The British Consul's Manual

be sent at the same time.

If the account and vouchers are

regular, the bill will be paid, and the amount allowed at once; but if they are not, the amount will be charged as an imprest against the Consul until sufficient vouchers or a satisfactory explanation are received.

from Consul

to be remit.

172. If the sums received by the Consul during the quarter, Balance due on account of the Board of Trade, exceed the amount of his disbursements, he is to remit the balance to Her Majesty's ted. Paymaster-General, to be placed to the credit of the account for the relief of distressed British seamen; the advice of such remittance to be sent with his accounts to the Board of Trade. If no expenses have been incurred, and the receipts have been wholly for wages and effects of deceased seamen, the remittance is to be made to Her Majesty's PaymasterGeneral, to be placed to the credit of the account of "Wages and Effects of deceased Seamen," and an account with the Forms (C. 15), is to be transmitted to the Board of Trade.

FEES AND REMUNERATION.

173. In the Appendix will be found a copy of an Order in Table of fees. Form (C. 29) Council, dated First day of May, 1855, including a Table of in Appendix. the fees and commission which, by virtue of the Act 6 Geo. 4, c. 87, and of the Order in question, the Consul is entitled to charge for the various operations mentioned in the Act, and in the above instructions, as well as for other matters. See Table (C. 29) in Appendix.

No other fees or remuneration are to be received by the Consul, except as above, for any signature or other matter done by him in pursuance of these instructions.

to press cer

masters;

174. In order to prevent any misconception with reference Consuls not to the Consular services for which fees are payable, it is to tain offices be observed that matters mentioned in the second part of the on Shiptable of fees, so far as they relate to shipping, are matters which a British shipmaster may call upon a Consul to perform, and have for their object the protection and benefit of the British shipping interest, but are not to be looked upon merely as indirect means for increasing the Consul's emoluments. It is, therefore, for the master of the ship alone to judge whether it is expedient to procure from the Consul any of the documents mentioned in the second part of the table, the furnishing of which will authorise the Consul to levy a specified fee.

175. But although a Consul has no right to require a but to warn

them of con

neglect.

sequences of shipmaster to provide himself with Consular papers, it is proper that a Consul should make shipmasters aware of any inconvenient consequences which are likely to result to them from a neglect of any laws of this country, or of any regulations of foreign States bearing upon matters in which such shipmasters may be concerned. It must, however, of course, rest with the shipmaster to act in such cases as he may think proper.

Return of fees to be made to

State.

176. At the expiration of each year, the Consul will submit to Her Majesty's principal Secretary of State for Foreign Secretary of Affairs a certified statement (according to the form appended hereto) of the gross amount of all fees and remuneration received at his Consulate within the year under the tables before-mentioned, stating the amount in local currency as well as in pounds sterling, calculated at the average rate of exchange for the year, which exchange must also be stated. These accounts must be given in the form marked (C. 30) in Appendix. in the Appendix.

Form (C. 30)

No extra

made in re

177. In all cases in which any duties are required from charge to be British Consuls by these instructions he will perform those duties fully and completely, without making any charges dent to offi- other than those authorised as above mentioned, and he will

spect of matters inci

cial duties.

Passenger ships.

be careful not to make any work which is incident to those duties a ground for making additional charges as a merchant or in any other capacity.

MISCELLANEOUS.

178. The present instructions do not embrace the points specially provided for in those Acts which relate to the carriage of passengers. But it will generally happen that where passengers have reason to complain, the Consul will have the means of interfering in some one or other of the ways pointed out above. If not, he will act according to the best of his power in the matter, and will, if necessary, report the case to the Board of Trade. In dealing with the cases in which passengers are concerned, he will have regard to the provisions of the Acts specially relating to passengers, and also to the fourth part of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854. 179. In cases of ships being detained or arrested by any reign autho- Foreign authority, the Consul will employ all suitable means for obtaining their release and indemnity if the case requires it; and in the meanwhile, whatever is in his power to insure safety and order on board. He will inform the British

Detention of ships by fo

rities.

Minister in the country and Her Majesty's Secretary of State

of the occurrence.

master to

180. The law does not permit a Master, without special Power of authority from the Owner, to sell his ship, except in cases of sell a ship. the most urgent necessity. In such cases, the Master, to secure himself, should procure from the Consul a verification of the facts.

181. The Consul will forward to the Board of Trade full Notices of lights and notices of all new Lights, Beacons, or Buoys, and of all other matalterations in existing Lights, Beacons, or Buoys; and of all ters affecting navigation. Rocks, Shoals, and other impediments to Navigation discovered in or near the limits of his Consulate, or in or on the neighbouring Seas or Coasts, or other matters affecting Navigation. In so doing, the greatest accuracy is necessary. Where Official Notices of such matters are published in a Foreign language, a copy, or copies of the original should be sent, accompanied by an exact and close translation. Particular attention should be paid to the spelling and writing of proper names, and all numbers should not only be expressed in figures, but also written in words-e.g. "45° (forty-five degrees)."

of masters to

182. If the Consul learns that any Master has lost or Misconduct endangered his ship, or the lives of the passengers or crew, be reported. by incompetency or misconduct, or has been guilty of fraudulent practices towards his Owners or Employers, or towards Insurers, or has been guilty of gross tyranny towards any of his passengers or crew, or has otherwise grossly misconducted himself, or shown himself incompetent to command a ship, and it is not possible or expedient to settle the matter on the spot by the intervention of a Naval Court, or otherwise to deal with it under special directions contained in these Instructions, the Consul will report the case to the Board of Trade, giving such information as may facilitate the tracing of witnesses, and the prosecution of an inquiry on the return of the Master to this country.

183. The Consul will do his utmost to ascertain all parti- Piracies to be reported. culars concerning Piracies committed on the seas near his Consulate, and will communicate with Masters of British Ships so as to enable them to avoid danger, and with any of Her Majesty's Cruisers on the station, so as to enable them to seek for and capture the pirates. He will also report all such cases to Her Majesty's Secretary of State.

184. In all cases in which the Consul makes any report Numbers of ships and

certificates of concerning a British ship, he will mention the name of the

masters and

mates to be Port of Registry and the official number; and in all cases in

stated.

which he makes any report concerning a Master or Mate, he will state the number of his certificate, stating whether it is a Certificate of Competency or of Service.

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Inclosure No. 13, of ditto, being the Order in Council of 16th July, 1827. Inclosure No. 14, of the General Instructions.

Part of Inclosure No. 17, of ditto, being Section 82, of 11 Geo. 4, c. 20. Instructions issued by Admiralty concerning distressed British seamen,

dated 1852.

Inclosure No. 27, of the General Instructions.

Circular from the Foreign Office, dated the 4th September, 1851.

Ditto, dated 24th June, 1852.

Ditto, dated 13th September, 1852.

Ditto, dated 1st March, 1853.

Ditto, dated 30th September, 1853.

C. 2.-See paragraph 22.

PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRY granted by BRITISH Consular Officer upon a Ship becoming the property of persons qualified to be OWNERS of British Ships at any FOREIGN PORT.