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The necessity for this Ordinance arises from the omission in that of last year (No. 7), which constitutes the High Court of Piracy, to give the Supreme Court power to try various offences defined by that Ordinance, such as aiding and assisting Pirates, receiving goods captured by Pirates, being found on board a vessel that had committed a Piracy within a certain period previously.
The provisions in fact of the Ordinance of last year could only be enforced by the Court created by that Ordinance. For some time back, however, the administration of Justice by the Supreme Court in such cases has been satisfactory, rendering it probable that it will be unnecessary to resort for some time to the new Court, which, however, may be found hereafter as a valuable auxiliary.
Under these circumstances, the definition of various offences and the punishments appropriate thereto form a very valuable portion of the Piracy Act Ordinance. It has been felt extremely desirable to ensure to the Supreme Court, by a separate enactment, full power of dealing with all cases over which the High Court of Piracy could have jurisdiction. This is done by the present Ordinance.