8252.
MY LORD,
No. 422.
(NEWFOUNDLAND.)
LAW OFFICERS to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Lincoln's Inn, August 22, 1866. We are honoured with your Lordship's commands, signified in Mr. Hammond's letter of the 7th August instant, stating that he was directed by your Lordship to transmit to us a letter from the Colonial Office, forwarding a transcript of an Act passed by the Legislature of Newfoundland providing for the constitution of a marine court of inquiry in that Colony, and to request that we would take this Act into our consideration, and inform your Lordship whether, in our opinion, it may properly be submitted for the Queen's confirmation.
In obedience to your Lordship's commands, we have taken this Act into our con- sideration, and have the honour to
Report
That as at present advised we think the 10th section of this Act should not be approved of by Her Majesty.
It appears to us that much practical inconvenience and difficulty, leading perhaps to serious international questions would be likely to arise from the attempt of a British court to exercise a kind of jurisdiction (for such it would be) over "foreign ships, "property, and persons," even although such jurisdiction should be exercised at the instance of a Foreign Consular officer.
The Lord Stanley, M.P.
We have, &c. (Signed) H. M. CAIRNS.
W. BOVILL.
R. PHILLIMORE.
o 14276.460.
25.-5/86,
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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