people, and to ease them of their burdens. It is as easy to send a short petition as it is to send a letter; and I do beseech my readers to remember that it would be unjust to compel me to pay taxes for the receiving of letters on the business of the people.

A BILL, INTITULED, AN ACT FOR THE

MORE EFFECTUAL SUPPRESSION OF LOCAL DISTURBANCES AND DANGEROUS ASSOCIATIONS IN IRELAND. WHEREAS, there is now prevalent in certain parts of Ireland, a dangerous conspiracy against the rights of property and the administration of the laws, which has been manifested, as well by open and daring outrages against the persons and property of his Majesty's peaceable subjects, as by tumultuous movements of large bodies of evil-disposed persons, who have by their numbers and violence created such general alarm and intimi. dation as materially to impede the due course of public justice, and to frustrate the ordinary modes of criminal prosecution :

With regard to the business before the House, the bill for red-coat jurisprudence engrosses every one's attention at present, and will continue to do so for a week or two to come; but, while that affair is going on, the petitioning Parliament is by no means to be overlooked; and again I recommend to my And whereas divers meetings and assem readers to consider what I have said blies, inconsistent with the public peace and about the evening papers; for observe, safety, and with the exercise of regular go. though Sir Robert Peel, Sir Robert In-vernment, have for some time past been held glis, Sir Edward Knatchbull, Sir Rich. In Ireland: And whereas, the laws now in force in that part of the United Kingdom, Vyvyan and Co., may not order peti- have been found inadequate to the prompt and tions to be printed, we may have them effectual suppression of the said mischiefs, printed in the evening papers on the and the interposition of Parliament is necesvery day on which they are presented.sary for the purpose of checking the further progress of the same:

Now, pray, mark this: and it shall go Be it therefore enacted, by the King's most

hard, if in all England, Ireland, and
Scotland, we do not get some good
and sensible and able petitions; and
some good speeches made upon them
too: some good plain sense in
plaiu words.

good

WM. COBBETT.

Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords spiritual and temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, that it shall and may be lawful for the LordLieutenant or other chief governor or gover nors of Ireland, at any time after the passing of this act, and from time to time during the continuance thereof, as occasion may require, by his or their order, to prohibit or suppress the meeting of any association, assembly, or body of persons in Ireland, which he or they shall deem to be dangerous to the public peace or safety, or inconsistent with the due administration of the law, and by the same or any other order also to prohibit every or any ad journed, renewed, or otherwise continued meeting of the same, or of any part thereof, I insert also some extracts from the under any name, pretext, shift or device whatMonthly Magazine of my sons, which soever; and that every meeting of any asso ciation, assembly, or body of persons, the I have never noticed before; not meeting whereof shall be so prohibited or because it was uninteresting to me, suppressed as aforesaid, and every postponed, but because I have not had time adjourned, renewed or otherwise continued to look at it until now. If written meeting thereof, under any name, pretext, shift or device whatsoever, shall be and be by anybody else, I should speak of deemed an unlawful assembly; and every it with admiration; and there is no person present at the same shall be deemed reason why I should not do it in their guilty of a misdemeanour, and every such case, as well as in the case of others. offence committed within any district proThe first article which I have extracted, cognizable by any court appointed as hereinclaimed in pursuance of this act, shall be is, I think, the very best piece of criti-after mentioned, and if not committed within cism I ever read in my life, accompanied with sentiments the most just, and expressed in language as correct and unaffected as language can be.

I INSERT below the red-coat jurisprudence bill, just as it came from the Lords; and I beseech my readers to peruse every word of it with attention.

any such district, shall be tried and punished
according to the course of the common law.
justices of the peace shall and
And be it enacted, that any two or more
may pro-
ceed, with such assistance as shall be neces

And be it enacted, that where any person shall be prosecuted by indictment for any such misdemeanour as aforesaid, such person shall plead to such indictment forthwith, so that the trial thereof may not be delayed or postponed to any subsequent term or session of the court in which such trial is to take place. And be it enacted, that it shall and may be lawful for the Lord-Lieutenant or other chief governor or governors of Ireland, with the advice of his Majesty's Frivy Council in Ireland, at any time after the passing of this act, and from time to time during the continuauce thereof, as occasion may require, to issue his or their proclamation declaring any county, county of a city, or county of a town in Ireland, or any portion thereof respectively, to

allowed to examine and cross-examine witnesses as in courts of law.

