For Your Reference
Text of the 1807 Abolition Act
47°
Georgii III, Session 1, cap.
XXXVI
An Act for the
Abolition of the Slave Trade.
[25th
March 1807.]
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I. 'Whereas the
Two Houses of Parliament did, by their Resolutions of the Tenth and
Twenty-fourth days of June One Thousand eight hundred and six, severally
resolve, upon certain Grounds therein mentioned, that they would, with all
practicable Expedition, take effectual Measures for the Abolition of the
African Slave Trade in such Manner, and at such Period as might be
deemed advisable, And whereas it is fit upon all and each of the Grounds
mentioned in the said Resolutions, that the same should be forthwith abolished
and prohibited, and declared to be unlawful';
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From May 1, 1807,
the Slave trade shall be abolished.
Penalty for
trading in or purchasing Slaves, &c. 100l. for each Slave.
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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 from and after the
First Day of May One thousand eight hundred and seven, the African
Slave Trade, and all and all manner of dealing and trading in the Purchase,
Sale, Barter, or Transfer of Slaves, or of Persons intended to be sold,
transferred, used, or dealt with as Slaves, practiced or carried on, in, at, to
or from any Part of the Coast or Countries of Africa, shall be, and the
same is hereby utterly abolished, prohibited, and declared to be unlawful; and
also that all and all manner of dealing, either by way of Purchase, Sale,
Barter, or Transfer, or by means of any other Contract or Agreement whatever,
relating to any Slaves, or to any Persons intended to be used or dealt with as
Slaves, for the Purpose of such Slaves or Persons being removed or transported
either immediately or by Transshipment at Sea or
otherwise, directly or indirectly from Africa, or from any Island,
Country, Territory, or Place whatever, in the West Indies, or in any
other part of America, not being in the Dominion, Possession, or
Occupation of His Majesty, to any other Island, Country, Territory, or Place
what ever, is hereby in like Manner utterly abolished, prohibited, and declared
to be unlawful; and if any of His Majesty's Subjects, or any Person or Persons
resident within this United Kingdom, or any of the Islands, Colonies,
Dominions, or Territories thereto belonging, or in His Majesties Occupation or
Possession, shall from and after the Day aforesaid, by him or themselves, or by
his or their Factors or Agents or otherwise howsoever, deal or trade in,
purchase, sell, barter, or transfer, or contract or agree for the dealing or
trading in, purchasing, selling, bartering, or transferring of any Slave or
Slaves, or any Person or Persons intended to be sold, transferred, used, or
dealt with as a Slave or Slaves contrary to the Prohibitions of this Act, he or
they so offending shall forfeit and pay for every such Offence the Sum of One
hundred Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain for each and every Slave
so purchased, sold, bartered, or transferred, or contracted or agreed for as
aforesaid, the One Moiety thereof to the Use of His Majesty, His Heirs and
Successors, and the other Moiety to the Use of any Person who shall inform,
sue, and prosecute for the same.
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Vessels fitted
out in this Kingdom or the Colonies, &c. for carrying on the Slave Trade
shall be forfeited.
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II. And be it
further enacted, that from and after the said First Day of May One
thousand eight hundred and seven, it shall be unlawful for any of His Majesty's
Subjects, or any Person or Persons resident within this United Kingdom, or any
of the Islands, Colonies, Dominions, or Territories thereto belonging, or in
His Majesty's Possession or Occupation, to fit out, man, or navigate, or to
procure to be fitted out, manned, or navigated, or to be concerned in the
fitting out, manning, or navigating, or in the procuring to be fitted out,
manned, or navigated, any Ship or Vessel for the Purpose of assisting in, or
being employed in the carrying on of the African Slave Trade, or in any
other the Dealing, Trading, or Concerns hereby prohibited and declared to be
unlawful, and every Ship or Vessel which shall, from and after the Day
aforesaid, be fitted out, manned, navigated, used, or employed by any such
Subject or Subjects, Person or Persons, or on his or their Account, or by his
or their Assistance or Procurement for any of the Purposes aforesaid, and by
this Act prohibited, together with all her Boats, Guns, Tackle, Apparel, and
Furniture, shall become forfeited, and may and shall be seized and prosecuted
as herein-after is mentioned and provided.
