Piracy Act 1850

V Property of Her Majesty's Subjects found in possession of Pirates to be restored on Payment of One Eighth of Value.

And be it enacted, That all Ships, Vessels, Boats, Goods, Merchandize, Specie, or other Property taken possession of from Pirates by any of Her Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, or hired armed Vessels, or the Ships or Vessels of War of the East India Company, or their Boats, or any of the Officers and Crews thereof, shall and may be proceeded against in any of the Admiralty Courts before mentioned, and be subject and liable to Condemnation as Droits and Perquisites of Her Majesty in Her Office of Admiralty: Provided always, that if any Part of the said Property shall be duly proved to have belonged to and to have been taken from any of Her Majesty's Subjects, or from the Subjects of any Foreign Power, then such Property and every Part thereof shall, by the Decree of the said Court, be adjudged to be restored, and shall be accordingly restored to the former Owner or Owners, Proprietor or Proprietors thereof respectively, he or they paying for or in lieu of Salvage a Sum of Money equal to One Eighth Part of the true Value, which Money, if such Property shall have been taken by any of Her Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War or hired armed Ships, or their Boats, shall be paid to and divided and distributed amongst the Officers and Crews thereof, in such Manner, Form, and Proportion, as other Bounties are now distributable by virtue of Her Majesty's Proclamation or Order in Council dated the Thirtieth Day of July One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, or as Her Majesty, Her Heirs and Successors, shall from Time to Time by any further Proclamation or Order or Orders in Council think fit to declare and direct; and which Money, if such Property shall have been taken by any of the Ships or Vessels of War of the East India Company, or their Boats, shall be paid to and divided and distributed amongst the Officers and Crews thereof, in such Manner, Form, and Proportion as the Court of Directors of the East India Company shall at any Time or from Time to Time direct; but if such Property shall have been a joint Capture by any of Her Majesty's Ships or Vessels of War, or hired armed Ships, or their Boats, and any of the Ships or Vessels of: War of the said Company, or their Boats, then such Money in lieu of Salvage shall be divided and distributed amongst the joint Captors in such Manner, Form, and Proportion as the Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, or the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom, shall at any Time or Times order and direct.