And be it enacted, that the Lord-Lieutenant

least previous to the day stated in such notice, to the chief-secretary of the Lord-Lieutenant or other chief governor or governors of Ireland, or, in case of his absence, to his under-or other chief governor or governors of Iresecretary, and the consent in writing of such land shall nomiuate and appoint one of his Lord-Lieutenant or other chief governor or Majesty's sergeants at law, or counsel learned governors for holding such meeting, signified in the law, to act at every such court-martial; by such chief or under secretary, shall be ob- and such sergeant or King's counsel shall be tained; and every meeting of any association, and be deemed to be a judge advocate at and assembly, or body of persons which shall be for the purposes of such court-martial, and holden for such purposes, and under such pre-shall have all the powers and authorities, and texts, or any of them, in any district proclaimed under this act, without such previous notice and consent as aforesaid, shall be deemed to be an unlawful assembly; and every person present at the same shall upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanour. and shall be liable to be tried, convicted, and punished by and before any court acting under the authority of this act.

perform all the duties and functions, which any judge advocate may or ought, in case of any court-martial, to possess, execute and discharge.

And be it enacted, that the persons so constituted and appointed members of such courtsmartial shall, instead of any oath or oaths now usually taken by members of courts-martial, take the oath following: that is to say;

I, A. B. do swear, that I will well and truly try and determine the matter before me according to the evidence; that I will faithfully and justly exercise all powers and authorities conferred upon me by an act passed in the third year of the reign of King William the Fourth, intituled [bere set forth the title of this act]; that I will not divulge the sentence of the court until it shall be approved by the Lord-Lieutenant or other chief governor or governors of Ireland, or by some person duly authorised by him or them; and that I will not upon any account at any time whatsoever disclose or discover the vote or opinion of any particular member of the court-martial, unless required to give evidence thereof as a witness by a court of justice or a court-martial in due course of law."

And for the speedy and effectual trial and punishment of the several offences mentioned" or referred to in this act; be it enacted, that it shall and may be lawful for the Lord-Lieutenant or other chief governor or governors of Ireland, and any person by him or them duly authorised, from time to time, by warrant or warrants for that purpose under his or their signature or signatures, to commission any officer or officers of his Majesty's regular forces, not being under the degree of a fieldofficer, to convece, assemble and hold general courts-martial within any district or districts proclaimed according to the provisions of this act, for the trial of such persons charged with offences within such district as any of such courts-martial shall be directed by any warrant or order of the Lord-Lieutenant or other chief governor or governors of Ireland, or other persons duly authorised by him or them, to try. And so soon as the said oath shall have been And be it further enacted, that such court-administered to the respective menibers of the martial so constituted and appointed shall consist of any number of officers of his Majesty's regular forces, not less than five nor exceeding nine, and shall have all powers and authorities incident to any courts-martial, and also every power, right, jurisdiction and anthority by law appertaining to any court of oyer and terminer, gaol delivery or sessions of the peace, as far as such power, right, jurisdiction and authority may be applicable to the proceedings of such courts-martial, which proceedings shall be conducted according to the manner of proceeding used by courts-martial holden under the provisions of the act for punishing mutiny and desertion, unless in so far as otherwise directed by this act : provided always, that no officer shall be appointed to serve on any such court-martial to be convened under this act, who shall not have attained the age of twenty-one years, and who shall not have served for two years as a commissioned officer in his Majesty's army; and provided also, that no officer below the rank of a field officer sh ll be the president of such court-martial: provided also, that on trials before such courts-martial, counsel shall be

said court by the person by this act authorised to act as judge advocate, and which oath the said person so authorised is hereby empowered to administer, then the president of the said court is hereby authorised and required to administer to the person so appointed to act as judge advocate as aforesaid an oath in the following words; that is to say;

do swear, that I will faithfully and justly exercise all powers and authorities conferred upon me by an act passed in the third year of the reign of King William the Fourth, intituled [here set forth the title of this act]; and that I will not, upon any account, at any time whatsoever, disclose or discover the vote or opinion of any particular member of the courtmartial, unless required to give evidence thereof as a witness by a court of justice or a court- martial, in a due course of law.

So help me GOD."

