J. W. NORIE & CO., 157, LEADENHALL-STREET, AND M. WATSON, JUN., 340, WAPPING-STREET. 1839. [Price 5s., in Cloth.] 309. INTRODUCTION. Ir is a remarkable circumstance, that in this great maritime country no attempt was made, previous to the year 1835, to consolidate the laws relating to Merchant Seamen, and to include in one Act of Parliament some of the general principles which had been applied to their regulation by the Court of Admiralty, but which were not to be traced beyond the precincts of that Court except by laborious research. In that year, the Act commonly called Sir James Graham's Act,* laid the foundation of a more simple and intelligible system, and whatever may be its defects, it deserves at least a fair trial, which cannot be given to it so long as those whose especial duty it is to obey the law and act upon it, remain imperfectly acquainted with its provisions, or continue inattentive to some of its plain and positive rules. * 5 & 6 W, IV. c. 19. |