The Sun.
London, England, 1851-09-13 00:00:00

EVENING, SEPTEMBER 13, 1851.

The LORD MAYOR-..-I thought the new Merchant
Seamen's Act, which came into operation in January
last, would have had the effect, in consequence of the
penalties which the magistrate can inflict by means of
it, of greatly diminishing the number of disgraceful
charges of this kind. Has due care been taken to pla-
card the nature and amount of the penalties for violation
through the places which are frequented by seamen ?
Mr. Coleman—Yes, my Lord. General notice has
been given to the seamen everywhere. 'We are now
able to establish cases in the absence of the ship's
officers or logbook, and shall bring forward any
matter which seems to be deserving of notice, with all
its circumstances of aggravation. I have another
charge of desertion against this defendant, who played
the same base trick about two years ago, and I could
have sent him to the Central Criminal Court in con-
sequence of a misdemeanour perpetrated towards
myself.

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39 3 9

The LORD MAYOR—This Act was made more to
prevent such injurious practices than to inflict punish-
ment upon hardworking men. The Legislature have
acted humanely by placing the seaman and shipowner
in the relation of servant and master. Now, when
servants commit the offence of deserting their masters,
they are subjected for every such violation of the law
to imprisonment, with hard labour, for three months.
That has been the law for a long series of years, and
the new Merchant Seamen's Act has been passed for
the purpose of making the contracts of seamen as
binding, and tends to their advantage as well as to that
of the other parties to the contracts. I cannot con-
ceive anything more embarrassing or injurious than
the desertion of seamen from their vessels at distant
ports, and if the cases accumulate in this manner
before me, Parliament must be applied to for a law
indicting much more heavy punishment. My sen-
tence on the defendant is, that he be imprisoned six
weeks, and to bard labour.
Thomas H. Farmer, seaman, was next put to the
bar.

Mr. Coleman—The defendant applied to me for his
registered ticket, stating that he had deserted the
Louisa, of London, at Quebec, in July. The ticket
has been returned from Quebec as " deserted," and I
produce his articles.

Mr. Frederick Cowles, shibroker, of 4el, Fenchurch-
street, proved all that was necessary against the de•
fondant, who deserted the vessel along with severa
others of the crew.

The LORD MAYOR—.What have you to say to this
charge, defendant ? The defendant—l left the vessel
because the rest left her, and that was because the
mate was imposing upon us. We could not stand
that, so we cut.
Mr. Coleman—They all got higher wages. That
was their only reason. If seamen have any desire to
complain a naval court-martial can be summoned by
the consul, according to the terms of the new Act,
consisting of British residents, officers, and others,
and justice can be immediately rendered on the spot
without delay.
The LORD MAYOR—Has this man deserted before ?
Mr. Coleman—l am not aware that there is any other
complaint against him than that which has just been
made.
The LORD MAYOR—Then I shall give him a milder
punishment than I have adjudged to the former of-
fender. I sentence him to imprisonment and hard
labour for thirty days.
W ORSHIP-STREET.