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Persons
prohibited from carrying as Slaves Inhabitants of Africa, the West Indies, or
America, from one Place to another, or being concerned in receiving them
&c.
Vessels employed
in such Removal, &c. to be forfeited, as also the Property in the Slaves.
Owners, &c.
so employed to forfeit 100l. for each Slave.
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III. And be it
further enacted, That from and after the said First Day of May, One
thousand eight hundred and seven, it shall be unlawful for any of His Majesty's
Subjects, or any Person or persons, resident in this United Kingdom, or in any
of the Colonies, Territories, or Dominions thereunto belonging or in His
Majesty's Possession or Occupation, to carry away or remove, or knowingly and
willfully to procure, aid, or assist in the
carrying away or removing, as Slaves, or for the purpose of being sold,
transferred, used, or dealt with as Slaves, any of the Subjects or Inhabitants
of Africa, or any Island, Country, Territory, or Place in the West
Indies, or any part of America whatsoever, not being in the
Dominion, Possession, or Occupation of his Majesty, either immediately or by
Transshipment at Sea or otherwise, directly or
indirectly from Africa or from any such Island, Country, Territory, or
Place as aforesaid, to any other Island, Country, Territory, or Place whatever,
and that it shall also be unlawful for any of His Majesty's Subjects, or any
Person or Persons resident in this United Kingdom, or in any of the Colonies,
Territories, or Dominions thereunto belonging, or in His Majesty's Possession
or Occupation, knowingly and willfully to receive,
detain, or confine on board, or to be aiding, assisting, or concerned in the
receiving, detaining, or confining on board of any Ship or Vessel whatever, any
such Subject or Inhabitant as aforesaid, for the Purpose of his or her being so
carried away or removed as aforesaid, or of his or her being sold, transferred
used, or dealt with as a Slave, in any Place or Country whatever; and if any
Subject or Inhabitant, Subjects or Inhabitants of Africa, or of any
Island, Country, Territory, or Place in the West Indies or
America, not being in the Dominion, Possession, or Occupation of His
Majesty, shall from and after the Day aforesaid, be so unlawfully carried away
or removed, detained, confined, transshipped, or
received on board of any Ship or Vessel belonging in the Whole or in Part to,
or employed by any Subject of His Majesty, or Person residing in His Majesty's
Dominions or Colonies, or any Territory belonging to or in the Occupation of
His Majesty, for any of the unlawful Purposes aforesaid, contrary to the Force
and Effect, true Intent and Meaning of the Prohibitions in this Act contained,
every such Ship or Vessel in which any such Person or Persons shall be so
unlawfully carried away or removed, detained, confined, transshipped, or received on board for any of the said
unlawful Purposes, together with all her Boats, Guns, Tackle, Apparel, and
Furniture, shall be forfeited, and all Property or pretended Property in any
Slaves or Natives of Africa so unlawfully carried away or removed,
detained, confined, transshipped or received on
board, shall also be forfeited, and the same respectively shall and may be
seized and prosecuted as herein-after is mentioned and provided; and every
Subject of His Majesty, or Person resident within this United Kingdom,
or any of the Islands, Colonies, Dominions, or Territories thereto belonging,
or in His Majesty's Possession or Occupation who shall, as Owner, Part Owner,
Freighter or Shipper, Factor or Agent, Captain, Mate, Supercargo, or Surgeon,
so unlawfully carry away or remove, detain, confine, transship, or receive on board, or be aiding or assisting
in the carrying away, removing, detaining, confining, transshipping, or receiving on board, for any of the
unlawful Purposes aforesaid, any such Subject or Inhabitant of Africa,
or of any Island, Country, Territory, or Place, not being in the Dominion,
Possession, or Occupation of His Majesty, shall forfeit and pay for each and
every Slave or Person so unlawful carried away, removed, detained, confined,
transshipped, or received on board, the Sum of One
hundred Pounds of lawful Money of Great Britain, One Moiety thereof to
the Use of His Majesty, and the other Moiety to the Use of any Person who shall
inform, sue, and prosecute for the same.
