44 POLYNESIAN RESEARCHES. 
for the more effectual punishment of Murders and 
Manslaughters committed in places not within 
His Majesty’s dominions.” As it is a document 
important to the peace and security of the inhabit¬ 
ants of Polynesia, I deem no apology necessary, 
for inserting it nearly entire. In the preamble of 
the bill, it is stated— 
“ That grievous murders and manslaughters had been 
committed in the South Pacific Ocean, as well on the 
high seas, as on land, in the islands of New Zealand and 
Otaheite, and in other islands, countries, and places, not 
within His Majesty’s dominions, by the masters and crews 
of British ships, and other persons, who have, for the 
most part, deserted from, or left their ships, and have 
continued to live and reside amongst the inhabitants of 
these islands; whereby great violence has been done, 
and a general scandal and prejudice raised against the 
name and character of British and other European tra¬ 
ders: And whereas such crimes and offences do escape 
unpunished, by reason of the difficulty of bringing to trial 
the persons guilty thereof: For remedy whereof, be it 
enacted by the King’s most excellent Majesty, by and with 
the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Tempo¬ 
ral, and the Commons, in this present parliament assem¬ 
bled, and by the authority of the same, that from and 
after the passing of this Act, all murders and manslaugh¬ 
ters committed, or that shall be committed, in the said 
islands of New Zealand and Otaheite, or within any other 
islands, countries, or places, not within His Majesty’s 
dominions, nor subject to any European state or power, 
nor within the territory of the United States of America, 
by the master or crew of any British ship, or vessel, or 
any of them, or by any person sailing in, or belonging 
thereto; or that shall have sailed in, or belonged to, 
and have quitted any British ship, or vessel, to live in any 
of the said islands, countries, or places, or either of them, 
or that shall be there living; shall and may be tried, and 
adjudged, and punished, in any of His Majesty’s islands, 
plantations, colonies, dominions, forts, or factories, under 
or by virtue of the King’s commission, or commissions, 
which shall have been, or may hereafter be issued, under, 
and by virtue, and in pursuance of, an Act passed in the 
