Smuggling Act, 1819

SMUGGLING ACT 1819

C A P. CXXI.

An Act to make further Regulations for the Prevention of Smuggling. [12th July 1819.]

Foreign Smuggling Vessels, in which there shall be One or more Subjects of His Majesty, found within certain Leagues of the Coast, having on board Spirits in Casks of less Content than 60 Gallons (Exception); or Tea, or Tobacco, exceeding a certain Quantity; forfeited with Cargo; and such Subjects liable to Prosecution, &c.

‘Whereas by the Laws now in force certain Vessels and Boats, belonging in the whole or in part to His Majesty’s Subjects, or whereof One Half of the Persons on board are Subjects of His Majesty, if found or discovered to have been within certain Distances of the Coasts of Great Britain and Ireland, having on board Foreign Spirits, Tea, Tobacco or Snuff, are liable to Forfeiture, and every Person on board, being a Subject of His Majesty, is liable to be arrested and taken before a Justice of the Peace, and not proving to be a Passenger, to be fined or impressed into His Majesty’s Naval Service: And Whereas the Intention of those Laws are defeated by Foreign Vessels and Boats having on board His Majesty’s Subjects, although not amounting to Half, and also by some of such Subjects pretending to be Passengers:’ 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 Foreign Smuggling Vessel or Boat, in which there shall be One or more Subjects of His Majesty, whether Mariners or Persons pretending to be Passengers, shall be found or discovered to have been within Four Leagues of that Part of the Coast of Great Britain which is between the North Foreland on the Coast of Kent, and Beachy Head on the Coast of Sussex, or within Eight Leagues of any other Part of the Coast of Great Britain or Ireland, having on board any Foreign Brandy, Rum, Geneva or other Spirits, in any Cask or Package of less Size or Content than Sixty Gallons (except only for the Use of the Seamen belonging to and on board such Vessel or Boat, not exceeding two Gallons for each Seaman); or any Tea exceeding Six Pounds in the whole; or any Tobacco or Snuff, in any Cask or Package whatever containing less than Four hundred and fifty Pounds Weight, except loose Tobacco for the Use of the Seamen on board such Vessel or Boat, not exceeding Five Pounds Weight of Tobacco for each Seaman, and except such Tea or manufactured Tobacco or Snuff as shall have been duly shipped for Exportation as Merchandise on board such Vessel or Boat from some Port or Place in Ireland; such Vessel or Boat, together with all the Goods laden therein, shall be forfeited, and shall and may be seized, prosecuted and dealt with as by the Laws now in force for the Prevention of Smuggling; and every such Subject of His Majesty, who shall be found on board such Vessel or Boat, shall be liable to all the Pains and Penalties, and shall and may be detained, prosecuted, convicted or delivered over to His Majesty’s Navy, in like manner as Persons being Subjects of His Majesty, and found on board Vessels or Boats liable to Forfeiture, belonging wholly or in part to His Majesty’s Subjects, or whereof One Half of the Persons on board are Subjects of His Majesty, may, by any Law or Laws now in force, be detained, prosecuted, convicted or delivered over to His Majesty’s Navy; and the Officer or Officers detaining such Person shall be allowed the like Reward, and Part or Share of any Penalty that may be recovered from any such Person, as is now by Law allowed and paid for the Detention of Persons in similar Cases.

How the Leagues shall be measured.

II. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That such Distance of Eight Leagues in this Act mentioned may and shall be measured in any Direction between the Southward and Eaftward of Beachy Head, and the Provisions of this Act shall extend to such Limits and Distance of Eight Leagues in every Direction from Beachy Head, although any Part of such Limits so extended may exceed the Distance of Four Leagues before mentioned from any Part of the Coast of Great Britain to the Eastward of Beachy Head aforesaid.

Persons arrested under this or former Acts, and found not fit for the Navy, Penalty loci.

57 G. 3. c. 87.

§ 6.

If not paid, imprisoned.

