An Act for establishing Naval Officers in this Colony.

Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the Governor for the time being shall be Naval Officer in this Colony.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That there shall be kept at the port of New London one naval office, at the port of New Haven one other naval office, at the port of Midletown one other naval office, and at the port of Norwalk one other naval office; and that the Governor for the time being depute some proper person at each of said ports as naval officers, and take bond with sufficient surety in the sum of one thousand pounds for the faithful discharge of their duty therein, to enter and clear out vessels and their cargoes, and to do and act therein in such way and manner and according to such rules and orders as to such their offices respectively appertain.

Whereas it is recommended by the Honorable Continental Congress to the several legislatures in the United Colonies, as soon as possible, to erect courts of justice or give jurisdiction to the courts now in being, for the purpose of determining concerning captures &c., and to provide that all tryals in such case be had by a jury, under such qualifications as to the respective legislatures shall seem expedient,

Be it therefore enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the respective county courts in the Colony be and they are hereby authorized, impowered, constituted and appointed, to try, judge and determine, by jury or otherwise, as in other cases, concerning all captures that have or shall be taken and brought into said respective counties. And that the civil law, the laws of nations, and the resolutions of Congress, be the rule of their adjudications, determinations and proceedings therein. And said respective county courts are hereby authorized and impowered, to constitute and appoint such proper officers under them as they shall find necessary and expedient for the purposes aforesaid.

Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That appeals be allowed to the Continental Congress, under the restrictions and agreeable to the directions and resolves of said Congress. And that the fees for said court and the respective officers thereof be reasonable and such as are customary in the neighbouring Colonies, or may be established by said Congress or by this Assembly. And the judge of said respective county courts is hereby authorized to call said court for said purpose at any place within the respective counties, as shall be most convenient and expedient.

This Assembly do appoint, impower and desire his Honor the Governor, during the present session of this Assembly, to fill up the blank Commissions for Private Ships of War and Letters of Marque and Reprisal sent, or that shall be sent from time to time, by the President of the Congress to this Assembly, and the same deliver to the person or persons intending to fit out such private ships of war who shall apply for the same, and also to see the proper bonds executed, sent with such Commissions, and see the same duly returned agreeable to the resolutions of the Honble Continental Congress.