Smuggling Act, 1805

SMUGGLING ACT 1805

C A P. CXXI.

An Act for the more effectual Prevention of Smuggling. [12th July 1805.]

If Vessels of Subjects coming from Foreign Parts shall be found in any Part of the British or Irish Channels, or High Seas, within 100 Leagues of the Coasts of Great Britain or Ireland, having Spirits in Casks less than 60 Gallons,—Tea exceeding 6 lbs. or Tobacco in Packages of less than 450 lb. Weight (except for the Crew, &c.) the whole Goods and Ship shall be forfeited.

‘Whereas in Defiance of the several Laws of Customs and Excise, great Quantities of Goods are illegally imported into, and landed in the United Kingdom, as well by clandestine Means as by open Force to the great Detriment of the Revenue, and the Subversion of all Civil Authority: And whereas it is become highly necessary that some further Provision should be made for the Remedy of these great Evils:’ 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, from and after the passing of this Act, if any Vessel or Boat coming from Foreign Parts, and 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, (other than and except any Ship or other square-rigged Vessel), 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, 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 Merchandize on board such Vessel or Boat, from some Port or Place in Ireland;) then not only all such Foreign Brandy, Rum, Geneva, or other Spirits, and all such Tea, Tobacco, or Snuff, together with the Casks or Packages containing the same, but also every such Vessel or Boat, together with all the Guns, Furniture, Ammunition, Tackle, and Apparel thereof, 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.