III. ‘And Whereas by an Act passed in the Fifty seventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled An Act to amend Two Acts passed in the Forty Fifth Year of His present Majesty and in the last Session of Parliament, for the making more effectual Provision for the Prevention of Smuggling, it is amongst other things enacted, that in all Cases where any Person liable to be arrested under any of the Acts made for the Prevention of Smuggling shall be fit and able to serve His Majesty in His Naval Service, and liable under the said Acts or any of them to be impressed into such Service, every such Person so arrested shall be taken before such Justice or Justices as aforesaid, and shall upon such Proof as by the said Act of the Forty fifth Year aforesaid or any other Act is required, be committed by such Justice or Justices to Prison, to answer such Information and abide such Judgment as may be thereon given against him in that behalf; and that it shall and may be lawful for the Gaoler or Keeper of any Prison or House of Correction in which such Person shall be so imprisoned, or for any Officer of Customs or Excise, on the Order of the Commissioners of Customs or Excise respectively directing the Prosecution, to such Gaoler or Keeper and Officer respectively, to carry and convey or cause to be carried or conveyed any such Person on board of any of His Majesty’s Ships of War, in order to his being impressed into His Majesty’s Naval Service: And Whereas it has been in many Instances found that Persons so carried and conveyed on board a Ship of War have, on their Examination by the proper Naval Officer, been deemed unfit for His Majesty’s Naval Service;’ Be it therefore enacted, That from and after the passing of this Act, when any Person so committed as aforesaid and taken on board a Ship of War shall be found not fit or able to serve His Majesty in His Naval Service, and shall be refused by any proper Naval Officer to be received into such Naval Service, every such Person shall forfeit and lose the Sum of One hundred Pounds; and the Gaoler, Keeper or other Officer who so carried and conveyed the said Person on board the said Ship of War, shall reconvey the said Person before the said Justice or Justices of the Peace who had previously, on Proof as required by Law, committed the said Person to Prison, and the said Justice or Justices is and are hereby authorised and required, to convict the said Person in the said Penalty of One hundred Pounds; and every such Person so convicted as aforesaid shall immediately on such Conviction pay down into the Hands of the said Officer who detained the said Person, or into the Hands of the Justice or Justices, to be applied according to Law, the said Penalty in which he shall be so convicted; and if any such Person so convicted shall not forthwith pay down the said Penalty, the said Justice or Justices shall and he and they is and are hereby respectively authorised and required, by Warrant under his or their Hand and Seal, to commit the Person so convicted as aforesaid to any Gaol or Prison or House of Correction, until such Penalty shall be paid.

Persons found or having been on board of Vessels liable to Forfeiture, wearing Disguise shall, on Conviction, be transported.

8 G. 1. c. 18.

§ 6.

IV. ‘And Whereas by an Act passed in the Eighth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the First, intituled An Act to prevent the clandestine removing of Goods, and the Danger of Infection thereby; and to prevent Ships breaking their Quarantine; and to subject Copper Ore of the Production of the British Plantations to such Regulations as other enumerated Commodities of the like Production are subject, certain Provisions are made against Persons found passing with Foreign Goods, landed without Payment of Duties, in their Custody, from any of the Coasts of this Kingdom, or within the Space of Twenty Miles of any of the said Coasts, wearing any Vizard, Mask or other Disguise: And Whereas it is expedient to extend the like Provisions with respect to any Person or Persons so disguised and found or discovered on board certain Vessels found within the British or Irish Channels, or elsewhere within certain Distances of the Coast of this Kingdom;’ Be it therefore enacted, That if any Person or Persons, being His Majesty’s Subject or Subjects, shall be found or taken on board, or discovered to have been on board any Ship, Vessel or Boat liable to Forfeiture under any of the Provisions of any Act or Acts of Parliament, for being found or having been at anchor or hovering within any such Distances of any of the Dominions of His Majesty, with such Goods on board as subject such Ship, Vessel or Boat, or Goods, to Forfeiture, wearing any Vizard, Mask or other Disguise, such Person or Persons shall be adjudged guilty of Felony, and shall on Conviction for such his, her or their Offence, be transported as a Felon for the Space of Seven Years; and if any such Offender shall return into Great Britain or Ireland before the Expiration of the said Seven Years, he, she or they so returning shall suffer as a Felon, and have Execution awarded against him, her or them, as Persons attainted of Felony without Benefit of Clergy.

In what Case a Reward not exceeding 25l. to Informers against Persons convicted of making Signals for Smuggling Vessels.

