British Royal Proclamations Relating to America, 1603-1783

by Great Britain. Sovereign

BY THE KING.

A PROCLAMATION

For granting the Distribution of Prizes during the present Hostilities.

George R.

Whereas, by Our Order in Council dated the Twenty-ninth Day of July last, We have ordered that general Reprisals be granted against the Ships, Goods, and Subjects of the French King, and that as well Our Fleets and Ships, as also all other Ships and Vessels that shall be commissionated by Letters of Marque, or general Reprisals, or otherwise, by Our Commissioners for executing Our Office of Lord High Admiral of Great Britain, shall and may lawfully seize all Ships, Vessels and Goods, belonging to the French King, and bring the same to Judgement in any of Our Courts of Admiralty within Our Dominions: We, being desirous to give due Encouragement to all Our faithful Subjects who shall lawfully seize the same, and having declared in Council, by Our Order of the Seventh of last Month, Our Intentions concerning the Distribution of all Manner of Captures, Seizures, Prizes and Reprisals, of all Ships and Goods, during the present Hostilities, do now make known to all Our loving Subjects, and all others whom it may concern, by this Our Proclamation, by and with the Advice of Our Privy Council, that Our Will and Pleasure is, That the Neat Produce of all Prizes taken, the Right whereof is inherent in Us, and Our Crown, be given to the Takers in the Proportion and Manner of Proceeding herein-after set forth: that is to say, That all Prizes taken by Ships and Vessels having Commissions of Letters of Marque and Reprisals, may be sold and disposed of by the Merchants, Owners, Fitters, and others to whom such Letters of Marque and Reprisals are granted, for their own Use and Benefit, after final Adjudication, and not before. And We do hereby further Order and direct, that the Neat Produce of all Prizes which are or shall be taken by any of Our Ships or Vessels of War, shall be for the entire Benefit and Encouragement of Our Flag Officers, Captains, Commanders, and other Commissioned Officers in Our Pay, and of the Seamen, Marines, and Soldiers, on Board Our said Ships and Vessels at the Time of the Capture; and that such Prizes may be lawfully sold and disposed of by them and their Agents, after the same shall have been to Us finally adjudged lawful Prize, and not otherwise. The Distribution shall be made as follows; the Whole of the Neat Produce being first divided into Eight equal Parts;

The Captain or Captains of any of Our said Ships and Vessels of War, who shall be actually on Board at the Taking of any Prize, shall have Three Eighth Parts; but in case any such Prize shall be taken by any of Our Ships or Vessels of War, under the Command of a Flag or Flags, the Flag Officer or Officers being actually on Board or directing and assisting in the Capture, shall have One of the said Three Eighth Parts; the said One Eighth Part to be paid to such Flag or Flag Officers in such Proportions, and subject to such Regulations, as are herein-after mentioned:

The Captains of Marines and Land Forces, Sea Lieutenants, and Master on Board, shall have One Eighth Part, to be equally divided amongst them:

The Lieutenants and Quarter Masters of Marines, and Lieutenants, Ensigns, and Quarter Masters of Land Forces, Secretaries of Admirals or of Commodores, with Captains under them, Boatswains, Gunners, Purser, Carpenter, Master's Mates, Chirurgeon, Pilot, and Chaplain on Board, shall have One Eighth Part, to be equally divided amongst them:

The Midshipmen, Captain's Clerk, Master Sailmaker, Carpenter's Mates, Boatswain's Mates, Gunner's Mates, Master at Arms, Corporals, Yeomen of the Sheets, Cockswain, Quarter Masters, Quarter Masters Mates, Chirurgeon's Mates, Yeomen of the Powder Room, Serjeants of Marines, and Land Forces on Board, shall have One Eighth Part, to be equally divided amongst them:

The Trumpeters, Quarter Gunners, Carpenter's Crew, Stewards, Cook, Armourer, Steward's Mate, Cook's Mate, Gunsmith, Cooper, Swabber, Ordinary Trumpeter, Barber, Able Seamen, Ordinary Seamen, and Marines, and other Soldiers, and all other Persons doing Duty and assisting on Board, shall have Two Eighth Parts, to be equally divided amongst them: