AN ACT TO ALLOW THE COMMODORE OF THIS STATE A SHARE IN ALL PRIZES TAKEN BY VESSELS OF WAR FITTED OUT BY AND AT THE EXPENSE OF THIS STATE, AND SAILING UNDER HIS ORDERS; AND TO ALTER AN ACT ENTITLED "An Act to empower the Court of Admiralty of this State to have jurisdiction in all cases of capture of the Ships and other Vessels of the inhabitants and subjects of Great Britain, to establish the trial by jury in the said court in cases of capture, and for other purposes therein mentioned. "

WHEREAS, by an Act of this State, passed the thirteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and seventy-seven, entitled, "An Act to empower the court of admiralty of this State to have jurisdiction in all cases of capture of the ships and other vessels of the inhabitants and subjects of Great Britain, to establish the trial by jury in the said court in cases of capture, and for the other purposes therein mentioned," it is among other things enacted, that vessels of war belonging to the King of Great Britain, or privateers fitted out for the purpose of cruising against the subjects of the United States of America, and not for trade, with their guns, tackle, furniture, apparel, and all merchandize found on board, taken by any vessel of war fitted out by and at the expense of the State, shall, after payment of the fees of condemnation, be wholly divided and shared to and amongst the officers, seamen and mariners, or persons acting as such, on board of or belonging to such vessels of war, in the manner by the said Act directed; and whereas, by the appointment of a commodore to command the navy of this State, it is become absolutely necessary to alter the manner of dividing the above mentioned captures, where the same shall be taken by any vessel of war fitted out by and at the expense of this State, and sailing under the commodore's orders;

I. Be it enacted by his Excellency Rawlins Lowndes, Esq., President and Commander-in-chief in apd over the State of South Carolina, by the honorable the Legislative Council and General Assembly of the said State, and by the authority of the same, That all vessels of war belonging to the King of Great Britain, or privateers fitted out for the purpose of cruising against the subjects of the United States of America, and not for trade, with their guns, tackle, furniture, apparel and all other merchandize found on board, taken by any vessel of war fitted out by and at the expense of this State, and sailing under the orders of the commodore thereof, shall, after payment of the fees of condemnation, be wholly divided and shared to and amongst the commodore, officers, seamen and marines on board of or belonging to such vessels of war, in the following manner (that is to say) two sixteenths to the commodore, three sixteenths to the captain or captains, two sixteenths to the lieutenants, officers of marines and master, two sixteenths to the warrant officers and pilot, two sixteenths to the petty officers, and five sixteenths to the seamen, mariners or other persons acting as such; any thing in the said Act or any other law contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

II. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the commodore of this State shall be entitled to one full sixteenth of all ships and vessels, except vessels of war, with their tackle, apparel and furniture, goods, wares and merchandize, belonging to any inhabitant or inhabitants of Great Britain or any subject or subjects of the King of Great Britain (except the inhabitants of Bermuda and Providence or Bahama Islands) which shall be hereafter taken by any vessel of war fitted out by and at the expense of this State, and sailing under the orders of the commodore thereof, which said sixteenth shall be paid out of the half of such captures to which this State is or shall be entitled.

HUGH RUTLEDGE, Speaker of the Legislative Council.
THOMAS BEE, Speaker of the General Assembly.
In the Council Chamber, the 28th day of March, 1778.