CONTENTS. Instructions for Commanders of Her Majesty's Ships and Vessels, with respect to British Vessels in British waters, on the high seas, and within foreign jurisdiction, and to Foreign Vessels in British waters Instructions for Commanders of Her Majesty's Ships and Vessels, with respect to Vessels not justly entitled to claim the protection of the Flag Page Instructions for Commanders of Her Majesty's Ships and Vessels, with respect to Vessels suspected of hoisting a Flag to which they are not legally entitled, in order to evade seizure by Her Majesty's Ships Instructions for the Senior Officer of Her Majesty's Ships and Vessels on the. West Coast of Africa, with respect to the Treaty with the United States CONTENTS. Instructions for Her Majesty's Officers appointed to act in execution of the Treaties, Conventions, and Engagements, hereinafter named,-- Explanatory and Additional Articles to, signed December 31, 1822, and Additional Articles, signed December Article on Slave Trade, in Convention of Commerce, signed May 31, 1839. 3. Sweden and Norway, Treaty with Treaty between Great Britain and Por- tugal, signed at Vienna, January Convention between ditto, and ditto, signed at London, July 28, 1817. Separate Article to ditto, signed Sep- Extract from Preamble to Treaty with the United States of Copies of the Treaties, Conventions, and Engagements in question 226 Form of Patent for vessels of the Russian-American Company, FOR THE GUIDANCE OF HER MAJESTY'S NAVAL OFFICERS EMPLOYED IN THE SUPPRESSION OF THE SLAVE TRADE. SECTION 1st. General Instructions for Commanders of Her Majesty's Ships and By the Commissioners for executing the Office of Lord High Ireland, &c. 1. THE Slave Trade has been denounced by all the civilized AUTHORITY. world as repugnant to every principle of justice and humanity. You are, however, to bear in mind, that Great Britain claims no rights whatever with respect to foreign ships engaged in that traffic, excepting such as the Law of Nations warrants, or as she possesses by virtue of special Treaties and Conventions with particular States. 2. In proceeding to deal with a vessel suspected of being engaged in the Slave Trade, you are in the first instance to refer to that part of the Instructions which applies to the particular circumstances of the case. But those Instructions in no degree diminish the necessity of a careful study of the Treaty, Convention, or Law, upon which they are founded. You are, therefore, to make yourself thoroughly conversant with the Treaties, Conventions, and Laws, as well as with all the Instructions given to you relative to the Slave Trade; and you are to enjoin the Officers under your command to make themselves acquainted with the parts that refer to the duties which those Officers may have to perform; taking care to afford every facility for this purpose. 3. The powers with which you are invested on this service are entrusted to you for the sole purpose of suppressing the Slave Trade, and are never to be exercised without reasonable grounds of suspicion, that the case is one of a vessel liable, on account of being engaged in the Slave Trade, to be brought to justice by Her Majesty's ship under your command. 4. You are not to visit a vessel under a Foreign flag on the High Seas on suspicion of Slave Trade, except in virtue of special authority under Treaty, or in case you have reason to B |
