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Rh 51 GEORGII III. Cap. XXIII.

An Act for rendering more effectual an Act made in the Forty-seventh Year of His Majesty's Reign, intituled, An Act for the Abolition of the Slave Trade. [14th May 1811.]

HEREAS the Two Houses of Parliament did, by their Resolutions of the Tenth and Twenty fourth Days of June One thousand eight hundred and six, severally resolve, That the African Slave Trade being contrary to the Principles of Justice, Humanity, and sound Policy, they would, with all practicable Expedition, take effectual Measures for the Abolition of the same: And whereas, in conformity with the said Resolutions, and for all and each of the Reasons therein stated, the said Trade was by an Act passed in the Forty-seventh Year of His present Majesty, declared to be unlawful: And whereas it hath been found that divers Persons, not deterred by the Provisions and Penalties of the said Act, do still continue to deal and trade in slaves upon the Coast of Africa and elsewhere, and to carry them for Sale by Sea: And whereas the Commons House of Parliament, by its Resolution of the Fifteenth of June One thousand eight hundred and ten, did express its Indignation at such Practices, and did resolve speedily to take into consideration such Measures as might tend effectually to prevent such daring Violations of the Law And whereas it is fit that such Measures should be extended also to the effectual Abolition of the Slave Trade wheresoever it may be attempted to practise it; be it therefore enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same; That if any Subject or Subjects of His Majesty, or if any person or Persons residing or being within this United Kingdom, or in any of the Islands, Colonies, Dominions, Forts, Settlements, Factories, Territories now or hereafter belonging thereto, or being in His Majesty's Occupation or possession, or under the Government of the United Company of Merchants trading to the East Indies, shall, from and after the First Day of June next, by him or themselves, or by his or their Factors or Agents, or otherwise howsoever, carry away or remove, or aid or assist in the carrying away or removing, as a Slave or Slaves, or for the purpose of being sold, transferred, used, or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves, any Person or Persons whatsoever, from any Part of Africa, or from any other Country, Territory or Place whatsoever, either immediately, or by Transhipment at Sea or otherwise, directly or indirectly; or shall import or bring, or aid or assist in the importing or bringing into any Island, Colony, Country, Territory, or Place whatsoever, any such Person or Persons as aforesaid, for the purpose aforesaid; or shall knowingly and wilfully ship, embark, receive, detain, or confine on board any Snip, Vessel, or Boat, any such Person or Persons as aforesaid, for the Purpose of his, her, or their being so carried away or removed; imported, or brought as aforesaid, or of being sold, transferred, used, or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; or shall knowingly and wilfully use or employ, or permit to be used or employed, or let or take to Freight or on Hire any Ship or Vessel to be used or employed in carrying away or removing, importing or bringing, or for the Purpose of carrying away or removing, importing or bringing as aforesaid, any such Person or Persons, as a Slave or Slaves, or for the Purpose of his, her, or their being sold, transferred, used, or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; or shall fit out or cause to be fitted out, or shall take the Charge or Command of, or navigate, or enter and embark on board any such Ship or Vessel, as Master or Captain, Mate, Supercargo, or Surgeon, knowing that such Ship or Vessel is actually employed, or is, in the same Voyage for which he or they shall so enter and embark on board, intended to be employed in carrying or removing, importing or bringing as aforesaid any such Person or Persons, as, or for the purpose of his, her, or their being sold, transferred, used, or dealt with as a Slave or Slaves; then and in every such Case, the Person or persons so offending, and their Counsellors, Aiders, and Abertors, shall be and are hereby declared to be Felons, and shall be transported beyond the Seas for a Term not exceeding Fourteen Years, or shall be confined and kept to hard Labour for a Term not exceeding Five Years, nor less than Three Years, at the Discretion of the Court before whom such Offender or offenders shall be tried and convicted.

II. Provided always, and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons shall, from and after the First Day of May next, enter or navigate, or embark on board any such Ship or Vessel used and employed, or meant and intended to be used and employed as aforesaid, as a Petty Officer, Servant, or Seaman, or Petty Officers, Servants, or Seamen, knowing that such is or she be the Purpose or one of the Purposes of the Voyage, or if any person or Persons shall underwrite or procure to be underwittenunderwritten [sic], any Policy of Assurance upon any Ship or Vessel, or Goods, or the Freight of any Ship or Vessel employed or intended to