HOVERING ACTS. 495 



in command shall be one, shall make proof npoii oath before the col- 

 lector, or other chief ofticer of the customs of the district, within the 

 limits of wliich such accident, necessity, or distress happened, or be- 

 fore the collector, or other chief officer of the collection-district within 

 the limits of which such vessel shall first afterward arrive, if the acci- 

 dent, necessity, or distress happened not within the limits of any dis- 

 trict, but Avithin four leagues of the coast of the United States. The 

 collector or other chief officer is hereby authorized and required to 

 administer such oath. 



Sec. 28G8. If any merchandise, so unladen from on board any such 

 vessel, shall be put or received into any other vessel, except in the case 

 of such accident, necessity, or distress, to be so notified and proved, the 

 master of any such vessel into which the merchandise shall be so put 

 and received, and every other person aiding and assisting therein, shall 

 be liable to a penalty of treble the value of the merchandise, and the 

 vessel in which they shall bo so put shall be forfeited. 



ST. HELENA ACT. 



[56 Geo. Ill, Cap. 23. 11th April, 181G.1 



AN ACT for regulatiug tbo Intercourse with the Islaud of St. Helena, during the 

 time NapoJeon Bnonaparle shall be detained there; and for indomuifying Persons 

 in the Cases therein luentioned. 



IV. And be it further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and 

 for the Governor, or in his Absence the Dei^uty Governor of the said 

 Island for the time being, or for the Commander for the time being of 

 His Majesty's Naval or Military Forces stationed off' or at the said Island, 

 respectively, and the Persons acting under his or their Orders and Com- 

 mands, respectively, by all necessary Ways and Means to hinder and 

 prevent any Ship, Vessel, or Boat, Ships or Vessels or Boats, (except 

 Ships and Vessels of and belonging to or chartered by the said United 

 Company of Merchants, and also duly licensed by the said Company for 

 that Purpose, as hereinbefore mentioned,) from repairing to, trading, or 

 touching at the said Island, or having any Communication with the 

 same; and to hinder and prevent any Person or Persons from landing 

 upon the said Island from such Ships, Vessels or Boats, and to seize and 

 detain all and every Person or Persons that shall land upon the said 

 Island from the same; and all such Ships, Vessels or Boats (except as 

 above exce]>ted) as shall repair to, or trade, or touch at the said Island, 

 or shall be found hovering within Eight Leagues of the Coast thereof, and 

 which shall or may belong, in the Whole or in Part, to any Subject or 

 Subjects of His Majesty, or to any Person or Persons owing Allegiance 

 to His Majesty, shall and are hereby declared to be forfeited to His 

 Majesty, and shall and may be seized and detained, and brought to 

 Uiif/land, and shall and may be prosecuted to Condemnation by His 

 Majesty's Attorney General, in any of His Majesty's Courts of Record at 

 Westminster., in such manner and form as any Shij), Vessel or Boat 

 may be seized, detained, or prosecuted for any Breach or Violation of 

 the Navigation or Revenue Laws of this Country; and the Offence for 

 which such Ship, Vessel or B )at shall be proceeded against vshall and 

 mavbe laid and charged to have been done and committed in the County of 

 MUldlesex; and if any Ship, Vessel or Boat not belonging, in the Wholo 



