men. When commerce began
to flourish in modern Europe, occasion soon arose for the institution
of a kind of court-merchant, to determine commercial affairs in a
summary way. Their authority depends very much on their commission, and
on the words of the treaty on which it is founded. The consuls are to
take care of the affairs of the trade, and of the rights, interests, and
privileges of their countrymen in foreign ports. Not being public
ministers, they are liable to the _lex loci_ both civil and criminal,
and their exemption from certain taxes depends upon treaty and custom.

CONTACT. Brought in contact with, as touching the sides of a ship. In
astronomy, bringing a reflected body, as the sun, in contact with the
moon or with a star. (_See_ LUNAR DISTANCES, SEXTANT, &c.)

CONTENTS. A document which the master of a merchantman must deliver to
the custom-house searcher, before he can clear outwards; it describes
the vessel's destination, cargo, and all necessary particulars.

CONTINENT. In geography, a large extent of land which is not entirely
surrounded by water, or separated from other lands by the sea, as
Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is also used in contradistinction to
_island_, though America seems insulated.

CONTINGENT. The quota of armed men, or pecuniary subsidy, which one
state gives to another. Also, certain allowances made to commanding
officers to defray necessary expenses.

CONTINUED LINES. In field-works, means a succession of fronts without
any interruption, save the necessary passages; differing thus from
_interrupted lines_.

CONTINUOUS SERVICE MEN. Those seamen who, having entered for a period,
on being paid off, are permitted to have leave, and return to the
flag-ship at the port for general service.

CONT-LINE. The space between the bilges of two casks stowed side by
side.

CONTOUR. The sweep of a ship's shape.

CONTRABAND. The ship is involved in the legal fate of the cargo; the
master should therefore be careful not to take any goods on board
without all custom-house duties being paid up, and see that they be not
prohibited by parliament or public proclamation. Contraband is simply
defined, "merchandise forbidden by the law of nations to be supplied to
an enemy;" but it affords fat dodges to the admiralty court sharks.

CONTRABAND OF WAR. Arms, ammunition, and all stores which may aid
hostilities; masts, ship-timber going to an enemy's port, hemp,
provisions, and even money under stipu