SECTION Ž
Of the offences cognizable by the magistrate, and the penalties thereunto attached, REG. NO. 1.
Offence.
1. Drunkenness with riot, either on board ship, or shore.
2. Contempt of the authority of the magistrate on any occasion of inquiry.
3. Disobedience of orders to desist from riotous conduct, or abusive and menacing language tending to the disturbance of the peace and of due subordination.
4. Ringleaders in riots, attended with violence towards officers, or resistance to the magistrate, or the constables of police, engaged in the restoration of the peace.
Penalty:
1. Confinement, with, or without, hard labor, not exceeding two weeks—or a penalty not exceeding 20 shillings.—or both, according to the particular gravity of the offence, and its frequency.
2. Either of the above penalties.
3. Confinement in the like manner, not exceeding 14 days—or a penalty, not exceeding £2 10s, or both, according to the circumstances.
4. Confinement in like manner, not exceeding one calendar month,—or a penalty not exceeding £5.—or both, according to the circumstances.
REG. NO. 2. A decision against a prisoner involving higher penalties, or longer confinement, than those set down in the 1st and 2d specification, needs the sanction of the Head of the government, or in his absence of the Deputy superintendent, and is therefore not to be pronounced by the Magistrate, till that sanction has been received, and the Prisoner must be remanded after the closing of the evidence on the defence.
REG. NO. 3. All other offences of a more aggravated nature, or not specified above, to be reported to the Head of the government by the Magistrate, and the prisoners to be left in confinement according to the customs and usages of the sea service, pending further instructions under his hand; or to be committed to jail.
REG. No. 4. All prisoners to be maintained on the half allowance of provisions (without spirits), for which maintenance, a sum of 9d per diem shall be paid, and charged against their wages.
REG. No. 5. If the prisoner shall have been confined on board the ship to which he belongs, no charge shall be made for his maintenance.
REG. No. 6. Commanders of ships to which prisoners belong, under confinement according to these rules and regulations, are at liberty to hire laborers to supply their place, charging the daily expense to the wages of the prisoners.
REG. No. 7. In the case of prisoners not having wages enough to meet the penalties they have incurred, the magistrate may remit the same at the end of their confinement, and the want of funds may not be made a ground for detention beyond the period originally determined.
REG. No. 8. Commanders of ships, who have been called upon to pay penalties out of seamen's wages, to be furnished with a certificate by this government.
REG. No. 9. Nothing herein contained to be construed to prevent the commander of any ship from restraining his crew by such lawful means as he may see fit to use on his own responsibility, and without making application for police assistance.
SECTION 3.
Of the signals to be made by British ships, requiring assistance, by reason of the riotous state of the crew.
REG. No. 1. In the day-time, ensign, union downwards, to be hoisted wherever most conspicuous or convenient, and a musket to be fired to draw attention.
In the night time, three or four lights in the after rigging, at irregular heights, and firing of single muskets, to be repeated at intervals till assistance arrives.
SECTION 4.
Of the rate at which payments are to be made, and the disposal of penalties.
REG. No. 1. All payments and penalties, made or incurred under these rules and regulations, to be at the rate of 5s. the Spanish dollar.
REG. No. 2. All penalties, levied agreeably to these regulations to be for the use of Her Majesty, in part payment for the police expenses of this government.
SECTION 5.
Of the manner in which seamen or others on board British ships are to seek redress.
REG. No. 1. Any person having a complaint of ill usage to proceed respectfully to the commander, or commanding officer, and to request to be allowed to repair on shore to the office of the magistrate; and, failing redress by that means, to forward a letter to the head of the government, in order that such present inquiry and remedy may be had as the case demands.
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