or to any peace officer, or to any other person or persons acting in their aid or assistance, who shall attend, proceed to, or be present at any such meeting as aforesaid. ings with blems. XIX. And be it further enacted, That it shall not be lawful for any person Persons not to to attend, proceed to, or be present at, or return from any meeting whatever, which attend meetshall be holden for the purpose or on the pretext of deliberating upon, or proceed- flags, bauners, ing to deliberate upon any public grievance, or upon any matter or thing relating and other ento any trade, manufacture, business, or profession, or upon any matter in church signs or emor state, or of considering, proposing, or agreeing to any petition, complaint, remonstrance, declaration, resolution, or address, on the subject thereof, with any flag, banner, or ensign, or displaying or exhibiting any device, badge, or emblem, or with any drum or military or other music, or in military array or order; and that every person who shall offend in the premises, shall, upon being convicted thereof, be fined and imprisoned for any term not exceeding two years, at the discretion of the Court before which such conviction shall be had. Scotland, to XX. And be it further enacted, That the sheriffs depute and their substitutes, Sheriffs destewards depute and their substitutes, justices of the peace, magistrates of royal pute, &c. in burghs, and all other inferior judges and magistrates, and also all high and petty have the same constables, or other peace officers of any county, stewartry, city or town, within powers as mathat part of the United Kingdom called Scotland, shall have such and the same gistrates in England. powers and authorities for putting this present act in execution within Scotland, as the justices of the peace, and peace officers and constables aforesaid, respectively have, by virtue of this act, within and for other parts of the United Kingdom. divide large all the pur poses of this XXI. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the justices of the Justices at ses peace, assembled at any quarter or general sessions of the peace, in any case in slons may sub which they shall deem it expedient for the purpose of preventing tumultuous parishes and meetings, to divide any parish or township within their jurisdiction, having a Townships for population exceeding, in the judgment of the said justices, twenty thousand inhabitants, into two or more divisions, for all the purposes of this act, and to act. assign the boundaries of such divisions; and that a registry of such divisions so made, specifying and describing the boundaries so assigned, shall be entered with the clerk of the peace of the county, riding, or division within which such parish or township is situate, and a duplicate thereof shall be transmitted to the churchwardens and overseers of the poor, or to the minister and elders, or to the kirk session of the parish or township so divided, to be by them preserved and kept with the books of such parish or township, and copies thereof shall be put up, and from time to time (in case of the removal) replaced, upon the doors of the church of such parish or township; and when any such parish or township shall be so divided, each of such separate divisions shall, for all the purposes of this act be deemed a separate parish or township; and all the clauses, provisions, regulations, matters, and things, in this act contained, relating to any assemblies or meetings in parishes or townships, shall apply and be enforced, as to all such separate division of parishes or townships, as fully and effectually as if the same were severally and separately repeated and re-enacted in relation thereto : provided always, that no such division shall contain a population, which in the judgment of the said justices shall consist of less than ten thousand persons. XXII. And be it further enacted, That every extra-parochial place shall be Extra-parodeemed and taken to be a parish or township, for all the purposes of this act; and chial places to all the clauses, provisions, regulations, matters and things in this act contained, rishes for the relating to any assemblies or meetings in parishes or townships, shall apply purposes of and be enforced as to all extra-parochial places, as fully and effectually as if the same were severally and separately repeated and re-enacted in relation thereto. be deemed pa this act. Meetings may be held under this act in cer tain parishes in Westminster, within XXIII. And whereas by an act passed in the fifty-seventh year of the reign of his present majesty, intituled an act for the more effectually preventing seditious meetings and assemblies, certain regulations are enacted in relation to meetings in the city or liberties of Westminster, or county of Middlesex, which might prevent any meeting under the provisions of this act, in the parishes of Saint John and one mile of Saint Margaret, Westminster; be it therefore enacted, That it shall be lawful to Westminsterhold any meetings in such parishes respectively, which may be held under the hall gate, not withstanding provisions of this act, within the distance of one mile from the gate of Westminster- act of 57 G. 3, hall, provided that the same shall not be held in Old or New