any capacity on board any merchant ship, or who has been so employed or engaged within six months before his death, and every person (not being a commissioned, warrant, or subordinate officer, or assistant engineer) borne on the books of, or forming part of the complement of, any public ship of war.

The term "estate" includes all "property, wages due, money, and other effects" left by a deceased seaman on board a ship.

The term "consul" includes consul-general, consul, and vice-consul, and every person for the time being discharging the duties of consul-general, consul, or viceconsul.

In witness whereof the undersigned have signed the present declaration, which shall come immediately into operation, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done at London, this 11th day of April, 1877.

DECLARATION BETWEEN GREAT BRITAIN AND ITALY RELATIVE TO THE DISPOSAL OF THE ESTATES OF DECEASED SEAMEN OF THE TWO NATIONS.-SIGNED AT LONDON, APRIL 17, 1877.

The Government of her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Government of his Majesty the King of Italy, being desirous to make arrangements as to the disposal of the property of deceased seamen of the two nations in certain cases, the undersigned, duly authorized to that effect, have agreed as follows:—

Article I.

If any British seaman dies on board an Italian ship, or whilst serving on board an Italian ship within Italian territory; or if, on the other hand, any Italian seaman dies

on board a British vessel, or whilst serving on board a British vessel within British territory, the Governments of Italy and of Great Britain respectively shall provide as far as possible for the protection, without loss or injury, of any money or effects belonging to such deceased seaman.

In the case of a British seaman dying as aforesaid, the Italian Government shall cause the property, if not exceeding £50 in value, to be delivered as soon as possible after the decease to the British consul at the Italian port where the decease occurs; or if the decease does not occur at an Italian port, but on Italian territory, to the British consul nearest to the place where such decease occurs, or where the property may be; or if such decease occurs at sea on board an Italian vessel, to the British consul at the first Italian port at which the vessel arrives after such decease.

In the case of an Italian seaman dying as aforesaid, his property, if not exceeding £50 in value, shall, subject to the provision contained in Article II., be delivered, as soon as possible after the decease, to the Italian consul at the British port where the decease occurs; or if the decease does not occur at a British port, but on British territory, to the Italian consul nearest to the place where such decease occurs, or where the property may be; or if such decease occurs at sea on board a British vessel, to the Italian consul at the first British port at which the vessel arrives after such decease.

When the property exceeds £50 in value, it shall, subject to the provision contained in Article II., be paid to the legal representative of the deceased according to the law of the nation of the ship or territory where the property is at the time of the decease.

In cases where a deceased seaman has signed articles either as an Italian or as a British subject, as the case may be, but the Government into whose possession his effects come is not satisfied of his nationality, that Government shall equally protect his property, and shall send an account of it, and its value, and of all information in the possession

of that Government relating to the deceased, to the other Government as soon as possible, and shall deliver the property to the other Government immediately on receiving its assurance that there is no doubt that the deceased was a subject of it.

Article II.

If the deceased shall have served in the royal navy of Great Britain, any assets which may be payable by the British Admiralty shall be dealt with according to the law of Great Britain.

Article III.

The term 66 seaman in this declaration includes every person (except masters and pilots) employed or engaged in any capacity on board any merchant ship, or who has been so employed or engaged within six months before his death, and every person (not being a commissioned, warrant, or subordinate officer, or assistant engineer) borne on the books of, or forming part of the complement of, any public ship of

war.

The term "consul" includes consul-general, consul, viceconsul, and consular agent, and every person for the time being discharging the duties of consul-general, consul, viceconsul, or consular agent.

In witness whereof the undersigned have signed the present declaration, which shall come immediately into operation, and have affixed thereto the seal of their arms. Done at London, the 17th day of April, 1877.

INDEX.