before One and the same Court, and to call upon all or any of them when upon their Trial to give Evidence on Oath or Affirmation before the Court touching any of the Matters then under Inquiry, but no Officer or Seaman or other Person shall be obliged to give any Evidence which may tend to criminate himself.

93. When deemed necessary by the Admiralty, or any Officer authorized to order Courts-martial, separate Courts-martial shall be held for the Trial of some One or more of such Officers and Crew for or in respect or in consequence of the Wreck, Loss, Destruction, or Capture of any such Ship.

94. For any Offence or Offences committed by any Officer or Seaman, or Officers and Seamen, after the Wreck, Loss, Destruction, or Capture of any such Ship, a separate Court-martial shall be held for the Trial of such Offender or Offenders.

95. When any Ship of Her Majesty shall be wrecked, lost, or otherwise destroyed, or taken by the Enemy, if it shall appear by the Sentence of a Court-martial that the Crew of such Ship did, in the Case of a Ship wrecked or lost, do their utmost to save her or get her off, and in the Case of a Ship taken by the Enemy did their utmost to defend themselves, and that they have, since the Wreck, Destruction, Loss, or Capture of such Ship, behaved themselves well, and been obedient to their Officers, then all the Pay of such Crews, or of such Portions of such Crews as have behaved them-selves well and been obedient to their Officers, shall be continued until the Time of their being discharged or removed into other Ships of Her Majesty, or dying.

96. If the Ship of any Officer ordered to command any Two or more of Her Majesty's Ships shall be wrecked, lost, or otherwise destroyed, such Officer shall continue in the Command of any Ship or Ships which at the Time of his Ship being wrecked, lost, or destroyed was or were under his Command, and it shall be lawful for such Officer to order the surviving Officers and Crew of the wrecked, lost, or destroyed Ship to join any other Ship under his Command, or to distribute them among the other Ships under his Command, if more than One, and such Officer shall, until he meets with some other Officer senior to himself, have the same Power and Authority in all respect as if his Ship had not been wrecked, lost, or destroyed.

97. It shall not be lawful for any Person to arrest any Petty Officer or Seaman, Non-commissioned Officer of Marines or Marine, belonging to any Ship of Her Majesty, by any Warrant, Process, or Writ issued in any Part of Her Majesty's Dominions for any Debt, unless the Debt was contracted at a Time when the Debtor did not belong to Her Majesty's Service, nor unless before the issuing of the Warrant, Process, or Writ the Plaintiff in the Suit or some Person on his Behalf has made an Affidavit in the Court out of which it issued that the Debt justly due to the Plaintiff (over and above all Costs) was contracted at a Time when the Debtor did not belong to Her Majesty's Service, nor unless a Memorandum of such Affidavit is marked on the Back of the Warrant, Process or Writ.

98. If any Petty Officer or Seaman, Non-commissioned Officer of Marines or Marine, is arrested in contravention of the Provisions of the last foregoing Section, the Court out of which the Warrant Process, or Writ issues, or any Judge thereof, may, on Complaint by the Party arrested, or by his Superior Officer, investigate the Case on Oath or otherwise, and if satisfied that the Arrest was made in contravention of the Provisions of the last foregoing Section, may make an Order for the immediate Discharge of the Party arrested, without Fee, and may award to the Complainant the Costs of his Complaint, to be taxed by the proper Officer, for the Recovery whereof he shall have the like Remedy as the Plaintiff in the Suit would have on Judgment being given in his Favour with Costs.

PART VII.

SAVING CLAUSE.

99. Any Person who has committed or may commit, before this Act comes into force, any Offence against The Naval Discipline Act, 1864, or the Act thereby repealed, or against any other Enactment repealed by this Act, for which such Person has not been tried before this Act comes into force, shall be tried and punished under this Act as if such Crime or Offence had been committed against the same, but he shall not suffer any greater Punishment than he was liable to under The Naval Discipline Act, 1864, or the Act thereby repealed, or such other Enactment (as the Case may be); and any Proceeding of any Court-martial, or any other Proceedings under The Naval Discipline Act, 1864, or such other Enactment which may be pending when this Act comes into force, shall be continued, and the Offender, if found guilty, shall be punished as if the Act or Enactment against which he offended had not been repealed.

100. Nothing in this Act shall take away, abridge, or control, further or otherwise than as expressly provided by this Act, any Right, Power, or Prerogative of Her Majesty the Queen in right of Her Crown, or in right of Her Office of Admiralty or any Right or Power of the Admiralty.

101. Nothing in this Act contained shall be deemed or taken to supersede or affect the Authority or Power of any Court or Tribunal of ordinary Civil or Criminal Jurisdiction, or any Officer thereof, in Her Majesty's Dominions, in respect of any Offence mentioned in this Act which may be punishable or cognizable by the Common or Statute Law, or to prevent any Person being proceeded against and punished in respect of any such Offence otherwise than under this Act.

The SCHEDULE.

Enactments repealed.

11 Geo. 4 and 1 Will. 4. c. 20. in partAn Act to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to the Pay of the Royal Navy. In part; namely Section Eighty.
10 & 11 Vict. c. 62. in partAn Act for the Establishment of Naval Prisons, and for the Prevention of Desertion from Her Majesty's Navy. In part; namely Section Eleven
27 & 28 Vict. c. 119.The Naval Discipline Act, 1864.
28 & 29 Vict. c. 115.The Naval Discipline Act Amendment Act, 1865.


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