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Subjects of
Africa, &c. unlawfully carried away and imported into any British Colony,
&c. as Slaves, shall be forfeited to His Majesty.
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IV. And be it
further enacted, That if any Subject or Inhabitant, Subjects or Inhabitants of
Africa, or of any Island, Country, Territory, or Place, not being in the
Dominion, Possession, or Occupation of His Majesty, who shall, at any Time from
and after the Day aforesaid, have been unlawfully carried away or removed from
Africa, or from any Island, Country, Territory, or Place, in the West
Indies or America, not being in the Dominion, Possession, or
Occupation of His Majesty, contrary to any of the Prohibitions or Provisions in
this Act contained, shall be imported or brought into any Island, Colony,
Plantation, or Territory, in the Dominion, Possession, or Occupation of His
Majesty, and there sold or disposed of as a Slave or Slaves, or placed,
detained, or kept in a State of Slavery, such Subject or Inhabitant, Subjects
or Inhabitants, so unlawfully carried away, or removed and imported, shall and
may be seized and prosecuted, as forfeited to His Majesty, by such Person or
Persons, in such Courts, and in such Manner and Form, as any Goods or
Merchandize unlawfully imported into the same Island, Colony, Plantation, or
Territory, may now be seized and prosecuted therein, by virtue of any Act or
Acts of Parliament now in force for regulating the Navigation and Trade of his
Majesty's Colonies and Plantations, and shall and may, after his or their
Condemnation, be disposed of in Manner herein-after mentioned and provided.
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Insurances on
Transactions concerning the Slave Trade not lawful. Penalty 100l. and
treble the Amount of the Premium.
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V. And be it
further enacted, That from and after the said First Day of May One
Thousand eight hundred and seven, all Insurances whatsoever to be effected upon
or in respect to any of the trading, dealing, carrying, removing,
transshipping, or other Transactions by this Act
prohibited, shall be also prohibited and declared to be unlawful; and if any of
His Majesty's Subject's, or any Person or Persons resident within this United
Kingdom, or within any of the Islands, Colonies, Dominions, or Territories
thereunto belonging, or in His Majesty's Possession or Occupation, shall
knowingly and willfully subscribe, effect, or make,
or cause or procure to be subscribed, effected, or made, any such unlawful
Insurances or Insurance, he or they shall forfeit and pay for every such
Offence the Sum of One hundred Pounds for every such Insurance, and also Treble
the Amount paid or agreed to be paid as the Premium of any such Insurance, the
One Moiety thereof to the Use of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and the
other Moiety to the Use of any Person who shall inform, sue, and prosecute for
the same.
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Act shall not
affect the trading in Slaves, exported from Africa in Vessels cleared out from
Great britain on or before May 1, 1807, and landed
in the West Indies by March 1, 1808, &c.
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VI. Provided
always, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be deemed or construed
to extend, to prohibit or render unlawful the dealing or trading in the
Purchase, Sale, Barter, or Transfer, or the carrying away or removing for the
Purpose of being sold, transferred, used, or dealt with as Slaves, or the
detaining or confining for the Purpose of being so carried away or removed, of
any Slaves which shall be exported, carried, or removed from Africa, in
any Ship or Vessel which, on or before the said First Day of May One
thousand eight hundred and seven, shall have been lawfully cleared out from
Great Britain according to the Law now in force for regulating the
carrying of Slaves from Africa, or to prohibit or render unlawful the
manning or navigating any such Ship or Vessel, or to make void any Insurance
thereon, so as the Slaves to be carried therein shall be finally landed in the
West Indies on or before the First Day of March One thousand
eight hundred and eight, unless prevented by Capture, the Loss of the Vessel,
by the Appearance of an Enemy upon the Coast, or other unavoidable Necessity,
the Proof whereof shall lie upon the Party charged; any Thing herein-before
contained to the contrary notwithstanding.