And be it further enacted, that the LordLieutenant or other chief governor or govern ors of Ireland, or other person duly authorised by him or them, is and are hereby empowered

to order that every person charged with any the fiftieth year of the same reign, intituled, of the offences hereinafter mentioned or re- "An Act for the more effectually preventing ferred to may be, and such persons shall be the administering and taking of unlawful summarily tried by and before such court- oaths in Ireland, and for the protection of mas martial; and the sentence of such court-mar-gistrates and witnesses in criminal cases," or tial, when duly confirmed by the Lord-Lieu-contrary to the provisions of a certain other tenant or other chief governor or governors of Ireland, or by any officer by him or them authorised to convene such court-martial, and to confirm the sentences of such court-martial, shall be carried into execution, and shall have the like effect as if the trial of such offences had been had before and the sentences had beeu passed by any court of oyer and terminer or general gaol delivery, or sessions of the peace.

act passed in the first and second years of the reign of his present Majesty, intituled, "An Act to amend an Act passed in the Parliament of Ireland in the fifteenth and sixteenth years of the reign of his Majesty King George the Third, intituled, 'An Act to prevent and punish tumultuous risings of persons within this Kingdom, and for other purposes therein mentioned,'" or contrary to the provisions of the said act of the fifteenth and sixteenth years of And be it enacted, that it shall and may he King George the Third therein referred tỏ, or lawful for every such court-martial from time contrary to the provisions of a certain other to time to issue such orders as to such court act passed in the second and third years of the shall seem fit for bringing before them any reign of his present Majesty, intituled, “ Ap person charged, by order of the Lord-Lieu- Act to restrain for five years, in certain cases, tenant or other chief governor or governors of party processions in Ireland," or contrary to Ireland, or by some person duly authorised by the provisions of any act or acts to conhim or them for that purpose, with any of-tinue the said acts or any of them, and also fence by this act made cognizable by such court, or for executing and carrying into effect any sentence, so confirmed as aforesaid, of any such court respectively, which orders all sheriffs, justices of the peace, jailers, constables, officers and ministers of justice, and other persons to whom the same shall be directed, and to whom the execution thereof shall rightfully and properly appertain, shall and are hereby required to execute, enforce, and obey.

every person charged with

any offence contrary to the provisions of this act, shall and may be tried by and before a courtmartial to be appointed as aforesaid; and whether the offence so charged, having been committed subsequent to the passing of this act, shall or shall not have heen committed before the issuing of any proclamation under this act: provided always, that in case the LordLieutenant should direct that any person charged with any offence contrary to any of And be it enacted, that it shall be lawful for the acts aforesaid, which by law now is or may any such court-martial, or any member there-be punishable with death, shall be tried before of, to summon any person whatsoever to ap- any court-martial appointed under this act, pear before such court to give evidence touch- such court, in case of conviction, shall, instead ing any offence, matter or thing cognizable of the punishment of death, sentence such by such court, or touching any person charged convict to transportation for life, or for any or accused before the same; and if the person period not less than seven years; and proso summoned shall refuse to attend in obe-vided also that such courts shall in no case imdience to such summons, it shall be lawful for pose the penalty of whipping on any person such court, or any member thereof, to issue a convicted of any offence under the provisions warrant to apprehend and bring before such of this act. court the party so refusing; and in case of the refusal of any party to be examined or to give evidence touching any matter to which he or she shall be interrogated by such court, then it shall be lawful for such court to commit the person so refusing to custody for any period not exceeding three months, or until such person shall submit to be examined and answer touching the matters before the said

court.

And be it enacted, that any magistrate, peace-officer or other person for that purpose authorised by the Lord-Lieutenant or other chief governor or governors of Ireland, shall and may cause to be apprehended and committed any person who, within any such proclaimed district as aforesaid, shall be in the fields, streets, highways, or elsewhere out of his or her dwelling or place of abode, at any time from one hour after sun-set until sunAnd be it enacted, that any person liable to rise; and such person shall and may be tried be prosecuted for any offence committed with- before any court-martial held under this act; in any district proclaimed as aforesaid, con- and such court-martial shall inquire into the trary to the provisions of an act passed in the said charge, and unless the person accused Parliament of Ireland in the twenty-seventh shall make it appear, to the satisfaction of such year of the reign of King George the Third, court, that he or she was out of his or her intituled, “An Act to prevent tumultuous house upon his or her lawful occasions, such risings and assemblies, and for the more person shall be deemed guilty of a misde effectual punishment of persons guilty of out-meanour, and such court-martial shall and may rage, riot, and illegal combination, and of administering and taking unlawful oaths," or contrary to the provisions of an act passed in

proceed to try such offender accordingly.

