Administration

yovern- Letters of Administration. ment, is the management of the ADMIRAL, officer, in some affairs of the government; this countries is the commander in chief word is also applied to the per- of the naval forces. This office sons in power who manage public does not exist in the United States. affairs; as Washington’s adminis- ADMIRALTY, is the name of tration was always wise. That part a jurisdiction which takescognizance of the public authority which 1s of suits or actions which arise in exercised by the mayor and other consequence of acts done upon or public officers is also called adminis- relating to the sea; or, in other tration; as, this is the administration words, of all transactions and proof the law in Pennsylvania. ceedings relative to commerce and - ADMINISTRATOR, trusts. An navigation, and to damages or administrator is a person lawfully injuries upon the sea. 2 Gall. R. appointed to manage and settle the 468. In the great maritime nations estate of a deceased person who has of Europe, the term “admiralty left noexecutor. By the grant of let- jurisdiction,” is uniformly applied ters of administration, the adminis- to courts exercising jurisdiction trator is vested with full and ample over maritime contracts and conpower to take possession of all the per- cerns. It is familiarly known among sonal estate of the deceased and sell the jurists of Scotland, France, it; and tocollect the debts due tohim: Holland and Spain, as of England, he represents him in all matters and applied toe their own courts, which relate to his personal pro- possessing substantially the same perty. He is authorised to pay jurisdiction as the English Admithe debts of the intestate in the ralty in the reign of Edward the order directed by law; and for his third. Ibid., and the authorities trouble he is generally entitled to there cited; and see also Merl. @ compensation which is allowed Répert. h. t.; Encyclopédie, h. t. him as commissions on the amount The Constitution of the United which passes through his hands. States, has delegated to the courts He is responsible for his neglect of the national government cognior mismanagement of the estate zance “of all cases of admiralty or for a devastavit (q. v-) When and maritime jurisdiction;” and the two or more administrators join in act of September 24, 1789, ch. 20, the administration of the estate, it s. 9, has given the district court seems to be settled, 16 Serg. & “cognizance of all civil causes of Rawle, 340, that like executors, the admiralty and maritime jurisdicact of each one of them, which tion, including all seizures under relates to the delivery, gift, sale, laws of imposts, navigation or trade payment, possession or release of of the United States, where the the testator’s goods, is considered seizures are made on waters navigaas of equal validity as the act of all, ble from the sea, by vessels of ten for they have a joint power and or more tons burthen; within their authority over the whole. 3 Bac. respective districts as well as upon Ab. 30; 11 Vin. Ab. 358; Com. the high seas. It is not within the to the article Courts of the United States, where he will find all which it has been thought necessary to say upon the subject. Vide, generally, Dunlap’s Adm. Practice; Bett’s Adm. Practice; 1 Kent’s Com. 353 to 380; Serg. Const. Law, Index, h. t.; 2 Gall. R. 398 to 476; 2 Chit. Pr. 508; 2 Bac. Ab. 175; 6 Vin. Ab. 505; Dane’s Ab. Index, h. t.; 2 Bro. Civ. and Adm. Law; Wheat. Dig. 1; 1 Story L. U. S. 56, 60; 2 Id. 905; 3 Id. 1564, 1696; 4 Sharsw. cont. of Story’s L. U. 8. 2262; Clerke’s Praxis; Collectanea Maritima.