47 G. 3. Sess. 2. c. 66. § 34.

V. ‘And Whereas by an Act passed in the Forty seventh Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, intituled An Act to make more effectual Provision for the Prevention of Smuggling, it is enacted, that any Person or Persons making, or aiding or assisting in the making, or being present for the purpose of aiding or assisting in the making any Light, Fire, Flash or Blaze, or Signal, in or on board any Vessel or Boat, or on or from any Part of the Coast or Shores of Great Britain, or within Six Miles of such Coast or Shores, for the purpose of making or giving any Signal to any Person or Persons on board any Smuggling Vessel or Boat, and being duly convicted thereof, shall by Order of the Court before whom such Person or Persons shall be convicted, either forfeit and pay the Penalty of One hundred Pounds, or at the Discretion of such Court be sentenced to or committed to the Common Gaol or House of Correction, there to be kept to hard Labour for any Term not exceeding One Year: And Whereas it is expedient to encourage the Apprehension of such Offenders;’ Be it enacted, That in every such Case where any Offender or Offenders shall be so convicted of such Offence as aforesaid, and shall, in lieu of paying any such Penalty, be sentenced to or committed to the Common Gaol or House of Correction, it shall be lawful for the Commissioners of the Customs and Excise respectively to order and direct any Sum not exceeding Twenty five Pounds to be paid out of any Monies in the Hands of the Receiver General of the Customs and Excise respectively, to any Person or Persons who shall have informed against, discovered or prosecuted any such Offender as aforesaid.

Provisions, &c. of recited Act extended to (Exception) Vessels coming from Brest having on board Spirits, &c. exceeding a certain Quantity.

57 G. 3. c.33.

§ 2.

VI. ‘And Whereas by an Act passed in the Fifty seventh Year of His present Majesty’s Reign, intituled An Act to reduce the Allowance of Spirits, Tea and Tobacco, for the Use of Seamen on board certain Ships or Vessels making short Voyages, certain Provisions and Forfeitures are made respecting Ships or Vessels (not being square rigged) coming from any Place between the Port of Brest on the Coast of France, and certain other Places therein mentioned, which shall arrive in any of the Ports of that Part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, or be found at anchor or hovering within the Limits or Distances therein mentioned, having on board Spirituous Liquors, Tea or Tobacco, exceeding certain Allowances therein mentioned, but no Regulation is made respecting Ships or Vessels which may come from the said Port of Brest on the Coast of France;’ Be it therefore enacted, That all the Provisions and Forfeitures of the said recited Act shall extend to all Ships or Vessels (not being square rigged) coming from the said Port of Brest, which shall arrive in any of the Ports of that Part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, or be found at anchor or hovering within the Limits or Distances therein mentioned, having on board for the Use of the Seamen then belonging to and on board such Ship or Vessel, any Brandy or other Spirituous Liquors exceeding One Gallon for each Seaman, or having on board any Tea exceeding Four Pounds Weight in the Whole, or having on board any Tobacco (excepting loose Tobacco, not exceeding Two Pounds Weight for each Seaman), as fully and effectually to all Intents and Purposes as if the said Act, and all the Clauses, Provisions, Powers, Authorities, Forfeitures, Matters and Things relating thereto, were particularly and expressly repeated and re-enacted in the Body of this present Act.

Where Charges of Prosecution in Seizures of Carriages and Horses exceed Produce of Sale thereof, Excess may be paid out of Sale of Goods.

Proviso for Officers entitled to gross Share of Goods seized.

VII. ‘And Whereas the Charges of prosecuting and condemning Carts and other Carriages, and Horses and other Cattle, seized for Offences against the Laws for Protection of the Revenue of Customs or Excise, in certain Instances exceed the Produce arising from the Sale of such Seizures; and it is expedient, in Cases where Goods also shall or may be seized therewith, that the Excess of such Charges should be defrayed out of the Produce arising from the Sale of the Goods on account of which such Carts and other Carriages, and Horses and other Cattle, have been so seized;’ Be it therefore enacted, That in all Cases wherein the Charges of prosecuting and condemning Carts and other Carriages, and Horses and other Cattle, seized for Offences against the Laws for Protection of the Revenue of Customs or Excise, shall exceed the Produce arising from the Sale thereof, it shall and may be lawful for the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Customs in England, or any Four or more of them, and also for the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Customs in Scotland, or any Three or more of them respectively, if they shall think proper, to order such Part of the Expences arising either from the Seizure, Custody, Removal, Detention, Prosecution or Condemnation of any such Cart or other Carriage, Horse or other Cattle, as shall exceed the Produce arising from the Sale of such Seizure, to be defrayed out of the Produce arising from the Sale of the Goods on account of which they shall have been so seized: Provided always nevertheless, that this Act shall not extend to any Case wherein the Officers of the Customs shall, by any Law now in force or hereafter to be made, be entitled to a gross Share of the Goods seized by him.