And be it further enacted, that it shall and may be lawful for any justice of the peace

martial, if it shall so think fit, to order the said person making such discovery to be discharged.

within any county, county of a city, county of a town, or other district proclaimed under this act, and for any person thereto authorised by the warrant of any such justice of the And be it enacted, That every person who peace, if the person so authorised be accom- shall injure either the person, or the propanied by a commissioned officer of his Ma-perty, real or personal, of any person who has jesty's army, or a chief constable of police, at appeared or shall appear as a juror, witness, any time from one hour after sun-set until prosecutor or otherwise, for the purpose of sun-rise, to demand admission, and in case any prosecution, or any civil action or proadmission shall be refused, or not obtainedceeding, for or by reason of any thing done within a reasonable time after it shall have thereupon by such person, or who shall by been first demanded, to enter by force into menaces, or otherwise howsoever, deter or inany house or other building in any such pro- timidate, or endeavour to deter or intimidate claimed county, county of a city, or county of any person from appearing or acting in any a town, or other district, from which he shall such prosecution or civil action or proceeding, suspect the inhabitants or any of them to be as a juror, witness, prosecutor, or otherwise, then absent, and to search therein, so as to for the purposes of such prosecution, action, discover whether the inhabitants or inmates, or or proceeding, or from discharging his or her any of them, be absent between the sad hours, duty in that behalf, shall upon conviction be or whether any arms, ammunition, or offensive deemed guilty of a mi-demeanour, and shall weapon be concealed therein; and any ma- be sentenced to be transported for any term gistrate or peace-officer may cause to be ap-not less than seveu nor more than fourteen prehended and committed any person or persous who shall have been absent from their houses at the time of such search, and such person or persons shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanour, and shall be convicted and punished accordingly, unless such person or persons can make it appear to the satisfaction of the said court, that he, she, or they, was or were absent on his, her or their lawful and proper occasions.

And be it enacted, that if any such justice of the peace, or other person authorised by the warrant of such justice, shall in any such proclaimed district find any arms or ammunition, or any pike, pike-head, spear, dirk, or any other offensive weapon, after the person or persons inhabiting the said house, or the person or persons who shall have the same so in his or her possession, shall have been called upon to deliver up the same, every such person shall be deemed guilty of a misdeineanour, and convicted and punished accordingly by a court-martial under this act, unless such person shall make it appear to the satisfaction of the court that such arms, ammunition or offensive weapons as aforesaid, were in his, her or their house, power or possession, without his, her, or their knowledge, privity, or

consent.

years; and every such offence, if committed within any such proclaimed district as afore said, shall be cognizable by a court-martial appointed under the authority of this act.

Provided always, that in all cases in which by any law now in force any such offence would amount to felony, and the party convicted thereof would he subject to be punished with death, any such offence shall still be deemed a felony, and the person convicted thereof by any competent court other than a court-martial under the provisions of this act, shall be subject to be punished with death, any thing herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

And be it further enacted, that from and after the passing of this act, no person shall make, aid or assist in making, or be present for the purpose of aiding or assisting in the making of any beacon, bonfire, light, fire, flash, blaze, or any signal by smoke or by any rocket, firework, flag, firing of any gun or other firearms, or by blowing of horns, or by ringing of any church, chapel or other bell, or by any other contrivance or device, for the purpose of giving any notice, signal, or intimatiou to any person or persons engaged in any illegal combination, or in any association or assembly, against the provisions of this act; And be it enacted, that if any person shall and that no person sbali make or give, or assist publish or cause to be published, or shall sell, in the making or giving, or be present for the hawk, dispose of, or circulate any seditious purpose of assisting in the making or giving handbill, paper, or pamphlet in any such pro- of any such signal, or of any other signal, claimed district, such person shall be deemed notice or call, to or upon any person, or perguilty of a misdemeanour, and shall by and sons whatsoever to assemble together, or to under the sentence of such court-martial as act in concert together, for any purpose not aforesaid, so confirmed as aforesaid, he com- warranted by law, or which is prohibited by mitted to the jail of the county, county of a this act, or to assemble in arms or in unusual city, or county of a town, for a time not ex-numbers, and at unusual times and places to ceeding twelve calendar months: provided always, that if such person shall discover, to the satisfaction of such court-martial, the person or persons from whom he or she received, or by whom he or she was employed to publish, sell, hawk, dispose of, or circulate such paper, it shall be lawful for such court

the endangering of the public peace; and if any person, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this act, shall make or cause to be made, or aid or assist in the making, or he present for the purpose of assisting at the making of any such signal, notice or call to or upon any such person or