LAP Latgalių, kadangų van NINA-TRACTA
7
139
previously paid under the provisions of & Genge 4.2.49-
4. It is possible that such a contingency as a naval officer claiming the rewards held out, may not have been contemplated when the Act was passed, but the working of the measure here has shown that in the great majority of cases the officers prefer to forego the uncertain reward rather than incur the certain trouble and expense entailed by the necessary application to The Court.
5. But I cannot bring myself to believe that it was ever the intention of Parliament, apart from the question of local Civil rewards, to compel Naval Authorities to invite the judgments of a tribunal upon the propriety of their proceedings in naval matters; and it surely would be a grievous injustice, considering the Cost of proceedings in admiralty, to oblige the officer in Command of every expedition against pirates, on his return, to pay out of his own pocket a considerable sum (not less than £25) to obtain absolution for measures undertaken by him in the simple discharge of duty under instructions from his commanding Officer. If he abuse his authority...