ftated in Rules, without need of qua- RULE XXI. “A BRITISH-BUILT fhip is fuch as has British Ships, "been built in Great Britain or Ireland, 66 Guernsey, Jersey, or the Ifle of Man, or in fome of the colonies, plantations, "islands, or territories, in Asia, Africa, or America, which at the time of building "the fhip belonged to, or were in the pof"feffion of, his majefty; or any ship what"foever which has been taken and condemned as lawful prize." EXCEPT fuch British-built fhips as shall be rebuilt or repaired in any foreign port or place, to an amount exceeding fifteen shillings per ton, unless fuch repairs fhall be proved to have been ncceffary to enable the ship to perform her voyage. THIS Rule and Exception are contained in the firft and fecond fections of the act (a). 66 RULE XXII. "A BRITISH fhip is, FIRST, Such as is foreign-built, and which before 1 May "1786 belonged wholly to any of the people "of Great Britain or Ireland, Guernsey, Jerfey, or the Ifle of Man, or of any colony, plantation, ifland, or territory, in "Afia, Africa, or America, in poffeffion of “his majesty. 66 "SECONDLY, Such as has been built or "rebuilt on a foreign-made keel or bottom, "and registered before 1 May 1786 as a "British fhip. "THIRDLY, Such as had begun to be "repaired or rebuilt on a foreign-made "keel or bottom before 1 May 1736, and "has been fince registered by order of the "commiffioners of the customs in England "or in Scotland." RULE XXIII. "EVERY fhip or veffel having a deck, "or being of the burthen of fifteen tons, ← and belonging to a fubject in Great Britain "or Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, or the Ifle "of Man, or any colony, plantation, island, or "territory, to his majefty belonging, must be "registered by the perfon claiming property "therein, who is to obtain a certificate of "fuch registry in the port to which the ship "or veffel properly belongs: and the cer"tificate is to diftinguish the fhip or veffel "under one of thefe two claffes: CERTI REGISTRY FOR THE EUROPEAN TRADE, BRITISH PROPERTY." THIS is by the third and twenty-eighth fections (a). RULE XXIV. "No ship is to be permitted to clear out as a British-built fhip, or a British fhip, nor to be intitled to the privileges of a "British-built fhip, or a British ship, unless "the owner has obtained a certificate of "registry; and any fhip departing from 66 port without being fo registered, and ob "taining fuch a certificate, fhall be forfeited (b)." (a) Vid. ant. 456. 465. (b) Seat 32. RULE RULE XXV. "ALL fhips not intitled to the privileges "of a British-built fhip, or a British fhip, "and all ships not registered as aforefaid, "are deemed, although they may belong "to British fubjects, to all intents and purpofes, alien or foreign ships (a)." RULE XXVI, "As often as the mafter of a fhip is "changed, a memorandum thereof is to be "indorsed on the certificate by the proper "officer of the customs," RULE XXVII. "THE Owner is to caufe the name by "which a fhip is registered to be painted "in a confpicuous part of the stern; and "fuch name is not to be changed (b). RULE XXVIII. "IF a certificate of regiftry is loft or "mislaid, or if a ship shall be altered in (a) Stat. 27. Géo. 3. c. 29. f. 13. vid ant. 511, (b) Sect. 19. vid. ant. 462. "form * form or burthen, or from any denominá*tion of veffel to another, by rigging or fitting, she must be registered de novo, " and a new certificate granted (c).” RULE XXIX. "MASTERS of fhips are, on demand, to produce their certificates to the principal "officer in any port within the king's do"minions, or to the British conful or chief "officer in any foreign port (b). SUCH is the prefent state of the laws which the Legislature has feen fit to provide for the encouragement and increase of British shipping and navigation. It is a series of restrictions and prohibitions, and it tends to the establishing of monopoly ; but it is a plan of regulation which our ancestors, who were more versed in the practical philofophy of life than the fpeculative one of the closet, thought neceffary for the welfare and safety of the kingdom. Reasoning from the selfpreservation of an individual to the self-prefervation of a people, they confidered the defence of this ifland from foreign invafion (c) Sect: 22, 23. vid. ant. 463. (6) Sect. 34. vid. ant. 469. 23 |