ADMIRALTY - The name of a jurisdiction
which takes cognizance of suits or actions which arise
in consequence of acts done upon or relating to the
sea; or, in other words, of all transactions and proceedings
relative to commerce and navigation, and to damages
or injuries upon the sea. In the great maritime nations
of Europe, the term 'admiralty jurisdiction,' is,
uniformly applied to courts exercising jurisdiction
over maritime contracts and concerns. It is as familiarly
known among the jurists of Scotland, France, Holland
and Spain, as of England, and applied to their own
courts, possessing substantially the same jurisdiction
as the English Admiralty had in the reign of Edward
III.
The Constitution of the United States has delegated
to the courts of the national government cognizance
'of all cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction;'
and the act of September 24, 1789, ch. 20 s. 9, has
given the district court 'cognizance of all civil
causes of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction,' including
all seizures under laws of imposts, navigation or
trade of the United States, where the seizures are
made on waters navigable from the sea, by vessels
of ten or more tons burden, within their respective
districts, as well as upon the high seas.