Palace-yard at any c. 19. time during the sitting of Parliament; any thing in the said recited act to the contrary notwithstanding. XXIV. Provided always, and be it enacted and declared, That nothing herein Act not to lecontained shall be deemed or construed to render lawful any notice, or any galize notices, (VOL. XLI.) (5 0) meetings, &e. to law. now contrary assembly or meeting, or any act or thing which may be done at any assembly or meeting in pursuance of any such notice, or the attendance of any person or persons, which notice, assembly, meeting act or attendance, would have been contrary to law if this act had not been made. Offenders may be indicted, if XXV. And be it further enacted, That nothing in this act contained shall not prosecuted extend to prevent any prosecution by indictment or otherwise, for any thing which under this act. may be an offence within the intent and meaning of this act, and which might have been so prosecuted if this act had not been made, unless the offender shall have been prosecuted for such offence under this act, and convicted or acquitted of such offence. Places for lectures or de censed, deem ney. XXVI. And whereas it is expedient that houses and places used for the bates, unless purpose of publicly delivering lectures, or of holding debates should previously li- be regulated; be it therefore enacted, That every house, room, field, ed to be disor or other place, at or in which any person shall publicly read, or at or in which any derly places; lecture or discourse shall be publicly delivered, or any public debate shall be had, and persons on any subject whatever, for the purpose of raising or collecting money, or any punishable for paying or other valuable thing, from the persons admitted, or to which any person receiving mo- shall be admitted by payment of money, or by any ticket or token of any kind delivered in consideration of money, or any other valuable thing, or in consequence of paying or giving or having paid or given, or having agreed to pay or give, in any manner, any money or other valuable thing or where any money or other valuable thing, shall be received from any person admitted, either under pretence of paying for any refreshment or other thing, or under any other pretence, or for any other cause, or by means of any device or contrivance whatever, shall be deemed a disorderly house or place, unless the same shall have been previously licensed in manner hereinafter mentioned; and the person by whom such house, room, field, or place shall be opened or used, for any of the places shall be purposes aforesaid, shall forfeit the sum of one hundred pounds for every day or time that such house, room, field, or place shall be opened or used as aforesaid, to such person as will sue for the same, and be otherwise punished as the law directs in cases of disorderly houses; and every person managing or conducting the proceedings, or acting as moderator, president, or chairman, at such House, room, field, or place, so opened or used as aforesaid, or therein debating, publicly reading, or delivering any discourse or lecture; and also every person who shall pay, give, collect, or receive, or agree to pay, give, or receive any money or thing, for or in respect of the admission of any person into any such house, room, field or place, or shall deliver out, distribute, or receive any such ticket or tickets, or token or tokens as aforesaid, knowing such house, room, field or place to be opened or used for any such purpose as aforesaid, shall for every such offence forfeit the sum of twenty pounds. Penalty on persons by whom sneh opened. Prosecuting masters of such places. Magistrates admission to unlicensed places: XXVII. And be it farther enacted, That every person who shall at any time hereafter appear, act, or behave him or herself as master or mistress, or as the person having the command, government, or management of any such house, room, field, or place as aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to be a person by whom the same is opened or used as aforesaid, and shall be liable to be sued or prosecuted, and punished as such, notwithstanding he or she be not in fact the real owner or occupier thereof. XXVIII. And be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for any justice or may demand justices of the peace of any county, stewartry, city, borough, town, or place, who shall by information upon oath have reason to suspect that any house, room, field, or place, or any parts or part thereof, are or is opened or used for the purpose of publicly reading or delivering lectures or discourses, or for public debate, contrary to the provisions of this act, to go to such house, room, field, or place, and demand to be admitted therein, and in case such justice or justices shall be refused admittance to such house, room, field, or place, or any part thereof, the same shall be deemed a disorderly house or place, within the intent and meaning of this act; and all and every the provisions herein-before contained respecting any house, room, field, or place herein-before declared to be a disorderly house or place, shall be applied to such house, room, field, or place, where such admittance shall have been refused as aforesaid; and every person refusing such admittance shall forfeit