e, the master or commander
should immediately proceed to the harbour of New Grimsby, in one of the
islands of Scilly, and there communicate the discovery to some officer
of the customs; who should, with the first opportunity, transmit this
intelligence to another custom-house officer in the nearest port of
England, to be by him forwarded to one of his majesty's principal
secretaries of state. In the meantime the ship should remain at the said
island, and not an individual presume to go ashore until his majesty's
pleasure should be known. It was also provided, that in case the master
of a ship thus infected should not be able to make the islands of
Scilly, or be forced up either channel by violent winds, he should not
enter any frequented harbour; but remain in some open road, until he
could receive orders from his majesty, or the privy council; that,
during this interval, he should avoid all intercourse with the shore,
or any person or vessel whatsoever, on pain of being deemed guilty of
felony, and suffering death without benefit of clergy.

ACT FOR PREVENTING THE PLUNDERING OF SHIPWRECKED VESSELS.

In order the more effectually to repress the barbarous practice of
plundering ships which have the misfortune to suffer shipwreck--a
practice which prevailed upon many different parts of the British
coast--to the disgrace of the nation, and the scandal of human nature;
a bill was prepared, containing clauses to enforce the laws against such
savage delinquents, who prowl along the shore like hungry wolves, in
hope of preying upon their fellow-creatures; and certain provisions for
the relief of the unhappy sufferers.*

* By the new law, the clerk of the peace in the county where
the crime shall be committed, is obliged, upon receiving
proper information, to prosecute the offenders at the
expense of the county. It was likewise proposed, that in
case no prosecution of this nature should be commenced
within a certain limited time after the information should
have been legally given, in that case the county might be
sued by the person who had sustained the damage, and obliged
to indemnify him for his loss; but this clause was rejected
by the majority; and the bill having made its way through
both houses, received the royal assent.

When the mutiny bill fell under deliberation, the earl of Egmont
proposed a new clause for empowering and requiring regimental
courts-m