Boats with double Bottoms or double Sides found within certain Distances, forfeited.

VIII. ‘And Whereas a Practice has prevailed of building Boats with double Bottoms or double Sides, whereby customable or prohibited Goods may be concealed and run into this Country; and in order to prevent such illicit Practices being carried into execution, it is expedient that such Boats, if found within certain Distances, should be forfeited;’ Be it therefore enacted, That if any Boat whatever, having a double Bottom or double Side or Sides, shall be found within the Limits of any of the Ports of this Kingdom, or shall be discovered to have been within the said Limits; or if any Boat, having a double Bottom or double Side or Sides, belonging wholly or in part to His Majesty’s Subjects, or whereof One Half of the Persons on board shall be Subjects of His Majesty, shall be found in any Part of the British or Irish Channels, or elsewhere on the High Seas, within One hundred Leagues of any Part of the Coasts of Great Britain or Ireland, or shall be discovered to have been within the said Limits; every such Boat, together with all her Materials, shall be forfeited, and shall and may be seized by any Officer or Officers of His Majesty’s Navy or Marines, or of the Customs or Excise.

Goods found concealed on board any Vessel, either before or after the Master makes his Report, forfeited.

IX. ‘And Whereas in Ships from Foreign Parts Goods have been found concealed in false Bulk Heads, between the Linings, and false Knees, or in concealed Lockers, or in the Ballast or false Package, and other Places, which the Officers of the Customs cannot easily find out or discover, in order to their being landed without Payment of Duties, and such Goods are not by any Law liable to Forfeiture if discovered previous to the Master making his Report at the Custom House;’ For Remedy whereof be it enacted, That all Goods which shall be found concealed as aforesaid, or concealed in any other Place on board any Ship or Vessel at any time, either before or after the Master thereof shall have made his Report at the Custom House, shall be forfeited and lost, and shall and may be seized and prosecuted by any Officer or Officers of the Customs.

Vessels found within certain Limits, having Goods concealed liable to Duty or prohibited, such Goods and Vessels forfeited.

Proviso for Stress of Weather, &c.

X. And be it further enacted, That if any Ship or Vessel (not being square rigged), or any Boat, shall arrive in any of the Ports of that Part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, or shall be found at anchor or hovering within the Limits of any of the Ports thereof, or within Four Leagues of that Part of the Coast thereof which is between the North Foreland on the Coast of Kent, and Beachy Head on the Coast of Sussex, or within Eight Leagues of any other Part of the Coast of that Part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, or shall have been discovered to have been within the said Limits or Distances, and not proceeding on her Voyage, Wind and Weather permitting, unless in case of unavoidable Necessity and Distress of Weather, of which Necessity and Distress the Master or other Person having or taking the Charge or Command of such Ship, Vessel or Boat, shall give Notice and make proof before the Collector or other Chief Officer of the Customs of any Port within the Limits of which such Ship, Vessel or Boat shall be found, immediately after the Arrival of such Ship, Vessel or Boat within the Limits of such Port, having on board any Goods liable to the Payment of Customs or other Duties, or any Goods prohibited to be imported into this Kingdom, concealed between false Bulk Heads, real or false Linings, or in any Concealment in the Construction and Fitment of the Vessel, obviously for the purpose of Concealment, in any Part of such Ship, Vessel or Boat, or in or amongst any Package of other Goods on board such Ship, Vessel or Boat, then not only the said Goods so concealed shall be forfeited, but also the Ship or Vessel (not being square rigged) or Boat, on board which they shall be found as aforesaid, with all her Guns, Furniture, Ammunition, Tackle and Apparel, shall be forfeited, and shall and may be seized by any Officer or Officers of His Majesty’s Army, Navy or Marines, or of the Customs or Excise.

