Slave Trade Act 1824

1. Introductory Text

2. All Acts relating to the Slave Trade, and the Exportation and Importation of Slaves, repealed.

3. II. The Purchase, Sale, or Contract for Slaves declared unlawful; as also the Exportation and Importation of Slaves ; the Shipping of Slaves in order to Exportation or Importation ; the fitting out Vessels ; making Loans or Guarantees ; the Shipping of Goods, &c. or sewing on board Ships employed for any of the aforesaid Purposes ; or the insuring of Salve Adventures.

4. III. Penalty for dealing in Slaves, or exporting or importing them, &c. ; or shipping Slaves for the Purpose of Exportation or Importation.

5. IV. Penalty for fitting out Slave Ships.

6. V. Penalty for embarking Capital in the Slave Trade.

7. VI. Penalty for guaranteeing Slave Adventures.

8. VII. Penalty for shipping Goods to be employed in the Slave Trade.

9. VIII. Penalty for insuring Slave Adventures.

10. IX. Dealing in Slaves on the High Seas, &c. to be deemed Piracy.

11. X. Persons dealing in Slaves, or exporting or importing, Slaves ; or shipping Slaves in order to Exportation or Importation ; or fitting out Slave Ships ; or embarking Capital in the Slave Trade ; or guaranteeing Slave Adventures ; or shipping Goods, &c. to be employed in the Slave Trade ; or serving on board Slave Ships as Captain, Master, &c. Surgeion, &c. ; or insuring Slave Adventures ; or forging Instruments relating to the Slave Laws. declared guilty of Felony, &c.

12. XI. Seamen, &c. serving on board such Ships guilty of Misdemeanor.

13. XII. Saving the Option to sue for Penalties in the Vice Admiralty Courts.

14. XIII. Nothing herein shall prevent Persons from purchasing Slaves in any Island, &c. belonging to Factory His Majesty, provided such Slaves shall be employed in the same Island, &c.

15. XIV. Such Slaves may be removed Coastwise, or by Land, to any other Part of the same Island, &c. Where there are Two or more Islands comprized in the same Colonial Government, Proprietors of Slaves may remove them to any Island within the Government, the Governor granting Licence for that Purpose.

16. XV. His Majesty in Council may authorize, until July 31, 1827, the Removal of Slaves from any British Island in the West Indies to another British Island there, in case it shall appear that such Removal is essential for the Welfare of the Slaves: And Such Stipulations and Conditions shall be established for the Benefit of such Slaves as His Majesty in Council shall think fit. Security to be taken.

17. XVI. Convict Slaves may, be transported from a British Island to a Foreign Settlement.

18. XVII. Domestic Slaves may accompany, their Masters, under the following Regulations : Name and Occupation shall be inserted in the Ship's Clearance. Extract from Slaves Registry shall be put on board, and produced on Arrival. Regulations to be observed on Re-embarkation. Penalties inflicted, if Regulations be not complied with.

19. XVIII. Slaves maybe employed in Navigation, under certain Regulations.

20. XIX. As also in fishing, or other their ordinary Occupations.

21. XX. Slaves may be employed in the Military and Naval Services.

22. XXI. Slaves in Vessels in Distress may be assisted.

23. XXII. Directing the Manner in which captured Slaves shall be disposed of.

24. XXIII. In case Persons detained in Slavery shall escape, any Officer may provide for and protect them.

25. XXIV. Where Apprentices under the Provisions of the Acts for the Abolition of the Slave Trade, are ill-treated by their Masters, they may apply to the Judge of the Vice Admiralty, who shall summarily decide therein. Judge may fine the Master any Sum not exceeds 100l. and may cancel the Indenture.

26. XXV. Captors of Slaves taken as Prize of War to be allowed a Bounty, not exceeding 20l. for every Man taken.

27. XXVI. The Governor and Party prosecuting to be allowed a Bounty. If Seizure made at Sea 10l. per Man, &c. If not made at Sea, 7l. 10s. per Man.

28. XXVII. Mode of obtaining such Bounty.

29. XXVIII. Decision of doubtful Claims to be determined by the Judge of Admiralty.

30. XXIX. Limitation of Appeal.

31. XXX. Saving the Rights of Greenwich Hospital.

32. XXXI. Persons apprenticed under the Act, on the Expiration of their Apprenticeship, how to be disposed of.

33. XXXII. Mode of providing for Slaves captured or seized during the Period of Adjudication. If Party claiming Slaves shall neglect to provide for them pending Proceedings, they shall be dealt with as prescribed by this Act for Slaves condemned to His Majesty's Use ; but no Bounty shall be payable for them, unless finally condemned.

34. XXXIII. Proceedings with respect to Slaves in case of Appeal from a definitive Sentence.

35. XXXIV. Where Slaves shall be restored in the Court of Appeal, Restitution in Value shall be awarded, deducting the Expences of Maintenance.

36. XXXV. In case of Decree of Restitution, Costs or Damages maybe awarded where Capture appears unjustifiable.

37. XXXVI. Ships condemned for illicit Traffic in Slaves may be registered as British Ships.

38. XXXVII. 59 G.3 C.120 authorizing the King to appoint a Registrar for Colonial Slaves, confirmed ; his Salary, Clerks, and Officers. Office Fees ; and Application thereof. Oath of Office.

