SEAMEN¹'S FUND. By the act of July 16, 1798, a provision is made for raising a fund for the relief of disabled and sick seamen: the master of every vessel² arriving from a foreign port into the United States is required to pay to the collector of customs at the rate of twenty cents per month for every seaman³ employed on board of his vessel, which sum he may, retain out of the wages of such seaman: vessels⁴ engaged in the coasting trade, and boats, rafts or flats navigating⁵ the Mississippi, with intention to proceed to New Orleans, are also laid under similar obligations. The fund thus raised is to be employed by the president of the United States as circumstances shall require, for the benefit and convenience of sick and disabled American seamen. Act of March 3, 1802, s. 1.

2. By the act of congress, passed February 28, 1803, c. 62, 2 Story's L. U. S. 884, it is provided, that when a seaman is discharged in a foreign country with his own consent, or when the ship is sold there, he shall, in addition to his usual wages, be paid three months' wages into the hands of the American consul⁶, two-thirds of which are to be paid to such seaman, on his engagement on board any vessel to return home, and the remaining one-third is retained in aid of a fund for the relief of distressed⁷ American seamen in foreign ports. See 11 John. R. 66; 12 John. Rep. 143; 1 Mason, R. 45; 4 Mason, R. 541; Edw. Adm. R. 239.

SEARCH, crim. law. An examination of a man's house, premises⁸ or person, for the purpose of discovering proof of his guilt⁹ in relation to some crime or misdemeanor of which be is accused.

2. The constitution of the United. States, amendments¹⁰, art. 4, protects the people from unreasonable¹¹ searches and seizures¹². 3 Story, Const. §1895; Rawle, Const. ch. 10, p. 127; 10 John. R. 263; 11 John. R. 500; 3 Cranch, 447.

3. By the act of March 2, 1799, s. 68, 1 Story's L. U. S. 632, it is enacted¹³, that every collector, naval¹⁴ officer, and surveyor, or other person specially¹⁵ appointed, by either of them, for that purpose, shall have fall power and authority to enter any ship or vessel, in which they shall have reason to suspect any goods, wares¹⁶, or merchandise, subject to duty, are concealed¹⁷, and therein to search for, seize, and secure any such goods, wares, or merchandise; and if they shall have cause to suspect a concealment¹⁸ thereof in any particular dwelling¹⁹ house, store, building, or other place they or either of them shall; upon proper application, on oath, to any justice of the peace, be entitled to a warrant to enter such house, store, or other place, (in the day time only, and there to search for such goods; and if any shall be found, to seize and secure the same for trial; and all such goods, wares, and merchandise, on which the duties shall not have been paid, or secured to be paid, shall be forfeited²⁰.