[f. prec. + -TY. Cf. F. vice-amirauté.] The office or jurisdiction of a vice-admiral (in sense 1 b); an area under the jurisdiction of a vice-admiral. Court of vice-admiralty, = vice-admiralty court.
1602. Carew, Cornwall, I. 87 b. The Vice-admiralty is exercised by Mr. Charles Treuanion.
1679–88. Secr. Serv. Money Chas. & Jas. (Camden), 29. Daniel Gyles, Marshall of the Vice Admiralty of Southampton and the Isle of Wight.
1702. Proclam., in Lond. Gaz., No. 3872/2. All Vice-Admirals, and Judges of the Vice-Admiralties are also to do the same.
1706. Act 6 Anne, c. 11 § 19. That the Heretable Rights of Admiralty and Vice Admiralties in Scotland be reserved to the respective Proprietors as Rights of Property.
1773. Gentl. Mag., XLIII. 402. The extending the power of the courts of vice-admiralty to so enormous a degree, as deprives the people in the colonies … of their inestimable right to trials by juries.
[1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., II. xxxi. 283. The crown lawyers overruled all objections … and the king set up his courts of vice-admiralty in America.]
b. Vice-admiralty court (see quot. 1867).
1761. Ann. Reg., I. 127/2. Their lordships reversed the sentence of the vice-admiralty court, and ordered restitution of ships and cargoes.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., III. 69. Appeals from the vice-admiralty courts in America … may be brought before the courts of admiralty in England.
1829. Marryat, F. Mildmay, xxi. The True-blooded Yankee was libelled in the Vice-Admiralty Court at Cape Town.
1863. H. Cox, Instit., I. v. 28. The Queen … may regulate the practice of her Vice-Admiralty Courts abroad.
1867. Smyth, Sailor’s Word-bk., Vice-admiralty courts, branches of the High Court of Admiralty, instituted for carrying on the like duties in several of our colonies, prize-courts, &c.