39. Registrar ineligible as a Member of the House of Commons. Returns, &c. shall be delivered over to the Registrar, and be continued and corrected by him. Registrar's Attendance and Duties. Fees thereon. Purchase of Slaves or Advance of Money on Security of Slaves in the Colonies allowable only in case of Registration. What Slaves shall be considered registered for the Purpose of Purchase. By what Forms only Slaves in the Colonies may be conveyed or charged. Manner in which the Issue of Slaves named in Deeds shall pass or be charged thereby.

40. XXXVIII. A Governor de facto shall be a Governor within this Act.

41. XXXXIX. All Securities given in Contravention of this Act shall be void.

42. XL. In what Cases Offenders shall be exempted.

43. XLI. Punishment for Perjury.

44. XLII. Slaves removed without observing Regulations, forfeited. Penalty 100l. for every such Slave and Ship. Penalty upon Masters of Ships carrying Slaves without Certificate, 100l. for every such Slave.

45. XLIII. Seizure of Forfeitures by whom made.

46. XLIV. Appropriation of Ships and Goods forfeited.

47. XLV. Privileges Seizors.

48. XLVI. General Issue and Treble Costs.

49. XLVII. Limitation of Suit for Penalties and Forfeitures.

50. XLVIII. Mode of Trial for Offences against this Act.

51. XLIX. Offences committed out of the Admiral's Jurisdiction.

52. L. Process and Trial.

53. LI. Recovery and Application of Forfeitures and Penalties.

54. LII. Recital of certain Treaties &c. for preventing Traffic in Slaves.

55. LIII. The King may appoint a Secretary to the Commission Courts, and grant him a Salary. His Authority and Duty.

56. LIV. Governors of Colonies to fill up Vacancies in Commissions pro tempore.

57. LV. Oath to be taken by Commissary Judges and Arbitrators.

58. LVI. Oath to be taken by Secretary or Registrar.

59. LVII. Oaths and Depositions in judicial Proceedings to be administered by Commissary Judges, &c. Who may summon Witnesses and send for Papers.

60. LVIII. Persons giving fake Evidence shall be deemed guilty of Perjury. Trial of Perjury. Venue therein.

61. LIX. Pendency of Suits arising out of the Spanish and Portuguese Treaties, before the Commissions, shall be a Bar to any other Suit.

62. LX. Mixed Courts under the Netherland Treaty shall be the only Tribunal.

63. LXI. Jurisdiction of Prize Appeal and Admiralty Courts.

64. LXII. Proceeds, in case of Captors not establishing their Rights, to be paid to the Use of His Majesty.

65. LXIII. Treasury may direct the Papers and Proceedings respecting Vessels and Cargoes belonging to the Subjects of Spain, Portugal, or the Netherlands, condemned in the Vice-Admiralty Court at Sierra Leone, to be transmitted to the Registry of the Admiralty Court of England. Treasury may enforce Payment of Proceeds, and reward in certain Cases.

66. LXIV. Captors not entitled to Rewards where the Commissioners for Portuguese Claims award lndemnification.

67. LXV. Treasury may order the Charges of Proceedings incurred by Captors to be paid out of the Proceeds, &c.

68. LXVI. Captors of Vessels and Cargoes condemned for illicit trading in Slaves, and the Proceeds distributed, shall be confirmed in the Possession of tile Proceeds.

69. LXVII. Captors of Vessels shall, after the same are condemned, be entitled to the Moiety of the Proceeds belonging to His Majesty.

70. LXVIII. A Bounty of 10l. for every Slave found on board of Vessels seized and condemned.

71. LXIX. Such Bounty of 10l. shall be paid for every Slave found on board of Vessels of Portugal, Spain, and Netherlands, captured within the Periods herein mentioned. Where Proceeds have been distributed and allowed, Moiety of Proceeds shall be deducted from Bounties.

72. LXX. Proceeds and Bounties to be distributed as the Treasury shall direct.

73. LXXI. Parties claiming Benefit under this Act may resort to the Court of Admiralty.

74. LXXII. Where Slaves taken as Prize shall not have been condemned, or shall not have been delivered over, the Treasury may allow One Moiety of the Bounty.

75. LXXIII. Where Judgment shall be given against the Seizor, or the Seizure shall be relinquished, the Treasury may direct Payment of the Costs and Damages.

76. LXXIV. Treasury may direct Payment of any Sum awarded to be due on account of unlawful Seizures. Liability of Seizors not taken away.

77. LXXV. Registrars of Vice Admiralty Courts, &c. to transmit to the Treasury a Return of all Cases adjudged in the said Courts for the preceding Six Months, with State of the Property according to Schedule (A).

78. LXXVI. Forfeitures to His Majesty to be paid over as He shall direct.

79. LXXVII. Regulations to which Prize Agents are liable shall be extended to Bounties and Proceeds to be distributed under this Act.

80. LXXVIII. In all Actions commenced under this Act Defendant may plead the General Issue. Treble Costs.

81. LXXIX. Nothing in this Act contained relating to the said Treaties, &c. shall extend to alter any other Part of this Act.

82. LXXX. Nothing in this Act contained shall extend to alter any of the said Treaties, &c.

83. LXXXI. Act may be altered this Session.

84. LXXXII. Commencement of this Act.

85. 1. SCHEDULE (A.) referred to by this Act