the sum of twenty pounds. Penalty for refusal, 201. Justices may for lectures, &c. XXIX. Provided nevertheless, and be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful license places for two or more justices of the peace for the county, riding, division, stewartry, city, borough, town, or place, where any house, room, or other buildings shall be intended to be opened for any of the purposes aforesaid, by writing under their hands and seals, at the quarter or general sessions of the peace, or at any special session to be held for the particular purpose, to grant a licence to any person or persons desiring the same, to open such house, room, or other building for the purpose of delivering, for money, any such public reading, lectures, or discourses as aforesaid, or for the purpose of holding debates on any subjects, the same being clearly expressed in such license, for which license a fee of one shilling and no more shall be paid; and the same shall be in force for the space of one year and no longer, or for any less space of time therein to be specified; and which license it shall be lawful for the justices of the peace of the same county, stewartry, city, borough, town, or place, at any general quarter or general sessions of the peace, to revoke and declare void and no longer in force, by any order of such justices, a copy whereof shall be delivered to or served upon the person to whom the said license so revoked shall have been granted, or shall be left at the house, room, or building for which such licence shall have been granted; and thereupon such license shall cease and determine, and be thenceforth utterly void and of no effect. XXX. Provided always, and be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for any Justices may justice or justices of the peace of any county, stewartry, city, borough, town, inspect licens or place, where any such house, room, or other building shall be licensed, as ed places: herein provided, to go to such house, room, or building so licensed, at the time of any such public reading, or delivering any such lecture or discourse, or of holding any debate therein as aforesaid, or at the time appointed for any such public reading, or delivering any such lecture or discourse, or of holding any debate, and demand to be admitted therein; and in case such justice or justices shall be refused admittance to such house, room, or building, the same shall be deemed, notwithstanding any such license as aforesaid, a disorderly house or place within the meaning of this act; and all and every the provisions herein-before contained respecting any house, room, field, or place, herein-before declared to be a disorderly house or place, shall be applied to such house, room, or building so licensed as aforesaid, where such admittance shall have been refused as aforesaid; and Penalty for reevery person refusing such admittance shall forfeit the sum of twenty pounds to fusing admit. any person who shall sue for the same. tance, 201. inns of court, XXXI. Provided always, and be it enacted, That nothing in this act contained Lectures at the shall extend or be construed to extend to any lecture or discourses to be delivered universities, in any of the Universities of the united kingdom, by any member thereof, or any reham col person authorized by the chancellor, vice-chancellor or other proper officers of such lege, &c. exUniversities respectively; or to any public reading, or lecture or discourse, to be deli- cepted. vered in the public hall of any of the inns of court or chancery, by any person authorized by the benchers of the inns of court; or by the professors in Gresham College; or to the professors in the college established for the education of the civil servants of the East India Company, or the seminaries established for the education of their military service; or to any society or body of men incorporated or established by royal charter, or by authority of parliament; and that no payment made to any schoolmaster, or other person by law allowed to teach and instruct youth, in respect of any public readings, or lectures or discourses, delivered by such schoolmaster or other person, for the instruction only of such youth as shall be committed to his instruction, shall be deemed a payment of money for admission to public readings, or such lectures or discourses, within the intent and meaning of this act. Forfeiture of immoral lec XXXII. Provided also, and be it enacted, That it shall be lawful for any two justices of the peace, acting for any county, stewartry, riding, division, city, town, licence in case or place, upon evidence on oath that any house, room, or place so licensed and of seditious or opened as aforesaid, is commonly used for the purpose of public reading or deli- tures. vering lectures or discourses of a seditious, irreligious, or immoral tendency, to adjudge and declare the license for opening the same to have been forfeited; and such license shall thereupon cease and determine, and shall thenceforth be utterly void and of no effect. XXXIII. And be it further enacted, That all or any of the pecuniary fines, Recovery of penalties, or forfeitures, exceeding the sum of twenty pounds, incurred under this penalties. act in that part of Great Britain called England, or in Ireland, may