A. D. 1749* Anno vicefimo fccundo GeorgiiII. C. 33. 157 CAP. xxxiir. An A6c for amending, explaining and reducing into one Act of Parliament, the Laws relating to the Government of his Majefcy's Ships, VefTels and Forces by Sea. ' "^T TFIER E A S the feveral Laws relating to the Sea Service, made at clifFerent Times, and on. diffe- Exiev^itJ h ' VV rent Occafions, have been found by Experience not to be fo full, fo clear, fo expedient or conilft- iijC^.i, c.i-j, ' ent with each other as they ought to be;' For amending and explaining the faid Laws, and for reducing them into one uniform Aft of Parliam.ent; Be it enacted by the King's moft Excellent IVIajefty, by nnd v;ith the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Tem.poral, and Commons, in this prei'ent Parlia- ment aflembled, and by the Authority of the fame. That from and after the tv^enty-fifth Day oi December 13 Car, i, ;!. i. one thoufand feven hundred and forty-nine, an Acl: pafi'ed in the thirteenth Year of the Reign of King '^^ 9- Charles the Second, intituled, jin A£i for ejlablijl^ing Articles and Orders for the regulating and better Go- vernment of bis Majcflys Navies, Ships of War and Forces by Sea ; and alfo fo much of an Act palTed in the 2 W. & M, f!-. fecond Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, An ASt concerning the Comniif- 3- <;■ 2- §■ 4- ' ftners of the Admiralty ; as direfts the Form of an Oath to be taken by every Officer prefent, upon all Tri- als of Offenders by Courts-martial, to be held by virtue of any Commiffion to be granted by the I^ord High Admiral, or the Commiffioners for executing the Oflice of Lord High Admiral ; and alfo lb much of an Aft ^ Geo. i. c. 15, ' jefty's Navies, Ships of War and Forces by Sea;' as relates to the Trial and Punifliment of Perfons who' fliall commit any of the Crimes or Offences mentioned in the faid Articles upon the Shore, in anj' Foreign Part or Parts; and alio fo much of an Aft pafTed in the eighth Year of the Reign of King George the S.Geo, i. c. 24, firft, intituled. An A£i for the more effectual fupprejfmg of Piracy as direfts the Punifhment to be inflifted by a Court-martial upon any Captain, Commander or other Officer of any of his Majefty's Ships or Vef- fels of War, who (hall receive on Board, or permit to be received on Board, any Goods or Merchandizes whatfoever, in order to trade or merchandize with the fame (except the Goods and Merchandizes therein excepted) and alfo an Aft pafled in the eighteenth Year of the Reign of his prefent Majefly, intituled, Aln A£i for the regulating and better Govern?jient of his Maje/lys Navies, Ships of War and Forces by Sea ; and for iSC-eo. 2 c. 35. regulating the Proceedings upon Courts-7narfial in the Sea Service ; and alfo an Aft pafFed in the twenty-firfi ^iGeo.z. c. 13. Year of the Reign of his prefent Majefty, intituled,' An Ad for further regulating the Proceedings upon Courts-martial in the Sea Service; and for extending the Difeipli^u of the Navy to the Crews of his Ivlaj eft fs Ships ivrcckcd, lo/l or taketi ; and for continuing to them their Wages upon certain Conditions, fhall be, and the fame are hereby repealed to all Intents and Purpofes whatfoever. reptalsd. IL And for the regulating and better Government of his Majefly's Navies, Ships of War and Forces by Sea, whereon, under the good Providence of God, the Wealth, Safety and Strength of this Kingdom chiefly depend ; Be it enafted by the King's mofi: Excellent Majefty, by and with the Advice and Confent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this prefent Parliament aflembled, and by the Au- thority of the fame. That from and after the twenty-fifth Day of Z)^fi'OT^^r one thoufand feven hundred Comreencfment and forty-nine, the Articles and Orders herein after following, as well in Time of Peace as in Time of °'"^s Articles, War, fhall be duly oblerved and put in Execution, in Manner herein after-mentioned. ' I. All Commanders, Captains and Officers, in or belonging to any of his Majefty's Ships or VefTels of P-'blick Wor- "War, ftiall caufe the publick Worfcip of Almighty God, according to the Liturgy of the Church ofEng- ftiptobeper- /■jw^/eftabliflied by Law, to be folemnly, orderly and reverently performed in their refpeftive Ships ; and ^°^"^'^- ftall take care that Prayers and Preaching, by the Chaplains in Holy Orders of the refpeftive Ships, be periormed^diiigently ; and that the Lord's Day be obferved according to Law. ' z. All Flag Officers, and all Perfons in or belonging to his. Majefty's Ships or Veffels of War, being Penally of pro- ' guilty ot profane Oaths, Curfmgs, Execrations, Dxunkennefs, Uncleannefs or other fcandalous Aftions, '"^ne Swearing, in Derogation of God's Honour, and Corruption of good Manners, fhall incur fuch Punifhment as a '^'^• Court-martial fhall think tit to impofe, and as the Nature and Degree of their Offence fnall deferve. ' 3. If any Officer, Mariner, t-"oldier or other Perfon of the Fleet, fliall gi'e, hold or entertain Intelli- Pcn.ilty of hoM- gcnce to or with any Enemy or Rebel, without Leave from the King's Majefty, or the Lord High Admi- '"S '"^gai -or- • -j, or the Comrnifiioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral, Commander in Chief, or his ['fP"'"*^" Commanding Officer, every fuch Perfon fo offending, and being thereof convifted by the Sentence of a " ^" ^'-cmyj Court-martial, lliall be puniilied with Death. 4. If f.ny Letter or Mcftage from any Enemy or Rebel, be conveyed to any Officer, Mariner or Sol- ffnotarquaint. dler, or other in the Fleet, and the faid Officer, Mariner, Soldier or other as aforcfaid, fliall not, within ^"'?'°'= ".P=™>' ■ twelve Hours, having Opportunity fo to do, acquaint his fupcrior Officer, or the Officer commanding in ^j™'^'"^|"' °"S' Chief, with it; or ii any fuperior Officer being acquainted therewith, fhall not in convenient Time re- EnEn-y. '""" veal the fame to the Commander in Chief of the Squadron, every fuch Perfon fo offending, and being ' convifted thereof by the Sentence of the Court-martiaL fhall be pu'nifhed with Death, or fuch other Pu- nifliment as the Nature and Degree of the Offence fhall deferve, and the Court-martial fhall impofe. ' i;. All Spies, and all Perfons whatfoever, who fhall ^ome or be, found, in the Nature of Spies, to bring of Spies, and of or deliver any feJucing Letters or MefTages from any Enemy or Rebel, or endeavo^^to corrupt any Cap- dciivcing fedu- ' tain cingLetters, £:c.