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Slaves taken as
Prize of War, or seized as Forfeitures, shall be condemned as prize, or
forfeited to the King, for the Purpose of putting an End to their Slavery, and
may be enlisted &c.
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VII. 'And whereas
it may happen, That during the present or future Wars, Ships or Vessels may be
seized or detained as Prize, on board whereof Slaves or Natives of
Africa, carried and detained as Slaves, being the Property of His
Majesty's Enemies, or otherwise liable to Condemnation as Prize of War, may be
taken or found, and it is necessary to direct in what manner such Slaves or
Natives of Africa shall be hereafter treated and disposed of: And
whereas it is also necessary to direct and provide for the Treatment and
Disposal of any Slaves or Natives of Africa carried, removed, treated or
dealt with as Slaves, who shall be unlawfully carried away or removed contrary
to the Prohibitions aforesaid, or any of them, and shall be afterwards found on
board any Ship or Vessel liable to Seizure under this Act, or any other Act of
Parliament made for restraining or prohibiting the African Slave Trade,
or shall be elsewhere lawfully seized as forfeited under this or any other such
Act of Parliament as aforesaid; and it is expedient to encourage the Captors,
Seizors, and Prosecutors thereof;' Be it therefore
further enacted, That all Slaves and all Natives of Africa, treated,
dealt with, carried, kept, or detained as Slaves which shall at any Time from
and after the said First Day of May next be seized or taken as Prize of
War, or liable to Forfeiture, under this or any other Act of Parliament made
for restraining or prohibiting the African Slave Trade, shall and may,
for the Purposes only of Seizure, Prosecution, and Condemnation as Prize or as
Forfeitures, be considered, treated, taken, and adjudged as Slaves and Property
in the same manner as Negro Slaves have been heretofore considered, treated,
taken, and adjudged, when seized as Prize of War, or as forfeited for any
Offence against the Laws of Trade and Navigation respectively, but the same
shall be condemned as Prize of War, or as forfeited to the sole Use of His
Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, for the Purpose only of divesting and
bearing all other Property, Right, Title, or Interest whatever, which before
existed, or might afterwards be set up or claimed in or to such Slaves or
Natives of Africa so seized, prosecuted, and condemned; and the same
nevertheless shall in no case be liable to be sold, disposed of, treated or
dealt with as Slaves, by or on the Part of His Majesty, His Heirs or
Successors, or by or on the Part of any Person or Persons claiming or to claim
from, by, or under His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, or under or by force
of any such Sentence or Condemnation: Provided always, that it shall be lawful
for His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and such Officers, Civil or
Military, as shall, by any general or special Order of the King in Council, be
from Time to Time appointed and empowered to receive, protect, and provide for
such Natives of Africa as shall be so condemned, either to enter and
enlist the same, or any of them, into His Majesty's Land or Sea Service, as
Soldiers, Seamen, or Marines, or to bind the same, or any of them, whether of
full Age or not, as Apprentices, for any Term not exceeding Fourteen Years, to
such Person or Persons, in such Place or Places, and upon such Terms and
Conditions, and subject to such Regulations, as to His Majesty shall seem meet,
and shall by any general of special Order of His Majesty in Council be in that
Behalf directed and appointed; and any Indenture of Apprenticeship duly made
and executed, by any Person or Person to be for the Purpose appointed by any
such Order in Council, for any Term not exceeding Fourteen Years, shall be of
the same Force and Effect as if the party thereby bound as an Apprentice had
himself or herself, when of full Age upon good Consideration, duly executed the
same; and every such Native of Africa who shall be so enlisted or
entered as aforesaid into any of His Majesty's Land or Sea Forces as a Soldier,
Seaman, or Marine, shall be considered, treated, and dealt with in all Respects
as if he had voluntarily so enlisted or entered himself.