be recovered by action of debt in any of his majesty's courts of record at Westminster and Dublin respectively, and in Scotland in the court of session there; and it shall be sufficient to declare in that part of Great Britain called England, and in Ireland, or conclude in Scotland, that the defendant or defender is indebted to the plaintiff or pursuer in the sum of (being the sum demanded by the said action), being forfeited by an act made in the sixtieth year of the reign of his present majesty, intituled An Act [here insert the title of this act]; and the plaintiff or pursuer, if he shall recover in such action, shall have his full costs or expenses; and any pecuniary penalty imposed by this act, not exceeding the sum of twenty pounds, and for the recovery whereof no provision is herein before con Application of penalties. Form of con viction. Limitation of tained, shall and may be recovered before any justice or justices of the peace for the county, stewartry, riding, division, city, town, or place, in which the same shall be incurred, or the person having incurred the same shall happen to be, in a summary way; and in case such last-mentioned penalty shall not be forthwith paid, such justice or justices shall, by warrant under his or their hand and seal or hands and seals, and directed to any constable or other peace officer, cause the same to be levied by distress and sale of the offender's goods and chattels, together with all costs and charges attending such distress and sale; and in case no sufficient distress can be had or made, such justice or justices shall commit the offender to the common gaol or house of correction for such county, stewartry, riding, division, city, borough, town, or place, there to remain, without bail or mainprize, for any time not exceeding six calendar months, nor less than three calendar months: provided always, that no person shall be prosecuted or sued for any pecuniary penalty imposed by this act, unless such prosecution shall be commenced, or such action shall be brought, within three calendar months next after such penalty shall have been incurred. XXXIV. And be it further enacted, That all pecuniary penalties and forfeitures imposed by this act, shall when recovered, either by action in any court or in a summary way before any justice, be applied and disposed of in manner hereinafter mentioned, that is to say, one moiety thereof to the plaintiff in any such action, or to the informer before any justice, and the other moiety thereof to his majesty, his heirs and successors. XXXV. And be it further enacted, That the justice or justices of the peace by or before whom any offender shall be convicted under this act, shall cause the said conviction to be made out in the manner and form following, or in any other form of words to the like effect, mutatis mutandis; that is to say, "Be it remembered, That on this " in the "be] year of the reign of day of A. B. of is duly convicted before [me, or us, as the case may of his majesty's justices of the peace for in pursuance of an act passed in the sixtieth year of the reign of "king George the third, intituled An Act [set forth the title of the act], for that "the said A. B., after the passing the said act, on "at. did contrary to the said act [here specify the offence against the act, as the case may be]; wherefore [I or we, as "the case may be], the said "A. B. do pay the sum of "offence." do adjudge that the said as a penalty for his said XXXVI. And be it further enacted, That any action and suit which shall be brought or commenced against any justice or justices of the peace, constable, peace officer, or other person or persons, in that part of Great Britain called England, or in Ireland, for any thing done or acted in pursuance of this act, shall be commenced within six calendar months next after the fact committed, and not afterwards; and the venue in every such action or suit shall be laid in the proper county where the fact was committed, and not elsewhere; and the defendant or defendants in every such action or suit may plead the general issue, and give this act and the special matter in evidence at any trial to be had thereupon; and if such action or suit shall be brought or commenced after the time limited for bringing the same, or the venue shall be laid in any other place than as aforesaid, then the jury shall find a verdict for the defendant or defendants; and in such case, or if the jury shall find a verdict for the defendant or defendants upon the merits, or if the plaintiff or plaintiffs shall become nonsuit, or discontinue his, her, or their actions after appearance, or if upon demurrer judgment shall be given against the plaintiff or plaintiffs, the defendant or defendants shall have double Double costs. Costs, which he or they shall and may recover in such and the same manner as any defendant can by law in other cases. Limitation of Scotland. XXXVII. And be it further enacted, That every action and suit which shall be actions, &c. in brought or commenced against any person or persons in Scotland, for any thing done or acted in pursuance of this act, shall in like manner be commenced within six calendar months after the fact committed, and not afterwards, and shall be brought in the court of session in Scotland, and the defender or defenders may plead that the matter complained of was done in pursuance of this act, and may give this act and the special matter in evidence; and if such action or suit shall be brought or commenced after the time limited for bringing the same, then the same shall be dismissed; and in such case, or if the defender or defenders shall be assoilzied, or the pursuer or pursuers shall suffer the action or suit to fall asleep, or a decision shall be pronounced against the pursuer or pursuers upon the rele vancy, the defender or defenders shall have double costs or expenses, which he or Double coats. they shall and may recover in such and the same manner as any defender can by law recover costs or expenses in other cases. menced with XXXVIII. