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vessels. And to the end that none of our subjects may presume, on board their ships, to wear our flags, jacks, and pendants, which, according to ancient usage has been appointed as a distinction to our ships; or any flags, jacks, or pendants, in shape and mixture of colours so far resembling ours as not to be easily distinguished therefrom: We do with the advice of our privy council, hereby strictly charge and command all our subjects whatsoever, that they do not presume to wear, in any of their ships or vessels, our jack, commonly called the union jack, nor any pendants, nor any such colours as are usually borne by our ships, without particular warrant for their so doing from us, or our high admiral of Great Britain, or the commissioners for executing the office of high admiral for the time being: And we do also hereby further command all our loving subjects, that, without such warrant as aforesaid, they presume not to wear on board their ships or vessels, any flags, jacks, pendants, or colours, made in imitation of or resembling ours, or any kind of pendent whatsoever, or any other ensign than the ensign described on the side or margin hereof, which shall be worn instead of the ensign before this time usually worn in merchant ships; saving, that for the better distinction of such ships as shall have commissions of letters of marque or reprisals against the enemy, and any other ships or vessels which may be employed by the principal officers and commissioners of our navy, the principal officers of our ordnance, the commissioners for victualling our navy, the commissioners of our customs and excise, and the commissioners for transportation for our service, relating particularly to those officers, our royal will and pleasure is, that all such ships as have commissions or letters of marque or reprisals shall, besides the colours or ensign hereby appointed to be worn by merchant ships, wear a red jack, with a union jack, described in a canton at the upper corner thereof, next the staff; and that such

ships and vessels as shall be employed for our service by the principal officers and commissioners of our navy, the principal officers of cur ordnance, the commissioners for victualling our navy, the commissioners of our customs and excise, and the commissioners for transportation for our service, relating particularly to those officers, shall wear a red jack with a union jack in a canton at the upper corner thereof, next the staff, as aforesaid, and in the upper part of the said jack shall be described, the seal used in such of the respective offices aforesaid, by which the said ships and vessels shall be employed. And we do strictly charge and command, that none of our loving subjects do presume to wear any of the said distinction jacks, unless they shall have commissions of letters of marque or reprisals, or be employed in our service by any of the before mentioned officers. And we hereby require our high admiral, and commissioners for executing the office of high admiral, the governors of our forts and castles, the officers of our customs, and the commanders or officers of any of our shipsfor the time being, upon their meeting with, or otherwise observing any ships or vessels belonging to any of our subjects, neglecting to wear the ensign hereby appointed to be borne as aforesaid, or wearing any flag, jack, pendant, or ensign, contrary hereunto, whether at sea or in port, not only to seize, or cause to be forthwith seized, such flag, pendant, jack, or ensign, worn contrary to our royal will and pleasure herein expressed, but also to return the names of such ships and vessels neglecting to wear the ensign hereby appointed, or wearing any flag, pendant, jack, or ensign, cóntrary hereunto, together with the names of their respective. masters or commanders, unto our high admiral, or commissioners for executing the office of high admiral, or the judge of our high court of admiralty for the time being, to the end that all persons offending may be duly punished for the same And we do hereby command and enjoin

the judge or judges of our high court of admiralty for the time being, that they make strict inquiry concerning all such offenders and cause them to be duly punished: And all vice-admirals and judges of the vice-admiralties are hereby also required to proceed in like manner within the several ports and places belonging to their respective precincts. And our further pleasure is, that this proclamation shall take place according to the times hereinafter mentioned: viz. for all ships in the Channel or British Seas, and in the North Seas, after twelve days from the date of these presents, and from the mouth of the Channel unto Cape St. Vincent, after six weeks from the date of these presents; and beyond the Cape, and on this side the Equinoxial line, as well in the Ocean and Mediterranean as elsewhere, after ten weeks from the date of these presents; and beyond the Line, after the space of eight months from the date of these presents.

Given at our court of St. James's, the first day of January, one thousand eight hundred and one, in the forty first year of our reign.

GOD SAVE THE KING.

No. XII.

In speaking of the extent of this Island, Dr. Beaufort. observes that "The greatest length of Ireland extends from north-east to south-west; and a line so drawn between the two most remote points, Fair-Head and Mizen-Head, would cut the meridian in an angle of thirty degrees, and M m

VOL. II.

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measure 241 Irish miles, which somewhat exceed 306 of English statute measure. The longest line that can be stretched across the kingdom, would measure 163 Irish, or 207 English miles, from Emlagh-Rash in Mayo, to Carnsore-Point, in the county of Wexford, and this line would intersect the former in an angle of 75 degrees. But from the Stags of Cork Harbour, to Bloody Farland Point, in Donegal, is the greatest length that can be measured along a meridian, and it will not exceed 185 Irish, or 235 English miles. If the breadth be measured in the same manner nearly on a parallel of latitude, the true breadth of the island will appear to be as follows:

Between Tiellen Head, and Island Magee, 98 Irish, or 124 English miles.

Between Emlagh-Rash, and the mouth of the Strangford Lough, 143 Irish, or 182 English miles.

Between Slime-Head,and the Point of Hoath, 187 Irish or 174 English miles.

Between Dunmore-Head, and the Greenore-Point in Wexford, 136 Irish, or 173 English miles.

“But there is not a spot in the kingdom fifty miles distant from the sea; which will not appear surprising, when we observe, that between the Bays of Dublin and Galway, there are but 86 miles, and no more than 67 between Dundalk and Ballyshannon.

"With respect to the superficial contents of Ireland ; not being able to discover any documents of authority in the public offices, I have made a computation of it, by very carefully measuring the area of each county on my map, and after rejecting all fractions, I have no hesitation in asserting that Ireland contains considerably more than 18,750 square miles, or several thousand acres above twelve million Irish measure; which is equal to 30,370 English miles, or 19,436,000 English acres.

"Ireland is divided with respect to its civil or political divisions, into four provinces, Ulster, Leinster, Connaught, and Munster.

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