TREASON AND SEDITION.

By the Statute 25 Edw. III. s. v. c. 2. All treasons, which had been uncertain, were settled. Treason is, when a man doth compass or imagine the death of the King, &c.—or if a man do levy war against the King ;-or be adherent to the King's enemies; and if a man slay the Chancellor, Treasurer, or the King's Justices of assize, and all other Justices assigned to hear and determine, being in their places doing their offices.

Misprision of Treason, is when one knowing of any treason, though no party or consenter to it, yet conceals it. The judgment of Misprision of Treason is, to be imprisoned during life, to forfeit all his goods for ever, and the profits of his land during life.

Riot Act, 1 Geo. III. s. ii. c. 5.

If any persons to the number of twelve or more, being unlawfully, riotously, and tumultuously assembled to the disturbance of the peace, and being required by proclamation of any one Justice to disperse, shall to the number of twelve or more unlawfully continue together for one hour after such command or request made, such continuing together shall be felony without benefit of clergy. Every Justice, and all other persons commanded to assist, shall seize such persons:-And if any of the persons so assembled shall happen to be killed, maimed, or hurt, such Justice and persons aiding him shall be indemnified.

By 36 Geo. III. c. 7. (made perpetual by 57 Geo. III. c. 6.) the following offences are made high treason;Levying war against the King, in order to constrain him to change his measures or councils, or to intimidate or overawe both Houses, or either House, of Parliament ;-or compassing, devising, or intending death, or any harm

tending to death, of the person of the King, his heirs and successors.

57 Geo. III. c. 7. continues 37 Geo. III. c. 70. which says, Any person who shall maliciously and advisedly endeavour to seduce any person serving in his Majesty's forces from his duty and allegiance to his Majesty, shall suffer death without benefit of clergy.

By 39 Geo. III. c. 79. (the Act against unlawful combinations and confederacies,) it is enacted, sect. 13. Every person allowing unlawful meeting in his house shall forfeit five pounds. Sect. 27. Every person who shall print any paper or book to be published or dispersed, whether sold or given away, shall print his name and place of abode upon the front of every such paper, if printed on one side only, and upon the first and last leaves of every paper or book which shall consist of more than one leaf; in default of so doing, he shall forfeit twenty pounds for every copy dispersed.

Sect. 29. Every printer shall keep one copy, ready for the inspection of any magistrate, for six calendar months. Sect. 30. Persons selling or giving away printed papers without the printer's name, to be apprehended.

60 Geo. III. c. 1. Meetings for the purposes of being trained to use of arms are prohibited ;-persons present liable to transportation for seven years, or imprisonment two years.

Cap. 7. Authorizes Justices to seize arms.

60 Geo. III. c. 6. 1. No meeting exceeding fifty persons (except any meeting of a county, &c. called by Sheriffs, or five or more Justices,) shall be holden for the purpose or on pretext of deliberating on any public grievance, or on any matter relating to trade, &c. or to Church and State, or of considering and proposing any petition or remonstrance, &c. unless in the parish where the persons calling it usually reside;-nor unless six days notice shall be given to some Justice residing near;-nor unless such notice shall be signed by seven resident householders.

2. Justice may alter time and place of meeting. 4. No person shall attend unless he is a freeholder or

resident householder, &c. in the county, parish, &c. for which such meeting is held, under pain of fine and imprisonment.

5. Justices may require the assistance of any number of constables, or of any other persons in their aid.

7. If the notice for any meeting shall express or purport that any thing by law established may be altered otherwise than by authority of Parliament, or shall tend to incite the people to hatred or contempt of his Majesty, or the government and constitution, the meeting held in pursuance of it shall be deemed an unlawful assembly.

8. Any Justice may by proclamation command every person unlawfully attending to depart; and such person not departing within a quarter of an hour shall be guilty of felony, and liable to seven years transportation; and the Justice may (sect. 11.) make proclamation commanding all persons to depart; and if any to the number of twelve continue together half an hour after proclamation, they shall be guilty of felony, and liable to seven years transporta

tion.

13. Justices may order the apprehension of any person making any proposition or holding any discourse for the purpose of stirring up the people (as above mentioned), and if obstructed may make proclamation for dispersing the meeting.

15. Justices may order all persons to assist in apprehending, and if any of the persons assembled shall happen to be killed or hurt in the dispersing, the Justices, &c. shall be indemnified.

16. Are not to extend to any meeting holden in a room. 40. To continue for five years, (from Dec. 1819.)

BLASPHEMY AND PROFANENESS.

ALL blasphemies against God, as denying his being or providence; and all contumacious reproaches of Jesus Christ; and all profane scoffing at the holy Scriptures, or exposing any part of them to contempt and ridicule; are punishable by fine and imprisonment, and also such corporal punishment as to the court shall seem meet. 1 Haw. c. 5, 6.

Also seditious words in derogation of the established religion are indictable, as tending to a breach of the peace. 1 Haw. c. 5. s. 6.

If any person having been educated in, or at any time having made profession of, the Christian religion in this realm, shall by writing, printing, teaching, or advised speaking, deny the Christian religion to be true, or the holy Scriptures to be of divine authority; and shall be convicted thereof, in any of the courts at Westminster, or at the assizes, on the oaths of two witnesses; he shall for the first offence be incapable to have any office ecclesiastical, civil, or military, (unless he shall renounce such opinion in the court where he was convicted, within four months after such conviction;) and for the second offence he shall be disabled to be plaintiff, guardian, executor, or administrator, to take any gift or legacy, or to bear any office, and shall be imprisoned for three years. 9 and 10 Will. c. 32.

In the prosecution of the King against Earl (M. 1 Geo. II.) for publishing two obscene books, the Court, after long debate and consideration, gave it as their unanimous opinion, that the case came within their jurisdiction; they said, that religion is a part of the common law, and therefore whatever is an offence against that, is evidently an offence against the common law. And the defendant was set in the pillory. 2 Str. 788. 2 Burrandent 29.