quired for decision; and,
where local courts have wrongfully interfered, he puts the home
government in motion through the consul-general or ambassador. He sends
in reports on the labour, manufacture, trade, commercial legislation and
finance, technical education, exhibitions and conferences of the country
or district in which he resides, and, generally, furnishes information
on any subject which may be desired of him. He acts as a notary public;
he draws up marine and commercial protests, attests documents brought to
him, and, if necessary, draws up wills, powers of attorney, or
conveyances. He celebrates marriages in accordance with the provisions
of the Foreign Marriage Act 1892, and, where the ministrations of a
clergyman cannot be obtained, reads the burial service. At a seaport he
has certain duties to perform in connexion with the navy. In the absence
of any of His Majesty's ships he is senior naval officer; he looks after
men left behind as stragglers, or in hospital or prison, and sends them
on in due course to the nearest ship. He is also empowered by statute to
advance for the erection or maintenance of Anglican churches, hospitals,
and places of interment sums equal to the amount subscribed for the
purpose by the resident British subjects.

As the powers and duties of consuls vary with the particular commercial
interests they have to protect, and the civilization of the state in
whose territory they reside, instead of abstract definition, we
summarize the provisions on this subject of the British Merchant
Shipping Acts.[4] Consuls are bound to send to the Board of Trade such
reports or returns on any matter relating to British merchant shipping
or seamen as they may think necessary. Where a consul suspects that the
shipping or navigation laws are being evaded, he may require the owner
or master to produce the log-book or other ship documents (such as the
agreement with the seamen, the account of the crew, the certificate of
registration); he may muster the crew, and order explanations with
regard to the documents. Where an offence has been committed on the high
seas, or aboard ashore, by British seamen or apprentices, the consul
makes inquiry on oath, and may send home the offender and witnesses by a
British ship, particulars for the Board of Trade being endorsed on the
agreement for conveyance. He is also empowered to detain a foreign ship
the master or seamen of which appear to him through their misconduct