40 A. D. 1 714. 



ly run on fhore near home, have been barbaroufly plundered, and their 

 cargoes embezzled; and when any part thereof has been faved, it has 

 been fwallowed up by exorbitant demands for falvage. It was now 

 enaded, that the flieriffi, juflices of the peace, and magiftrates of port- 

 towns, alfo conftables, tything-men, and officers of the cuiloms, fhall, 

 upon application made to them by the concerned, command the con- 

 ftables to fummon as many men as neceffiiry for alii {ling in the prefer- 

 vation of fuch fhip in diftrcfs, and the goods thereof; and if any queen's 

 fhip or merchant-fliip be riding at anchor near the wreck, their affifl:- 

 ance fliall be demanded; or, negledling fuch afliflance, the commander 

 oi fuch fhip (hall forfeit Lioo to the proprietors of the fhip in diftrefs. 

 Secondly, for the encouragement of fuch as fhall affifl, the colledors of 

 the cufloms, and the commander of fuch fhip, and all others aflifting, 

 fhall be paid a reafonable reward for the fame fi-om the proprietors. 

 And, in default of fuch reward, the faid fhip or goods, fo faved, fhall 

 remain in the cuftody of fuch officer of the cufloms until all charges 

 be paid, and fuch reafonable gratification given, or fecurity for it, of 

 which three neighbouring juftices fhall adjufl the quantum to be paid. 

 Goods, not claimed by the right owners in twelve months, fliall be fold, 

 and perifliable goods immediately ; and the value of both fhall be lodg- 

 ed in the exchequer till claimed by the right owners. Perfons entering 

 a diflrefTed fliip without proper leave, or obftrucling the faving of fhip 

 or goods, or, when faved, defacing the marks of fuch goods, fliall make 

 double fatisfadion, or be fent to an houfe of corredion for twelve 

 months : and fuch perfons, fo entering the fhip without leave, may be 

 legally repelled by force. Any perfon, carrying ofl" goods without leave, 

 fhall forfeit triple the value. Making holes in any fhip in fuch diflrefs, 

 or flealing the pump thereof, or otherwife contributing to its deflruc- 

 tion, fliall be felony without benefit of clerg)^ 



Provilb, for faving the right of the crown, or of patentees, or of lords 

 of manors, to any wreck, or to goods that fliall be flotfam, jetfam, or 

 lagan, (i. e. floating, thrown on land, or lying on the fhores,) within 

 their refpeclive jurifdidions. 



By an a6l of the 4th of King George, this flatute was made perpetual: 

 and for effedually preventing wilfully cafling away, burning, or other- 

 wife deflroying, fhips by the owners, maflers, or mariners, it was hereby 

 enacted, that perfons fo doing to the prejudice of underwriters of poli- 

 cies of infurance, or of merchants lading goods in fuch fhips, fhall fuffer 

 death. 



Yet, vi^e are truely forry to remark, that, notwithflanding this good 

 law, there have been frequently very barbarous infradions of it, more 

 efpecially on the farther fouth-weflern fhores of England, which feem 

 to want a flronger enforcemicnt : although this ad direds it to be read 