Commissioners of Customs in England may grant their Deputation to Persons in the British Colonies in America and the West Indies, authorising them to make Seizures when Goods and Vessels are liable to Seizures.

Such Seizures to be prosecuted as if made by Officers of the Customs.

XI. ‘And Whereas it is expedient, for the more effectual Execution of the Laws now in force, or hereafter to be made, for the Benefit of Shipping and Navigation, and of His Majesty’s Revenue of Customs, and for the Suppression of Smuggling in the Colonies or Plantations in America or the West Indies, which now are or hereafter may be under the Dominion of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, that the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Customs in that Part of the United Kingdom called England, should be empowered to grant their Deputations to any Person or Persons they may think fit, in the said Colonies or Plantations (although such Person or Persons may not hold or be appointed to any specific Office under the said Revenues), authorising him or them to make Seizures of any Ship, Vessel, Boat, Carriage, Horses, or other Cattle or Goods which may be subject to Forfeiture under any Law or Laws relating to the Shipping and Navigation of this Kingdom, or the said Colonies or Plantations, or to the Revenue of Customs, now in force, or hereafter to be made, in like manner as if such Person or Persons held or had been appointed to a specific Office or Offices under the said Revenue;’ Be it therefore enacted, That it shall be lawful for the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Customs in that Part of the United Kingdom called England, or any Three or more of them, to grant their Deputation to any Person or Persons they may think fit, in the Colonies or Plantations in America or the West Indies, which now are or hereafter may be under the Dominion of His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors (although such Person or Persons may not hold or be appointed to any specific Office or Offices under the said Revenue), authorising him or them to make Seizures of any Ship, Vessel, Boat, Carriage, Horses or other Cattle or Goods which may be subject to Forfeiture under any Law or Laws relating to the Shipping and Navigation of this Kingdom, or the said Colonies or Plantations, or to the Revenue of Customs, now in force or hereafter to be made (although such Person or Persons shall not hold or be appointed to any Office or Offices of the Customs at any specific Port or Place), and such Person or Persons so deputed shall and may make Seizures in like manner as any Officer or Officers of the Customs, and such Person or Persons so deputed shall be subject to the like Penalties as Officers of the Customs; and all Seizures made by such Persons so deputed, shall be sued for, prosecuted and recovered by the like Means, Ways and Methods, and shall and may be disposed of, and the Proceeds distributed in like manner, as any Seizure made by Officers of the Customs in His Majesty’s Colonies or Plantations in America or the West Indies, may by any Law now in force or hereafter to be made be sued for, prosecuted, recovered and applied.

Owners of square rigged Vessels, Value 1,000l. and upwards requiring a Licence, to give Security in 3,000l.

56 G. 3. c. 104.

§ 23.

XII. ‘And Whereas by an Act passed in the Fifty sixth Year of His present Majesty’s Reign, intituled An Act for the making more effectual Provision for the Prevention of Smuggling, and rewarding Officers and Persons making Seizures and capturing Smuggling Vessels; for licensing Luggers employed in the North Sea Fisbery, and obliging Exporters of Exciseable Goods on Drawback to give Notice of Shipment; it is enacted, that Security shall be given by the Owner or Owners of every Ship, Vessel or Boat for which a Licence shall be required, in Treble the Value thereof, instead of Double the Value, such Security to be given under the same Conditions, Rules, Regulations, Restrictions and Forfeitures, as provided and enacted by the Laws in force on and immediately before the passing of the said Act, as far as the same are applicable thereto: And Whereas it is expedient to make Alteration as to the Amount of Security to be given for Ships or Vessels which shall be square rigged, and the Value of which shall amount to One thousand Pounds and upwards;’ Be it therefore enacted, That in respect of every Ship or Vessel (being square rigged) and of the Value of One thousand Pounds and upwards, for which a Licence shall be required, the Owner or Owners shall give Security in the Sum of Three thousand Pounds, and not in any greater Sum; any thing in the said recited Act or any other Act to the contrary notwithstanding, but subject nevertheless to the same Conditions, Rules, Regulations, Restrictions and Forfeitures, as are provided and required by the Laws now in force, as far as the same are applicable thereto.

Where it appears that Officer has acted collusively, &c. in making Seizures, &c. Treasury may direct his Share to be forfeited.

