Slave Trade Act 1873 (c. 88)

Preliminary U.K.

1 Short title. U.K.

This Act may be cited as “The Slave Trade Act 1873.”

2 Interpretation. U.K.

In this Act—

• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1

• The term “vessel” means any vessel used in navigation:

• F2 . . .

• The term “governor” includes the officer for the time being administering the government of any colony; and where there is a local governor or lieutenant-governor under a governor-general, means the local governor or lieutenant-governor: . . . F3

• . . . F1

• F2 . . .

• The term “vessel of a foreign state” means a vessel which is justly entitled to claim the protection of the flag of a foreign state, or which would be so entitled if she did not lose such protection by being engaged in the slave trade:

• The term “treaty” includes any convention, agreement, engagement, or arrangement:

• The term “slave trade” when used in relation to any particular treaty does not include anything declared by such treaty not to be comprised in the term or in such treaty:

• The term “Vice-Admiralty Court” does not include any Vice-Admiralty Court which for the time being has under its commission a limited jurisdiction only in matters relating to the slave trade:

• The term “British slave court” means the High Court of Admiralty of England, every Vice-Admiralty Court in Her Majesty’s dominions out of the United Kingdom, F4 :

• The term “slave court” means every British slave court, every mixed commission or court established under any existing slave trade treaty, and the court of any foreign state having jurisdiction to try and condemn a vessel engaged in the slave trade:

• The term “existing slave trade treaty” means a treaty made by or on behalf of Her Majesty or Her Royal predecessors with any foreign state for the more effectual suppression of the slave trade and in force at the passing of this Act.

Textual Amendments

F1 Definitions repealed by Statute Law Revision (No. 2) Act 1893 (c. 54)

F2 Definitions in s. 2 repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 43, s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. VIII

F3 Proviso repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1976 (c. 16), Sch. 1 Pt. VII

F4 Words repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1986 (c. 12), s. 1(1), Sch. 1 Pt. IX

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Jurisdiction of the High Court of Admiralty of England now exercisable by High Court: Administration of Justice Act 1956 (c. 46), s.1(1)

C2 Jurisdiction of Vice-Admiralty courts in Her Majesty's dominions out of the United Kingdom transferred to colonial Courts of Admiralty: Colonial Courts of Admiralty Act 1890 (c. 27), ss.2(3), 17