► Royal Navy ► Slave trade legislation ► Acts of Parliament
5° Georgii IV, cap. XVII
An Act for the more effectual Suppression of the African Slave Trade
[31st March 1824.]
| Dealing in Slaves, on the High Seas, &c. deemed Piracy. Exceptions. Death. |
'WHEREAS it is expedient to make further Provision for the Suppression of the African Slave Trade, by enacting that Persons committing the Offences hereinafter specified shall be deemed and adjudged to be guilty of Piracy;' Be it therefore enacted by the King'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 if any Subject or Subjects of His Majesty, or any Person or Persons residing or being within any of the Dominions, Forts, Settlements, Factories or Territories, now or hereafter belonging to His Majesty, or being in His Majesty's Occupation or Possession, or under the Government of the United Company of Merchants of England trading to the East Indies, shall, except in such Cases as are in and by the Laws now in force permitted, after the First Day of January One thousand eight hundred and twenty five, upon the High Seas, or in any Haven, River, Creek or Place, where the Admiral has Jurisdiction, knowingly and wilfully carry away, convey or remove, or aid or assist in carrying away, conveying or removing any Person or Persons as a Slave or Slaves, or for the Purpose of his, her or their being imported or brought as a Slave or Slaves into any Island, Colony, Country, Territory or Place whatsoever, or for the Purpose of his, her or their being sold, transferred, used or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; or shall, after the said First Day of January One thousand eight hundred and twenty five, except in such Cases as are in and by the Law now in force permitted, upon the High Seas, or within the Jurisdiction aforesaid, knowingly and wilfully ship, embark, receive, detain or confine, or assist in shipping, embarking, receiving, detaining or confining on board any Ship, Vessel or Boat, any Person or Persons, for the Purpose of his, her or their being carried away, conveyed or removed as a Slave or Slaves, or for the Purpose of his, her or their being imported or brought as a Slave or Slaves into any Island, Colony, Country, Territory or Place whatsoever, or for the Purpose of his, her or their being sold, transferred, used or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves, then and in every such Case the Person or Persons so offending shall be deemed and adjudged guilty of Piracy, Felony and Robbery, and being convicted thereof shall suffer Death without Benefit of Clergy, and Loss of Lands, Goods and Chattels, as Pirates, Felons and Robbers upon the Seas ought to suffer. |
| Proviso for Acts relating to Slave Trade, and for 51 G.3. c.23. |
II. Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted and declared, That nothing in this Act contained making and declaring the aforesaid Offences to be Piracies, Felonies and Robberies, shall be construed to repeal, annul or alter the Provisions and Enactments in any other Act or Acts contained, imposing Forfeitures and Penalties, or either of them, upon the same Offences, or to repeal, annul or alter the Remedies given for the Recovery thereof; but that the said Provisions and Remedies shall in all respects be deemed and taken to be and remain in full Force, as they existed immediately before the passing of this Act: Provided also, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to repeal, annul or alter any of the Enactments or Provisions contained in an Act passed in the Fifty first Year of His late Majesty intituled An Act for rendering more effectual an Act made in the Forty seventh Year of His Majesty Reign, intituled 'An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade;' except so far as such Enactments Provisions are altered or varied by this Act; but that the said Act shall in all other respects remain in full force and effect. |
| Mode of trying Offences. 28 H.8. c.15. 46 G.3. c.54. |
III. And be it further enacted and declared, That all and every the Offences hereinbefore specified shall and may be enquired of, either according to the ordinary Course of Law, and the Provisions of a Act passed in the Twenty eighth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled An Act for Pirates, or according to the Provisions of an Act passed in the Forty sixth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty King George the Third, intituled An Act for the more speedy Trial of Offences committed in distant Parts upon the High Seas. |
| Act may be altered, &c. this Session. | IV. And be it further enacted, That this Act may be amended, altered or repealed by any Act or Acts to be passed in this present Session of Parliament. |
Top↑
 |