56 G. 3. c. 104. § 10.

XIII. ‘And Whereas by virtue of the said recited Act of the Fifty sixth Year of the Reign of His present Majesty, certain Proportions of the Value of Goods and Merchandise seized as forfeited under any Law or Laws for the Protection of the Revenue are directed to be paid to the Officer or Officers as a Reward for seizing the same: And Whereas it is expedient to vest in the Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury, or any Three or more of them, the Power of withholding such Reward, upon Proof to their Satisfaction that such Officer or Officers shall have acted collusively or negligently in any such Seizure;’ Be it therefore enacted, That upon Proof being made to the Satisfaction of the said Lords Commissioners of His Majesty’s Treasury, or any Three or more of them, that any such Officer or Officers shall have acted collusively or negligently, either in the making such Seizure, or in the Omission or Failure to make such Seizure, it shall be lawful for them to direct that the whole or any part of the Officer or Officers Proportion of such Seizure shall be forfeited, and go and be applied in the same manner as His Majesty’s Share of Seizures is by Law directed to be applied.

Boats with more than Four Oars, found within certain Limits, forfeited.

8 G.1. c.18.

§ 3.

Using them, Penalty 100l. Proviso for Boats, &c. of the Royal Family, and certain other Boats, &c.

XIV. ‘And Whereas by an Act passed in the Eighth Year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the First, intituled An Act to prevent the clandestine Running of Goods, and the Danger of Infection thereby; and to prevent Ships breaking their Quarantine; and to subject Copper Ore of the Production of British Plantations to such Regulations as other enumerated Commodities of the like Production are subject; all Boats, Wherries, Pinnaces, Barges and Gallies, rowing or made or built to row, with more than Four Oars, found within certain Counties and Ports therein particularly mentioned, are forfeited, and the Owner or Owners, or Persons using the same, are liable to the Penalty of Forty Pounds; which Penalty, by a subsequent Act, passed in the Fifty seventh Year of His present Majesty’s Reign, is increased to One hundred Pounds: And Whereas it is found expedient to extend the Provisions of the said Acts to other Places than those mentioned in the said first recited Act;’ Be it therefore enacted, That if any Boat, Wherry, Pinnace, Barge or Galley, however owned, rowing or made or built to row, with more than Four Oars, shall be found either upon the Land or the Water, within the Limits of any of the Ports of that Part of the United Kingdom called Great Britain, or the Members or Creeks to them or either of them respectively belonging, such Boat, Wherry, Pinnace, Barge or Galley, with all her Tackle and Furniture, or the Value thereof, shall be forfeited, and shall and may be seized by any Officer or Officers of the Customs; and the Owner or Owners, and every Person using or rowing in such Boat, Wherry, Pinnace, Barge or Galley, shall also forfeit and lose the Sum of One hundred Pounds: Provided always, that this Act shall not extend or be construed to extend to any Boat, Wherry, Pinnace, Barge or Galley belonging to His Majesty or any of the Royal Family, or to any Boat, Wherry, Pinnace, Barge or Galley belonging to and used in the Service of any Merchant Ship or Vessel, or belonging to any Ship or Vessel in the Service of His Majesty’s Navy, Victualling, Ordnance, Customs, Excise or Post Office, nor to any Boat, Wherry, Pinnace, Barge or Galley whatsoever, the Owner of which shall have a Licence from the Commissioners of His Majesty’s Customs in England or Scotland respectively, or any Three or more of them for the time being.

Recovery and Application of Penalties.

XV. ‘And be it further enacted, That all Penalties and Forfeitures created and incurred by this Act (not otherwise hereby directed), shall and may be sued for, prosecuted, recovered and disposed of in such Manner, and by such Ways, Means and Methods, as any Penalties incurred, or any Goods or Vessels forfeited, for any Offence against the Laws of Customs or Excise, may now legally be sued for, prosecuted, recovered and disposed of; and the Officer or Officers concerned in Seizures or Prosecutions under this Act, shall be entitled to and receive such Share of the Produce arising from the Seizures as they are now by Law entitled to upon Prosecutions of Seizures for unlawful Importation, and to such Share of the Produce arising from any pecuniary Fine or Penalty or Composition paid for any Offence against this Act, as they are now by any Law or Regulation entitled to upon Prosecutions for pecuniary Penalties.