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Certain Bounties
shall be paid for such Slaves to the Captors as Head Money is paid under 45
G.3. c.72. § 5.
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VIII. Provided
also, and be it further enacted, That where any Slaves or Natives of
Africa, taken as Prize of War by any of His Majesty's Ships of War, or
Privateers duly commissioned, shall be finally condemned as such to His
Majesty's Use as aforesaid, there shall be paid to the Captors thereof by the
Treasurer of His Majesty's Navy, in like Manner as the Bounty called Head Money
is now paid by virtue of an Act of Parliament, made in the Forty-fifth Year of
His Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for the Encouragement of Seamen, and
for the better and more effectually manning His Majesty's Navy during the
present War, such Bounty as His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, shall
have directed by any Order in Council, so as the same shall not exceed the Sum
of Forty Pounds lawful Money of Great Britain for every Man, or Thirty
Pounds of like Money for every Woman, or Ten Pounds of like Money for every
Child or Person not above Fourteen Years old, that shall be so taken and
condemned, and shall be delivered over in good Health to the proper Officer or
Officers, Civil or Military, so appointed as aforesaid to receive, protect, and
provide for the same; which Bounties shall be divided amongst the Officers,
Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers on Board His Majesty's Ships of War, or hired
armed Ships, in Manner, Form, and Proportion, as by His Majesty's Proclamation
for granting the Distribution of Prizes already issued, or to be issued for the
Purpose is or shall be directed and appointed, and amongst the Owners,
Officers, and Seamen of any private Ship or Vessel of War, in such Manner and
Proportion as, by an Agreement in Writing that they shall have entered into for
that Purpose, shall be directed.
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Certificates to
entitle to Bounty.
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IX. Provided
always, and be it further enacted, That in order to entitle the Captors to
receive the said Bounty Money, the Numbers of Men, Women, and Children, so
taken, condemned, and delivered over, shall be proved to the Commissioners of
His Majesty's Navy, by producing, instead of the Oaths and Certificates
prescribed by the said Act as to Head Money, a Copy, duly certified, of the
Sentence or Decree of Condemnation, whereby the Numbers of Men, Women, and
Children, so taken and condemned, shall appear to have been distinctly proved;
and also, by producing a Certificate under the Hand of the said Officer or
Officers, Military or Civil, so appointed as aforesaid, and to whom the same
shall have been delivered, acknowledging that he or they hath or have received
the same, to be disposed of according to His Majesty's Instructions and
Regulations as aforesaid.
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Claim to Bounty
shall be determined by the Judge of Admiralty.
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X. Provided also,
and be it further enacted, That in any Cases in which Doubts shall arise
whether the party or parties claiming such Bounty Money is or are entitled
thereto, the same shall be summarily determined by the Judge of the High Court
of Admiralty, or by the Judge of any Court of Admiralty in which the Prize
shall have been adjudged, subject nevertheless to an Appeal to the Lord
Commissioners of Appeals in Prize Causes.
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On Condemnation
of Forfeitures of Slaves for Offences against this Act, these shall be paid to
the Prosecutor 13l. for a Man, 10l. for a Woman, and 3l.
for a Child &c.
