breaking into the same, with an intent to commit any felony; or being in such house, shall commit any felony; and shall, in the night time, break the said house to get out of the same, he is declared guilty of the offence of burglary, and punished accordingly.

It is, without doubt, highly expedient that this offence should be punished more severely than any other species of theft; since, besides the loss of property, there is something very terrific in the mode of perpetration, which is often productive of dreadful effects.

The ancient laws made a marked distinction in the punishment, between this offence, which was called Hamsokne, (and which name it retains at present in the northern part of this kingdom) and rob. bing a house in the day time.

It is impossible to reflect upon the outrages and acts of violence continually committed, more particularly in and near the metropolis by lawless ravagers of property, and destroyers of lives, in disturbing the peaceful mansion, the castle of every Englishman, and also in abridging the liberty of travelling upon the public highways, without asking -Why are these enormities suffered, in a country where the criminal laws are supposed to have arrived at a greater degree of perfection than any other?

This is an important inquiry, interesting in the highest degree, to every member of the body politic.

If, in pursuing such an inquiry, the situation of Holland, Flanders, and several of the northern states on the continent, be examined, it will be found that this terrific evil had (alluding to these states

previous

previous to the present war) there scarcely an existence and, that the precaution of bolting doors and windows during the night, was even seldom used; although, in these countries, from the opulence of many of the inhabitants, there were great temptations to plunder property.

This security did not proceed from severer punishments, for in very few countries are they more sanguinary than in England.-It is to be attributed to a more correct and energetic system of Police, joined to an early and general attention to the employment, education, and morals of the lower orders of the people; a habit of industry and sobriety is thus acquired, which, universally imbibed in early life, 66 grows with their growth, and strengthens with their strength."

Houses, intended to be entered during the night, are previously reconnoitred and examined for days preceding. If one or more of the servants are not already associated with the gang, the most artful means are used to obtain their assistance; and when every previous arrangement is made, the mere operation of robbing a house becomes a matter of little difficulty.

By the connivance and assistance of immediate, or former servants, they are led to the places where the most valuable, as well as the most portable, articles are deposited, and the object is speedily attained.

In this manner do the principal burglars and house-breakers proceed: and let this information serve as a caution to every person in the choice both of their male and female servants; since the latter as well as the former are not seldom accomplices in very atrocious robberies.

It frequently happens that the burglars, make their contracts with the receivers, on the evening before the plunder is obtained; so as to secure a ready admittance immediately afterwards, and before day-break, for the purpose of effectual concealment by melting plate, obliterating marks, and securing all other articles so as to place them out of the reach of discovery. This has long been reduced to a regular system which is understood and followed as a trade.

Night coaches promote, in an eminent degree, the perpetration of burglaries and other felonies: bribed by a high reward, many hackney-coachmen eagerly enter into the pay of nocturnal depredators, and wait in the neighbourhood until the robbery is completed, and then draw up, at the moment the watchmen are going their rounds, or off their stands, for the purpose of conveying the plunder to the house of the receiver, who is generally waiting the issue of the enterprise. Above one half of the pre sent hackney coachmen, in London, are said to be (in the cant phrase) flashmen designed to assist thieves. Colquhoun

BURNING ALIVE,

One of our old sanguinary punishments, now very justly exploded. It was formerly inflicted for heresy; and during the reign of Queen Mary several pious characters thus suffered at Smithfield for adhering to the dictates of their conscience.

Women, in all cases of treason, used to be burned, having been previously strangled; but this cruel punishment was repealed by an act passed 30 Geo. III. cap. 48. The strangulation, owing to the fierceness of the flames, was sometimes not effectual.

See

(See HAYES, CATHERINE, vol. I.) Thecriminal was either fastened to an iron chair, and the cord round her neck pulled with violence by the executioner, or she stood upon a stool, under a gallows, which was so contrived as to slip from under her. Editor.

BURNING A MAN'S EYES WITH LIME IN CHINA.

This punishment is performed by putting a small quantity of unslacked lime into pieces of cotton cloth, which is closely applied to the organs of sight. Punishments in China.

CAGE. See WOODEN CAGE.

CHAIN, THE.

According to the Imperial code of Joseph II. assassination by stratagem, arms, or poison, was condemnation to the chain for not less than 30 years.

The punishment of the chain is inflicted in the following manner:-the criminal suffers severe imprisonment, and is closely chained, that he has no more liberty than serves for the indispensible motion of his body. Chained criminals suffer corporal punishment once a year, as an example to the public. Colquhoun.

In China criminals are, for certain offences, chained to a large block of wood in the following manner-a strong ring of iron is passed through one corner of a short heavy piece of timber. From this ring a weighty chain is continued round the neck of the man, and fastened by a padlock upon his breast.

For other offences criminals are chained to an iron bar, thus:-the malefactor's neck is encompassed with a very wide cape of iron, which is fitted to his

shoulders;

shoulders; his legs are fettered with iron shackles, and from these, as well as from the cape, a few links extend to the bar, which is about half a yard higher than his head. The links sliding upon the bar, accommodate themselves to the motions of the prisoner; the small piece of plank that is attached to the shackles, serves him for a seat. From the top of the bar there depends a little board upon which the name and the crime of the malefactor are inscribed. Punishments of China.

CHANCE MEDLEY.

This is Homicide by necessity or in Self-defence, upon a sudden rencounter, upon which no punishment is inflicted, yet still by strictness of law the goods and chattels of the person charged and convicted are forfeited to the crown; contrary, as it seems to many, to the principles of reason and justice. Colquhoun.

MISADVENTURE.

See MANSLAUGHTER AND

CHEATS.

These are men who live entirely by their wits, expert in the tricks of pricking the belt for a wager, dropping the ring, playing cards, or any other game, and winning by means of accomplices, &c. When these devices become stale, they have then recourse to others more novel and more likely to be effectual in cheating and defrauding the unwary.

One of the most prevailing and successful of these, is the fraud practised upon shopkeepers, tradesmen,

E