16Penalty on Masters of Ships leaving certain Seamen in Distress in this Country.
If a Native of any Country in Asia, Africa, or of any of the Islands in the South Sea or the Pacific Ocean, or of any other Country not having any Consul in the United Kingdom, is brought to the United Kingdom in any Ship, British or Foreign, as a Seaman, and is left in the United Kingdom, and within Six Months of his being so left becomes chargeable upon the Poor Rate, or commits any Act by reason, of the Committal whereof he is liable to be convicted as an idle and disorderly Person, or any other Act of Vagrancy, the Master or Owner of the said Ship, or in case of a Foreign Ship the Person who is Consignee of the Ship at the Time of the Seaman being so left as aforesaid, shall- incur a Penalty not exceeding Thirty Pounds, unless he can show that the Person so left as aforesaid quitted the Ship without the Consent of the Master, or that due Means have been afforded by such Master, Owner, or Consignee, or One of them, to such Person, of returning to his Native Country, or to the Country in which he was shipped; and the Court inflicting such Penalty may order the whole or any Part of such Penalty to be applied towards the Relief or sending Home of such Person.