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► Royal Navy ► Slave trade legislation ► Acts of Parliament

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5° & 6° Victoriae, cap. XCI

An Act to amend an Act of the Second and Third Years of her Majesty, for the Suppression of the Slave Trade.

[10th August 1842.]

2&3 Vict. c.73.	'WHEREAS Vessels engaged in the Slave Trade, together with the Goods, Wares, and Merchandizes laden therein, have been captured by Her Majesty's Cruisers, and condemned to the Crown, under or by virtue of the Provisions of the Act passed in the Second and Third Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty, intituled An Act for the Suppression of the Slave Trade: And whereas it is expedient that Authority be given to confer suitable Rewards upon Persons who have been or may be hereafter so employed in the Seizure and Detention of such Vessels as aforesaid: May it therefore please Your Majesty that it may be enacted;'
Proceeds of Vessels and Cargoes to be paid to such Person or Persons as Treasury may appoint to receive the same.	and 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, That the Proceeds to which Her Majesty is entitled of every Ship and Vessel, and of the Goods, Wares, Merchandize, and Effects on board of every Ship and Vessel, which may have been or may be hereafter condemned under or by virtue of the Provisions of the said Act passed in the Second and Third Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty, shall be paid to such Person or Persons as the Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland shall direct or appoint to receive the same.
Net Proceeds to be paid to Captors.	II. And be it enacted, That the net Proceeds of every Ship and Cargo so condemned, after deducting all necessary Expences, shall be paid to the Captors, to be distributed to and amongst the Commanders, Officers, and Crews of Her Majesty's Ships engaged in the Seizure thereof, in such Manner and Proportion, and to and amongst such Persons, as by any Order in Council or Proclamation in force at the Time of the Capture, or by any Order in Council or Proclamation of Her present Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, for that Purpose ordered and directed.
Distribution of Bounty and Prize Money.	III. And be it enacted, That all the Provisions in regard to Prize Money, and other Money in the Nature thereof, including all Rules and Regulations relating to the Delivery by Agents of Accounts of Prize and other Money as aforesaid, and to the Examination of such Accounts, and to the Distribution of Prize or other Money, and to the accounting for and paying over the unclaimed and forfeited Shares, and to the Per-centage payable in aid of the Greenwich Out-Pension Fund for the Benefit of the old and invalid Seamen who have served in the Royal Navy, which under any Act or Acts are now in force, and all Penalties and Forfeitures to which Agents and others are made subject by any such Acts, shall be and the same are hereby extended to all Bounties and Proceeds payable and distributable under the Provisions of the said recited Act of the Second and Third Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty, and of this Act, to the Commanders, Officers, and Crews of any of Her Majesty's Ships or Vessels.
Registrars of Vice Admiralty Courts to transmit every Six Months Returns of all Cases adjudged, with State of the Property.	IV. And be it enacted, That the Registrars of the several Vice-Admiralty Courts respectively shall, on the First Day of January and First Day of July in every Year, transmit to the said Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury a List or Return of all Cases which shall have been adjudged in the said Courts respectively under the said recited Act of the Second and Third Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty during the Six Months preceding, together with the Names of the Seizors and the Dates of the Seizures and Sentences respectively, together with an Account of the State of the Property, according to the Schedule marked (A.) to this Act annexed.
Parties claiming Benefit under this Act may resort to the Court of Admiralty.	V. And be it enacted, That any Party or Parties claiming any Benefit by way of Bounty or Share of the Proceeds, for any Seizure under the said Act of the Second and Third Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty, shall and may resort to the High Court of Admiralty for the Purpose of obtaining the Judgment of the said Court in that Behalf; and that it shall and may be lawful for the Judge of the said High Court of Admiralty to determine thereon, and also to hear and determine any Question of joint Capture which may arise upon any such Seizure, and enforce any Decree or Sentence of any Vice-Admiralty Court relating to any Seizure under the said Act.
Where Judgment against the Seizor, or the Seizure relinquished, the Treasury may direct Payment of Costs, &c.	VI. And be it enacted, That when any Seizure shall be made or Prosecution instituted as or for the Violation of any of the Provisions of the said recited Act, and Judgment shall be given against the Seizor or Prosecutor, or such Seizure shall be relinquished by him, it shall be lawful for the said Commissioners of Her Majesty's Treasury, if to their Discretion it shall seem meet, to direct Payment to be made of such Costs, Damages, and Expences as to the said Seizor or Prosecutor may be liable to pay in respect of such Seizure, or any proportionate Part thereof.
Not to limit or annul the Provisions of 2&3 Vict. c.73.	VII. Provided always, and be it enacted, That nothing in this Act contained shall limit or annul, or be deemed or construed to limit or annul, any of the Provisions of the said Act passed in the Second and Third Years of the Reign of Her present Majesty, or of any other Act or Acts referred to therein.

SCHEDULE (A.) referred to by this Act.

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