The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1812-07-07
(BY AU'rHORITY.)
AN ACT.
AN ACT.
Concerning Letters OF Marque, Prizes. and Prize
Goods.

ID presentatives ofthe United States of .dn.eri-
ca an Congress assembled, That the President of
the United States shall be, and he shereby author
ssed and empowered to revoke and annul at plea
sure all letters OF marque and reprsal which he
shall or may at any time grant, pursuant to
act entitled An:act declaring war between the U.
Kingdom OF Great Britain and ireland and the de-
Tendencies thereof. and the U. States Of America
AMI their territories.
See. 2. .7nd5e ii. further enacted. That all per-
aons applying for letters of MarGue and ReprisL,
pursuant to the act aforesaid shall state in writing
the name and suitable desert tion of the tonnage
and force of the vessel, and the and place Of
residence ct each owner concerned therein, and
the Intended number of the crew which state.
lnent shall be signed by the person persons ma
King such applications and filed with the Secretary
OF State, shalt be delivered to any other officer
or person who shall be employed to deliver such
commissions. to be by him transmitted to the Sc
cretary oil State.
Sec. 5. find Be i. .flr;ksr enacted, That before
any commission of et,ers OF Marquc and Reprisai
sa be ISSUED as aforesaid, the owner owners OF
The ship or vessel for which the shall be re-
quested, and tile commander thereof, for the time
being, shall give bond to the United States with at
least two responsible suretes, not interested in such
vessel, IN the penal sum of five thousand dollars
or If such vessel be provided with more than one
hundred and fifty men, then in the penal sum OF
Ten thousand dollars, with condition that the ow-
Sers, ofhcers and crew, who shall be employed on
board such commissioned vessel, shall and win OBJ
serve the treaties aad laws of the United States, s.
the instructions which shall be given them accor-
DING to law tor the regulation of their conduct s.
viii satisfy all damages and injuries which shall be
Gone or committed contrary TO the tenor thereof
'oy such vessel, during her commission, and to de-
hver up the same when revoked by the President
of the U. S.
Sec. i. .4na BE 1t further enacted, That all cap
cures and prizes OF vessels and property shall be
forfeited and shall the owners, officers and
crews OF the vessels by whom such captures and
prizes shall be made ; and on due condemnation
had, shall be distributed according to any written
agreement which shall he made between them
anu u there be no such agreement, then moiety
70 the owners and the other moiety the officers &
crew, to-. be distributed between the officers and
crew MS nearly as may be, according to the rules
prescribed for the distribution of prize money, by
the act entitled Az act for the better government
ot the navy of the United States" passed the
dred.
Sec. S. .qnd be IL further enacted, That all YES
sel goods and effects, the property of any citizen
OF the United States, OF persons resident within
ana under the Profession oftbe United States, of
persons permanently resident within and under the
protection of any foreign prince, government or
state, IN amity with the United States, which shall
have been captured by the enemy and which shall
DC re-eaRtied by vessels mssioned as aore said
shaii ne restored TO the lawful owners, upon pay
ment by then respectively of just aud reasonable
salvage, to be determined by the mutual agree ment
OIL tue patues concerned, or by the decree of any
court having competent jurisdiction, according to
te nature OF each case, agreeably the provisions
hsretolo,e established by law. And such salvage
snail be distributed among the owners, officers and
crews OF the vessels commissioned aforesaid, and
making such re-captures according to any written ~
Sreement which shall be between them and in
case oil no such agreement, then in the same man.
ner and upon the PRINCIPLES herein before provided
IN case OF capture.
Sec. o. md be it further enacted, That before
breaking bulk Of any vessel which shall be captured
IS Aforesaid, or ot:r disposal or conversion thereof
or OF soy articles which shall be found board the
same, such captured vessel, goods or effects shall
be brought into some port of the United States, or
into some port Of nation in aInity with the United
States, and shall be proceeded against before
competent tribunal, aud after condemnation and for
lecture thereof, shall belong the & captors
thereof and be distributed as aforesaid. And i'm the
case OF all captured vessels, goods and effects which
Shall be brought within the jurisdiction of the Uni
te States, the district of the United States
shall have exclusive original cognizance thereof as
IN civil causes of admiralty and maritime urisdic.
fcn and the SAID courts, or the courts, being
oil the United States into which such cases shall be
removed, and in which they shall be finally decided
shall and may decree resttution in whole or in part
when the capture shall have been made without
just cause. And II made without probable cause, or
Otherwise uhreasonably, may order nd decree da-
images and costs to the party injured, and for which
the owners and commanders of the vessels ma
king such captures, and also the vessels shalt be La
BILE.
Sec. z. .and be it further enacted, That all pris
oners found on board any captured vessel, or on
board any re-captured vessel, shall he reported to
tue collector ot the port in the United States in which
custody ofthe marshal of the district or some civil
or military officer of the U. S. or of any state in or
.Sar such port, who shall take charge of their safe
keeping and support, at the expence of the United
States
Sec. 8. And be it further enacted, That the Pre-
sdent of the United States shall be- and he is here.
ny authorised to establish and order suitable ins,ruc
tiohs Tor the better governing and directing the
cohduet Of the vessels go commissioned their Off
gers and crews, copies of which shall be delivered
Oy Tue collector OF the customs, to the command
crs when they sllaii give bond as aforesaid.
sec. y. .jHf DC a. further enactet, That a bounty
shall be paid by the u. States oftwenty dollars for
each person on board any armed ship or vessel be-
fonBing 10 The enemy, ut the commencement of AN
engagement, which shall he burnt, sunk or des
Er0yed, by any vessel :::issioned as aforesaid
which shall be OF equal orinferior iorce the same to
he divided as in other OF pfiza money
Sec. 10 .8Ha BIZ IL f2yther enacted, TIrt the com
fnanding officer Of every vessel having cor.rnis
sioh or letters ut marlue and repriss during the
present hOstlities between the United States and
ing TOE and exact accOaut 0f his daily trassc-
tons and proceedings With such vessel aud the ere
thereof; the ports and places lac shah pu i:h6 or
cast "nchor IN the time Of his stay there and The
cause thereof the prizes he shall take the na-
ture and probable value Cd sch prizes the times &
places, when ard where t,Nen, and how aud H.
whst manner De shall dispose of tie same the
Slps On vessels be shall fd! in with the times and
piacs Z, wien and where he shall meet with them
sud his observations and remarks thereon also, oil
whateser else shall occur o. him or any of his oR
Gers or mariner, BE- discovered aud found out by
examination or conference with any mariners or
passengers Of, or IN any other slips aud gesses or
ny any other ways or means whatsOcvcr, touching
or concerning the fleets, vessels and forces of tle