Your help with our opinion thereupon
In obedience thereto we have perused the several documents submitted to us and have the honour to
Report
d.
That it is clear, upon every rule of International Law that the Masters & officers of Foreign Merchant ships, when at Anchor within an English Harbour, are bound to yield obedience to the law of this country during their residence within its precincts; & that acts & occurrences which, if done on board such ships, or on board English ships, would be breaches of the law of the Queen, under the persons concerned amenable to the Criminal Law of this Country.
This principle appears to be acknowledged by Mr Mary in his letter to Mr Crampton of the 19 April 1836. By that letter it appears that Mr Heenan has been instructed that his claim as American Consul to exclusive jurisdiction over criminal acts committed by U. State citizens on board of U. States Ships in a foreign harbour is not sustained by his Govt. & there seems no reason to apprehend in future any collision between American Consuls & British Authorities in our possessions.
But there are some passages in Mr Mary's letter which suggest an important subject of consideration. Mr Mary observes that if every complaint of the law of any Individual against the Officers for ill treatment is to be taken up by the Civil Authorities there, & these...