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XI. Provided
also, and be it further enacted, That on the Condemnation to the Use of his
Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, in Manner aforesaid, of any Slaves or
Natives of Africa, seized and prosecuted as forfeited for any Offence
against this Act, or any other Act of Parliament made for the restraining or
prohibiting the African Slave Trade (except in the Case of Seizures made
at Sea by the Commanders or Officers of His Majesty's Ships or Vessels or War)
there shall be paid to and to the Use of the Person who shall have sued,
informed, and prosecuted the same to Condemnation, the Sums of Thirteen Pounds
lawful Money aforesaid for every Man, of Ten Pounds like Money for every Woman,
and of Three Pounds like Money for every Child or person under the Age of
Fourteen Years, that shall be so condemned and delivered over in good Health to
the said Civil or Military Officer so to be appointed to receive, protect, and
provide for the same, and also the like Sums to and to the Use of the Governor
or Commander in Chief of any Colony or Plantation wherein such Seizure shall
have been made; but in Cases of any such Seizures made at Sea by the Commanders
or Officers of His Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, for Forfeiture under this
Act, or any other Act of Parliament made for the restraining or prohibiting the
African Slave Trade, there shall be paid to the Commander of Officer who
shall so seize, inform, and prosecute for every man so condemned and delivered
over, the Sum of Twenty Pounds like Money, for every Woman the Sum of Fifteen
Pounds like Money, and for every Child or person under the Age of Fourteen
Years the Sum of Five Pounds like Money, subject nevertheless to such
Distribution of the said Bounties or Rewards for the said Seizures made at Sea
as His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, shall think fit to order and direct
by any other Order of Council made for that Purpose; for all which Payments so
to be made as Bounties or Rewards upon Seizures and Prosecutions for Offences
against this Act, or any other Act of Parliament made for restraining the
African Slave Trade, the Officer or Officers, Civil or Military, so to
be appointed as aforesaid to receive, protect, and provide for such Slaves or
Natives of Africa so to be condemned and delivered over, shall, after
the Condemnation and Receipt thereof as aforesaid, grant Certificates in favour
of the Governor and Party seizing, informing, and prosecuting as aforesaid
respectively, or the latter alone (as the Case may be) addressed to the Lords
Commissioners of his Majesty's Treasury; who, upon the Production to them of
any such Certificate, and of an authentic Copy, duly certified, of the Sentence
of Condemnation of the said Slaves or Africans to His Majesty's Use as
aforesaid, and also of a Receipt under the Hand of such Officer or Officers so
appointed as aforesaid, specifying that such Slaves or Africans have by
him or them been received in good Health as aforesaid, shall direct Payment to
be made from and out of the Consolidated Fund of Great Britain of the
Amount of the Monies specified in such Certificate, to the lawful Holders of
the same, or the Persons entitled to the Benefit thereof respectively.
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Counterfeiting
Certificates Felony without Clergy.
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XII. And be it
further enacted, That if any Person shall willfully
and fraudulently forge or counterfeit any such Certificate, Copy of Sentence of
Condemnation, or Receipt as aforesaid, or any Part thereof, or shall knowingly
and willfully utter or publish the same, knowing it
to he forged or counterfeited, with Intent to defraud His Majesty, His Heirs
and Successors, or any other Person or Persons whatever, the Party so offending
shall, on Conviction, suffer Death as in Cases of Felony, without Benefit of
Clergy.
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Recovery and
Application of Penalties and Forfeitures.
4 G.3.
C15.
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XIII. And be it
further enacted, That the several Pecuniary Penalties or Forfeitures imposed
and inflicted by this Act, shall and may be sued for, prosecuted, and recovered
in any Court of Record in Great Britain, or in any Court of Record or
Vice Admiralty in any Part of His Majesty's Dominions wherein the Offence was
committed, or where the Offender may be found after the Commission of such
Offence; and that in all Cases of Seizure of any Ships, Vessels, Slaves or
pretended Slaves, Goods or Effects, for any Forfeiture under this Act, the same
shall and may respectively be sued for; prosecuted and recovered in any Court
of Record in Great Britain or in any Court of Record or Vice Admiralty
in any Part of His Majesty's Dominions in or nearest to which such Seizures may
be made, or to which such Ships or Vessels, Slaves or pretended Slaves, Goods
or Effects (if seized at Sea or without the Limits of any British
Jurisdiction) may most conveniently be carried for Trial, and all the said
Penalties and Forfeitures, whether pecuniary or specific (unless where it is
expressly otherwise provided for by this Act) shall go and belong to such
Person and Persons in such Shares and Proportions, and shall and may be sued