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That no person shall be Prosecutions prosecuted by virtue of this act, for any thing done or committed contrary to the to be com provisions herein-before contained, unless the prosecution shall be commenced in six months within six calendar months after the offence committed. after offences. XXXIX. And be it further enacted, That this act may be altered, varied, or Act may be repealed, by any act to be passed in this present session of parliament. altered or re!pealed this XL. And be it farther enacted, That this act shall commence and have effect session. within the city of London, and within twenty miles thereof, from the day next after Commencethe day of passing this act, and shall commence and have effect within all other ment and conparts of the kingdom, from the expiration of ten days next after the day of passing act. this act; and shall be and continue in force for five years from the day of passing this act, and until the end of the then next session of parliament. tinuance of the No. V.-Copy of the Blasphemous and Seditious Libels Bill. An Act for the more effectual Prevention and Punishment of blasphemous order for the sion of the verdicts shalt WHEREAS it is expedient to make more effectual provision for the punishment of blasphemous and seditious libels; be it enacted by the king's most 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 from and after the passing of this act, in every case in which any ver- Court to make dict or judgment by default shall be had against any person for composing, print seizure of coing, or publishing any blasphemous libel, or any seditious libel, tending to bring pies of the liinto hatred or contempt the person of his majesty, his heirs or successors, or the bel in posses regent, or the government and constitution of the united kingdom as by law esta- persons blished, or either House of Parliament, or to excite his majesty's subjects to attempt against whom the alteration of any matter in church or state as by law established, otherwise have been than by lawful means, it shall be lawful for the judge, or the court before whom or had, &c. in which such verdict shall have been given, or the court in which such judgment by default shall be had, to make an order for the seizure and carrying away and detaining in safe custody, in such manner as shall be directed in such order, all copies of the libel which shall be in the possession of the person against whom such verdict or judgment shall have been had, or in the possession of any other person named in the order for his use; evidence upon oath having been previously given to the satisfaction of such court or judge, that a copy or copies of the said libel is or are in the possession of such other person for the use of the person against whom such verdict or judgment shall have been had as aforesaid; and in every such case it shall be lawful for any justice of the peace, or for any constable or other peace officer acting under any such order, or for any person or persons acting with or in aid of any such justice of the peace, constable, or other peace officer, to search for any copies of such libel in any house, building, or other place whatsoever belonging to the person against whom any such verdict or judgment shall have been had, or to any other person so named, in whose possession any copies of any such libel belonging to the person against whom any such verdict or judgment shall have been had, shall be; and in case admission shall be refused or not obtained within a reasonable time after it shall have been first demanded, to enter by force by day into any such house, building, or place whatsoever, and to carry away all copies of the libel there found, and to detain the same in safe custody until the same shall be restored under the provisions of this act, or disposed of according to any further order made in relation thereto. bels so seized II. And be it further enacted, That if in any such case as aforesaid, judgment Copies of lishall be arrested, or if, after judgment shall have been entered, the same shall be to be restored reversed upon any writ of error, all copies so seized shall be forthwith returned to if judgment the person or persons from whom the same shall have been so taken as aforesaid, for defendant; free of all charge and expence, and without the payment of any fees whatever; and be disposed of in every case in which final judgment shall be entered upon the verdict so found as the court other wise to shall direct. |