Visit

RIGHT OF. In International Law. The right of a public vessel to stop and board a private vessel on the high seas for the purpose of inspecting its papers and determining its character. The right of visit is determined by the right of search which accompanies it. See Search, Right of.

'^ 1. In international law, the right of visit or visitation is the right to ascertain by inspection of a ship's papers that she has the nationality which she claims; the right of approach. 3 The inter-visitation of ships at sea is a branch of the law of self-defense, and is, in point of fact, practiced by the public vessels of all nations when piratical character is suspected.* 2. The right officially to inspect a charitable institution, or a place receiving pecuniary assistance from an individual or the public. Whence also visitor, and board of visitors, for the person or persons authorized to perform such service. Corporations, like the individuals who compose them, are liable to deviate from the end of their institution. For this reason the law provides proper persons to visit, inquire into, and correct all irregularities that arise in them. With respect to a lay corporation, the founder, his heirs or assigns are the visitors.

In the original and strictest sense, the founder of all corporations is the king alone. The law has appointed the court of king's bench as the place where he exercises this jurisdiction; there all misbehaviors of civil corporations are inquired into and redressed." 3. A visitor to a place is one who goes there for pleasure or health, engages in no busi- 1 Ve-zd'. F*. viser. to put a visa to: to indorse, after examination: L. visus, seen. » L. visitare, to go to see: videre, to see. > [The Marianna Flora, 11 Wheat. 42 (1826), Story,' J. * 1 Kent, 153, note; Woolsey, Int. Law, § 213. «1 Bl. Com. 480-82; 2 Kent, 300-5; Dartmouth College V. Woodward, 4 Wheat. 674-75 (1819), Stoiy, J.; ness, and, remains only for a reasonable time.i See Resident. 4. The expressions, "visit" an act of negligence with damages, and " visit " liability, or the consequences of an act, upon one, are not uncommon.

In international law, the right of visit or visitation is a claim that officers of a public ship of one nation may go on board a vessel sailing under the flag of another nation, to be assured of her national character, when the piratical character of the vessel is suspected. This right of visit is conceded for the sole purpose of ascertaining the real national character of a vessel sailing under suspicious circumstances, and is wholly distinct from the right of search. See 1 Kent Com. 153, note,