for and prosecuted, tried, recovered, distributed, and applied in such and the
like Manner and by the same Ways and Means, and subject to the same Rules and
Directions, as any Penalties or Forfeitures incurred in Great Britain,
and in the British Colonies or Plantations in America
respectively, by force of any Act of Parliament relating to the Trade and
Revenues of the said British Colonies or Plantations in America,
now go and belong to, and may now be sued for, prosecuted, tried,
recovered, distributed and applied respectively in Great Britain or in
the said Colonies or Plantations respectively, under and by virtue of a certain
Act of Parliament made in the Fourth Year of His present Majesty, intituled:
An Act for granting certain Duties in the British Colonies and
Plantations in America, for continuing, amending, and making perpetual
an Act passed in the Sixth Year of the Reign of His late Majesty, King
George the Second, intituled: 'an Act for the better securing and
encouraging the Trade of His Majesty's Sugar Colonies in America; for
applying the Produce of such Duties to arise by virtue of the said Act towards
defraying the Expences of defending, protecting,
and securing the said Colonies and Plantations; for explaining an Act made in
the Twenty-fifth Year of the Reign of King Charles the Second, intituled:
"An Act for the Encouragement of the Greenland and Eastland
Trades, and for the better securing the Plantation trade, and for altering and
disallowing several Drawbacks on Exports from this Kingdom, and more
effectively preventing the clandestine Conveyance of Goods to and from the said
Colonies and Plantations, and improving and securing the Trade between the same
and Great Britain."'
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Seizures may be
made by Officers of Customs or Excise, or Navy.
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XIV. And be it
further enacted, That all Ships and Vessels, Slaves or Natives of Africa,
carried, conveyed, or dealt with as Slaves, and all other Goods and Effects
that shall or may become forfeited for any Offence committed against this Act,
shall and may be seized by any Officer of His Majesty's Customs or Excise, or
by the Commanders or Officers of any of His Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War,
who, in making and prosecuting any such Seizures, shall have the Benefit of all
the Provisions made by the said Act of the Fourth Year of His present Majesty,
or any other Act of Parliament made for the Protection of Officers seizing and
prosecuting for any Offence against the said Act, or any other Act of
Parliament relating to the Trade and Revenues of the British Colonies or
Plantations in America.
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Offences
triable as if committed in Middlesex.
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XV. And be it
further enacted, That all Offences committed against this Act may be inquired
of, tried, determined, and dealt with as Misdemeanors
, as if the same had been respectively committed within the Body of the
County of Middlesex.
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His Majesty may
make Regulations for Disposal of Negroes after their Apprenticeship.
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XVI. Provided
also, and be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful for his
Majesty in Council, from Time to Time to make such Orders and Regulations for
the future Disposal and Support of such Negroes as shall have been bound
Apprentices under this Act, after the term of their Apprenticeship shall have
expired, as to His Majesty shall seem meet, and as may prevent such Negroes
from becoming at any Time chargeable upon the Island in which they shall have
been so bound Apprentices as aforesaid.
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Negroes enlisted
as Soldiers not entitled to Pensions, &c.
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XVII. Provided
always, and be it further enacted, That none of the Provisions of any Act as to
enlisting for any limited Period of Service, or as to any Rules or Regulations
for the granting any Pensions or Allowances to any Soldiers discharged after
certain Periods of Service, shall extend, or be deemed or construed in any
Manner to extend, to any Negroes so enlisting and serving in any of His
Majesty's Forces.
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General Issue.
Treble Costs.
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XVIII. And be it
further enacted, That if any Action or Suit shall be commenced either in
Great Britain or elsewhere, against any Person or Persons for any Thing
done in pursuance of this Act, the Defendant or Defendants in such Action or
Suit may plead the General Issue, and give this Act and the Special Matter in
Evidence at any Trial to be had thereupon, and that the same was done in
pursuance and by the Authority of this Act; and if it shall appear so to have
been done, the Jury shall find for the Defendant or Defendants; and if the
Plaintiff shall be nonsuited or discontinue his
Action after the Defendant or Defendants shall have appeared, or if Judgement
shall be given upon any Verdict or Demurrer against the Plaintiff, the
Defendant or Defendants shall recover Treble Costs and have the like Remedy for
the same, as Defendants have in other Cases by Law.
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