No. 52
29th April 1870
My Lord,
I have the honor to forward an authenticated and two plain copies of an Ordinance passed by the Legislative Council entitled— An Ordinance to prevent Desertion from Merchant Ships.
2. The practice of "crimping" prevails here to averyManuscript image very considerable extent, and as explained by the Attorney General in his annexed Report the difficulty of repressing it, without some more stringent provisions than have hitherto existed, has led to acts of violence on the part of Masters and Mates of Merchant Vessels which have already caused serious results and in one case nearly ended in a murder. Under the peculiar circumstances of the place I think the provisions of the Ordinance now submittedareManuscript image are not excessively severe and I submit it for Her Majesty's confirmation.
I have the honor to be,
My Lord,
Your most obedient
humble Servant
A. Musgrave
Minutes by CO staff
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CC 8/6
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Ordinance to prevent desertion from Merchant Vessels.
The preamble refers to Merchant Ships only, but the terms of the Ordinance would include Men of War, & I observe that the Attorney General in his report refers to the cost of sending marines or seamen in Men of War Ships from England. This might perhaps be pointed out when the Ordinance is dealt with.
But first to the B of Trade.
HTH 9/6
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At once. And to Admy observing that there may be some doubt whether it applies to deserters from the RN & requesting to be informed whether they wd wish it to be be so applied.
Documents enclosed with the main document (not transcribed)
Three printed copies of ordinance not on microfilm.
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H.P.P. Crease, Attorney General, to Musgrave, 27 April 1870, reporting on the ordinance as per despatch.
Other documents included in the file
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Holland to Assistant Secretary, Marine Department, Board of Trade, 11 June 1870, forwarding copy of the ordinance for observations.
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Holland to Secretary to the Admiralty, 11 June 1870, forwarding copy of the prdinance and report for consideration and asking whether the provisions should apply to deserters from the Royal Navy.